The Broadway revival of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, featuring Marisha Wallace from Big Brother, is ending ahead of schedule due to lead actor Billy Porter’s illness and a legal battle with an investor. The final performance is set for September 21 at the August Wilson Theatre, a month earlier than planned. Porter’s absence, caused by a severe case of sepsis, led to Marty Lauter and David Merino stepping in as understudies to play the Emcee.
Producer Adam Speers expressed regret over the decision, praising Porter’s talent and the show’s impact. Meanwhile, Marisha Wallace, a former Celebrity Big Brother star, joined the production in July, becoming one of the first Black actors to portray key roles in Cabaret on Broadway alongside Porter.
Despite a run of 592 performances, attendance declined significantly in recent months. Adding to the challenges, investor James Lorenzo Walker Jr. filed a lawsuit alleging fraud and mismanagement related to the show’s finances. Walker claims the production generated over $90 million in revenue but failed to distribute profits, alleging deceptive financial practices by the producers.
In response, the producers denied the accusations, stating that the production had not reached a point to distribute funds but offered to share financial records. The legal dispute remains ongoing, with all claims currently considered as allegations.
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