Former Celebrity Big Brother star Marisha Wallace is facing disappointment after her Broadway show has been cut short due to Billy Porter’s illness and a lawsuit against the production
The Broadway revival of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club starring Big Brother star Marisha Wallace will shut down earlier than expected after lead actor Billy Porter was forced to step away due to illness, while producers also face a lawsuit from one of the show’s investors.
The production announced that its final performance will take place at the August Wilson Theatre on September 21, nearly a month ahead of the planned October 19 closing date. The decision came after Porter was hospitalised with a severe case of sepsis. “Come hear the music play. Final performance September 21,” the show’s Instagram account posted.
“Due to a serious case of sepsis, Billy Porter must also withdraw from the production. His doctors are confident that he will make a full recovery but have advised him to maintain a restful schedule.”
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Marty Lauter and David Merino, both understudies, will take over as the Emcee for the last run of performances.
Producer Adam Speers described the decision as “painful” but praised Porter’s contribution. “It is with a heavy heart that we have made the painful decision to end our Broadway run on Sept. 21,” he said in a statement to Entertainment Weekly.
“On behalf of all the producers, we’re so honored to have been able to bring this version of John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Joe Masteroff’s important masterpiece, Cabaret, to New York and to have opened the doors to our own Kit Kat Club for the year and a half we have been here.
“Billy was an extraordinary Emcee, bringing his signature passion and remarkable talent. We wish Billy a speedy recovery, and I look forward to working with him again in the very near future.”
Former Celebrity Big Brother star Marisha Wallace, 39, joined in July, becoming one of the first Black actors to play the Emcee and Sally Bowles on Broadway as share starred alongside Porter.
However, despite 592 performances, attendance has fallen sharply since midsummer.
Adding to the turmoil, attorney and investor James Lorenzo Walker Jr. filed suit on September 4, accusing producers of “fraud, mismanagement, and breaching fiduciary duties tied to the $24 million revival”.
Walker, who invested $50,000 shortly before the opening, claims the show grossed more than $90 million yet failed to return profits.
He claims that producers used “multi-layered structures designed to conceal revenues, divert payments, and facilitate self-dealing among insiders.”
“This is a case about transparency,” Walker told BroadwayWorld. “For several months I tried to get an idea of what was going on financially and where revenues were going. I repeatedly asked for full transparency, including access to records, and got no cooperation.”
Producers rejected the allegations, saying the production has not been in a position to distribute funds to investors but offered to share financial records.
“We’ve offered to engage in a constructive dialogue with Mr. Walker regarding his financial expectations and to give him access to our accounts, but unfortunately, he has instead decided to file a lawsuit that lacks any merit,” they said.
The case is pending, and all claims remain allegations at this stage.
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