Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
macbeth
Broadway Star Joined: 5/7/03
#2Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
Posted: 8/20/25 at 1:38pm
For clarity was this a scheduled or unscheduled absence?
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
#3Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
Posted: 8/20/25 at 1:46pm
binau said: "For clarity was this a scheduled or unscheduled absence?"
Unscheduled. He was scheduled to be out tomorrow through Sunday with David and Marty splitting the coverage
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BCfitasafiddle
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/25/20
#6Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
Posted: 8/20/25 at 2:59pm
devonian.t said: "That should boost ticket sales!"
Bahahahah I'm cracking up.
#7Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
Posted: 8/20/25 at 3:18pm
It's funny because there is like 400 upvotes on reddit joking that it's the only time ticket sales will go up without the star. In my opinion, this is just fun joking narrative. The sales tonight look terrible, the sales for the rest of the week look terrible. No one knows who Marisha Wallace or Billy's understudy are, and I don't think they care to know either. A few online theatre nerds paying bargain bottom prices at last-minute does not turn around the box office. The show is doomed.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
#8Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
Posted: 8/20/25 at 3:32pm
He was out yesterday as well (unplanned). His understudy was excellent.
#9Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
Posted: 8/20/25 at 3:36pm
AlmostFamous3 said: "He was out yesterday as well (unplanned). His understudy was excellent."
Wow, we will pretty much know exactly what Billy's worth is with the grosses next week.
Assuming he returns to the show - I mean, I assume he will he is contracted to but this must be extremely difficult for his mental health.
I've never seen a performer that has been so humiliated on Broadway. Beanie comes to mind but that felt like nothing compared to this. Can anyone think of other examples in the last 15-20 years that come close? There must be some but nothing comes to mind.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Updated On: 8/20/25 at 03:36 PM
#10Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
Posted: 8/20/25 at 3:40pm
binau said: "I've never seen a performer that has been so humiliated on Broadway. Beanie comes to mind but that felt like nothing compared to this. Can anyone think of other examples in the last 15-20 years that come close? There must be some but nothing comes to mind."
Personally, I don't see Beanie being in the same conversation, because I feel like she was trying to give a good performance. Billy Porter just seems to be off the rails, and not doing anything positive for that role.
Although, reading your comments the following came to mind: Al Pacino in China Doll, Forrest Whittaker in Hughie, Jeffery Tambour in La Cage, and Sandy Duncan in Finding Neverland
"Ok ok ok ok ok ok ok. Have you guys heard about fidget spinners!?" ~Patti LuPone
#11Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
Posted: 8/20/25 at 3:42pm
I think the Beanie situation was worse- after all, she actually got reviewed and then subsequently replaced in what became national news and instant Broadway legend. She was thrown to the wolves and the production did little to support her. She was miscast but was clearly giving it her all.
Billy is merely the fourth person in the role in a production that is closing anyway. And nobody really even seems to care that he was cast at all. And he doesn’t even really seem interested in doing the show as written.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
Updated On: 8/20/25 at 03:42 PM
#12Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
Posted: 8/20/25 at 3:44pm
Ohhh I forgot about Tambour in La Cage! I remember that was a strange one, people saying he looked like a deer in headlights and then he eventually quit the show right? Anyone who saw that definitely saw something pretty rare and unusual!!
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Updated On: 8/20/25 at 03:44 PM
#13Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
Posted: 8/20/25 at 3:45pm
binau said: "AlmostFamous3 said: "He was out yesterday as well (unplanned). His understudy was excellent."
Wow, we will pretty much know exactly what Billy's worth is with the grosses next week.
Assuming he returns to the show - I mean, I assume he will he is contracted to but this must be extremely difficult for his mental health.
I've never seen a performer that has been so humiliated on Broadway. Beanie comes to mind but that felt like nothing compared to this. Can anyone think of other examples in the last 15-20 years that come close? There must be some but nothing comes to mind."
The man destoryed the character he was contracted to play, going against the libretto, direction, and basically everything the character has been in this production and every other production from before.
The choices he made to the character are interesting, i'll give him that, and it could work in literally any other show, but cabaret is not the show to do it in. Especially when the chapter hes playing is the actual characterization of the country of Germany at the time.
He's lost his singing voice, he goes bananas and off the rails in the most terrible ways. He's called the audience 'bitches', begging for applause, and feeding his negative energy into the rest of the cast. It might be for the best that he doesn't return to the show. It's already dead in the streets with the theatre world kicking its cold dead corpse. Best to respect what's left before we put it in the ground for good.
morosco
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
#14Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
Posted: 8/20/25 at 4:16pm
It seems as if Porter is his own worst enemy.
Falsettolands
Leading Actor Joined: 11/18/13
#15Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
Posted: 8/20/25 at 4:26pm
I always felt like the general Broadway sentiment about Beanie was "gosh, she's trying so hard but this is so sad. I wish her well" and it has felt like the sentiment around Billy has been "this performance is offensively bad. I do not wish him well."
CoffeeBreak
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/30/17
#16Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
Posted: 8/20/25 at 4:47pm
Maybe they will bring back Orville, who doesn't seem to tour until November? Or maybe he and Adam can split the remaining dates?
Either of those two with Marisha would be shows to see.
#17Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
Posted: 8/20/25 at 4:49pm
I’m inclined to agree re: Beanie that she tried her hardest. From my memory, many people were already rankled because they felt the role of Fanny was ordained for Lea Michele and, unless Beanie delivered a bravura performance for the ages, the mob was already digging her professional grave. And then once they cast Lea, everyone did what they could to sweep Beanie away (including the cast recording). I frankly enjoyed Beanie in the role and thought she was a fine, if not perfect, fit.
Friends of mine in and around the theatre community have privately expressed some concern for Billy and his behavior recently, especially after having seen him in the role. A LOT of them gave the review of “Billy was just…being Billy.”, which is the polite way of saying that it was not good, but they aren’t going to type it out. I am believing that he is indeed his own worst enemy since he doesn’t not have/never had the clout to be as outspoken as he is.
He’s been performing since 1988, so he’s no spring chicken, but it seems as if once he got a taste of the high life, he decided it was time to make a meal of the hand that fed him “The best kind of revenge is success”.
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#18Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
Posted: 8/20/25 at 5:09pm
fashionguru_23 said: "binau said: "I've never seen a performer that has been so humiliated on Broadway. Beanie comes to mind but that felt like nothing compared to this. Can anyone think of other examples in the last 15-20 years that come close? There must be some but nothing comes to mind."
Personally, I don't see Beanie being in the same conversation, because I feel like she was trying to give a good performance. Billy Porter just seems to be off the rails, and not doing anything positive for that role.
Although, reading your comments the following came to mind: Al Pacino in China Doll, Forrest Whittaker in Hughie, Jeffery Tambour in La Cage, and Sandy Duncan in Finding Neverland
"
Henry Goodman as the fired replacement for Nathan Lane’s Bialystock was pretty embarrassing.
If Lincoln were alive today, do you think he'd be pleased with his tunnel?
SteveSanders
Featured Actor Joined: 3/29/25
#19Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
Posted: 8/20/25 at 5:34pm
morosco said: "It seems as if Porter is his own worst enemy."
Ego can be quite a dangerous suitor.
#20Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
Posted: 8/20/25 at 6:27pm
Who was his understudy and how was he?
CoffeeBreak
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/30/17
#21Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
Posted: 8/20/25 at 6:42pm
Seb28 said: "Whowas his understudy and how was he?"
David Merino (usually Lulu) & Marty 'Marcia Marcia Marcia' Lauter (usually Victor).
David was/is on, for Emcee, both shows today/tonight, Wed Aug 20, unscheduled absences for Billy. David is on Aug 21, 7pm & Aug 22, 7pm - both scheduled.
https://www.instagram.com/davidlmerino/
Marty is scheduled on, for the Emcee, Saturday Aug. 23 (both shows) & Sunday Aug. 24 matinee - all scheduled.
https://www.instagram.com/marciax3nyc/
#22Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
Posted: 8/20/25 at 8:23pm
Henry Goodman as the fired replacement for Nathan Lane’s Bialystock was pretty embarrassing."
Imagine if social media was around then. or whenever Lane called out.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
#23Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
Posted: 8/20/25 at 8:57pm
ACL2006 said: "
Henry Goodman as the fired replacement for Nathan Lane’s Bialystock was pretty embarrassing."
Imagine if social media was around then. or whenever Lane called out."
Which happened regularly, right?
#24Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
Posted: 8/20/25 at 9:08pm
$50 says Porter doesn’t return at all.
lopside
Stand-by Joined: 11/16/21
#25Billy Porter out of Cabaret 8/20
Posted: 8/20/25 at 9:16pm
God knows there's plenty of valid criticism of Porter, especially with regards to his comments, but incessant bullying of performers is a very Broadway specific ugliness, based on poor bootlegs.
Some of the pile on has genuinely scared me because I've seen young people throw out racist Trump speak like "DEI-hire" and these people are seeking to uphold the integrity of Cabaret of all things. Death of both empathy and literacy.
There was similarly very ugly vitriol towards Feldstein, and she hadn't even put her foot in her mouth or had been callous like Billy.
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