Person wearing a cone party hat, heavy theatrical makeup, and a brown ribbon bow around their neck, looking to the side with a dramatic expression against a dark background.

‘Cabaret’ sets early closing on Broadway; Billy Porter withdraws

Q: Who directed Cabaret?

Rebecca Frecknall directs Cabaret on Broadway after premiering her production in London, where it won seven Olivier Awards, including Best Musical Revival. The New York transfer marks her Broadway debut.

Q: What are the songs in Cabaret?

Cabaret has a score by John Kander and Fred Ebb, featuring iconic showtunes like "Cabaret," "Mein Herr," "Wilkommen," and "Maybe This Time."

Previously set to close in October, the musical revival will now end its run later this month, with Porter departing immediately due to illness.

Gillian RussoSeptember 7, 2025, 04:00

UPDATE: The below article has been amended to include the performance schedule for Marty Lauter and David Merino, who will alternate as the Emcee for the final weeks of Cabaret on Broadway.

Cabaret on Broadway will close on September 21, a month earlier than the previously announced closing date of October 19. At the time of closing, the musical revival will have played 610 total performances at the August Wilson Theatre.

Additionally, Billy Porter, who currently stars as the Emcee, has withdrawn from the production due to sepsis. Marty Lauter and David Merino, the production’s two Emcee alternates, will alternate in the role for the final performances. Merino will perform from September 9-11 and 19-21, and Lauter will perform from September 12-18.

Continuing with the production through its closing are Marisha Wallace as Sally Bowles, Calvin Leon Smith as Clifford Bradshaw, Steven Skybell as Herr Schultz, Ellen Harvey as Fraulein Schneider, Henry Gottfried as Ernst Ludwig, and Michelle Aravena as Fritzie/Kost.

“Billy was an extraordinary Emcee bringing his signature passion and remarkable talent,” producer Adam Speers said in a statement. “We wish Billy a speedy recovery and I look forward to working with him again in the very near future. I personally invite audiences to return to the Kit Kat Club one last time to see the incandescent Marisha Wallace as Sally Bowles, alongside the remarkably talented Marty and David, two actors who have been giving soul-stirring performances as Emcee since we first opened last April.”

Cabaret takes place in a 20th-century Berlin nightclub whose hedonism gets overtaken by Nazism. Rebecca Frecknall directs the current revival, which is also continuously running London's West End.

Learn more about Cabaret on Broadway.

Photo credit: Billy Porter in Cabaret on Broadway. (Photo by Marc Brenner)

Frequently asked questions

What is CABARET at the Kit Kat Club about?

Wilkommen to the August Wilson Theatre, transformed into the Kit Kat Club for the latest revival of Kander and Ebb's classic musical. Come to the cabaret for the story of writer Cliff, performer Sally, the mysterious Emcee, and how their relationships and more clash with the rise of fascism in Germany.

Where is CABARET at the Kit Kat Club playing?

CABARET at the Kit Kat Club is playing at August Wilson Theatre. The theatre is located at 245 West 52nd Street, New York, 10019.

How long is CABARET at the Kit Kat Club?

The running time of CABARET at the Kit Kat Club is 2hr 45min. Incl. 15min intermission.

What's the age recommendation for CABARET at the Kit Kat Club?

The recommended age for CABARET at the Kit Kat Club is Ages 13+..

How do you book tickets for CABARET at the Kit Kat Club?

Book tickets for CABARET at the Kit Kat Club on New York Theatre Guide.

Who directed Cabaret?

Rebecca Frecknall directs Cabaret on Broadway after premiering her production in London, where it won seven Olivier Awards, including Best Musical Revival. The New York transfer marks her Broadway debut.