Fresh from setting London’s West End ablaze with their electric chemistry, Porter and Wallace are bringing their star power stateside to lead the most politically resonant, visually decadent version of Cabaret Broadway has seen in years. Porter will step into the iconic role of the ‘Emcee,’ while Wallace will play the unforgettable ‘Sally Bowles’ in a show that’s been hailed as both “ravishing” and “gut-punching.”

“They brought down the house every night in the West End,” said director Rebecca Frecknall. “I can’t wait for Broadway audiences to experience the electricity they generate together.”

And let’s be clear: Cabaret isn’t just another revival. It’s a mirror to the moment we’re living in. From rising authoritarianism to willful societal denial, this revival feels urgent, raw, and painfully relevant. Joel Grey, the original Broadway Emcee, wrote in The New York Times that the story is “a portrayal of a decadent society willfully ignorant of its own demise.” That hits different in 2025.

Why This Matters

Porter’s casting marks a full-circle moment. After breaking barriers in Kinky Boots and winning the 2024 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award for his advocacy, his return to the Broadway stage in Cabaret is both a celebration and a warning. His performance is expected to blend his signature defiance with nuance, camp, and truth-telling.

Meanwhile, Wallace—fresh off her critically acclaimed runs in Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma!, and Dreamgirls—brings both vocal fire and emotional depth to the role of Sally Bowles. Her London portrayal was hailed as career-defining, and her Broadway debut in the role is shaping up to be one for the books.

The Legacy Continues

This Broadway revival of Cabaret has already become a historic run. Since opening in April 2024, it’s racked up 21 nominations across major awards bodies and earned 9 Tony nominations. The production has featured a revolving door of powerful talent, including current stars Orville Peck and Eva Noblezada, who will take their final bows July 20.

Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club transforms the August Wilson Theatre into a fully immersive Weimar-era Berlin nightclub, where music, danger, queerness, and decadence collide. It’s more than a musical—it’s a statement. And with Billy Porter and Marisha Wallace at the helm, the final chapter is about to be unforgettable.

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Cooper launched the #SaveAintNoMo campaign on December 9th after its closing notice to prolong the show’s life, which resulted in heightened awareness and sold-out audiences.

Numerous notable figures stepped up in solidarity to support, with performance buyouts received from Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade, Queen Latifah, Tyler Perry, Shonda Rhimes, and Sara Ramirez. Queen Latifah also hosted the Saturday night performance on December 17th.

Co-producers Lena Waithe and RuPaul hosted performances on December 13th and 15th, respectively.

Significant contributions were made by Reverend Al Sharpton, Swizz Beatz, D-Nice, Derrick Hayes & Pinky Cole, Jeremy O. Harris, Denee Benton, Debbie Allen, and Dominique Morrisseau

Ain’t No Mo’ opened on December 1st and will have played 22 previews and 29 performances through December 23, 2022. Unless… #SaveAintNoMo continues.

The cast includes Jordan E. Cooper as Peaches, Fedna Jacquet (Passenger #1), Marchánt Davis (Passenger #2), Shannon Matesky (Passenger #3), Ebony Marshall-Oliver (Passenger #4), and Crystal Lucas-Perry (Passenger #5). 

Ain’t No Mo’ was named “The Best New Play of the Year” by The Wrap and New York Magazine said “Brace Yourself, No One is Safe.”  Vulture raved the production is “jubilantly disruptive” and Variety exclaimed its “fearlessly provocative.”

The post PHOTOS: Whoopi Goldberg, Queen Latifah & More Visit <em>Ain’t No Mo’</em> appeared first on Broadway Black.

Cedric the Entertainer is set to host and the official ceremony will take place at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sept. 19, 2021.

Some of the standout theatre stars you’ll be ecstatic to see include:

Carl Clemons-Hopkins, who uses they/them pronouns, is the breakout star of “Hacks” on HBO and is known by our audience for his work in the Chicago production of Hamilton.

Uzo Aduba, who will be returning to Broadway in Lynn Nottage’s new play, is nominated for the 5th time in her career (she’s won 3 Emmys already). This time for her work on “In Treatment”.

Mj Rodriguez, who has been doing the WERK on “Pose” 3 seasons in a row finally gets the recognition that she deserves for the role of “Blanca.” It couldn’t have come at a better time as the series finale aired in June.

Jurnee Smollett, last seen on stage in The Trip to Bountiful alongside Cicely Tyson, for “Lovecraft Country”

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Sterling K. Brown,  “This Is Us”

Billy Porter, “Pose”

Aunjanue Ellis, “Lovecraft Country”

Samira Wiley, “The Handmaid’s Tale”

Courtney B. Vance, “Lovecraft Country”

Don Cheadle, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”

Morgan Freeman, “The Kominsky Method”

Grammy, Emmy, & Tony Award winner Cynthia Erivo, for “Genius: Aretha”

& of course the Hamilton crew has arrived at the Emmys via the filmed Broadway production for Disney+

Lin-Manuel Miranda, “Hamilton”

Leslie Odom Jr., “Hamilton”

Renée Elise Goldsberry, “Hamilton”,

Daveed Diggs, “Hamilton”,

Anthony Ramos, “Hamilton”

View the full list of nominees in all major categories HERE

The post Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Cynthia Erivo, Billy Porter + More Garner Emmy Nominations appeared first on Broadway Black.

Photo Courtesy of Apollo Theater’s Instagram

As we approach the one-year anniversary of quarantine in NYC and Broadway shows being shut down for an unforeseeable future, Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York State officials have just given a little bit of hope. Through a new initiative called NY PopsUp, some performing arts venues in New York City and New York State will open its doors for spontaneous and curated performances (mostly free for the public) as part of a festival. A new series, that the governor’s office states is “intended to revitalize the spirit and emotional well-being of New York citizens with the energy of live performance while jumpstarting New York’s struggling live entertainment sector…”, will open up opportunities for a safe and gradual transition to a full Broadway reopening. This pilot program will set the standards and expectations for the future of Broadway. The initiative is also co-led by Scott Rudin and Jane Rosenthal. 

Theater venues with flexible seating that can allow for appropriate social distancing, will allow visitors the chance to relive the days of in-person theatre entertainment. Some of those performing arts venues include The Apollo Theater in Harlem, St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn, National Black Theatre, and the Music Box on 45th street; right in the heart of the theatre district. Audiences up to 33% of the usual capacity, with a maximum of 100 individuals indoors and 200 outdoors are the guidelines set and approved by the New York State Department of Health, in partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and Empire State Development. 

Artists from all walks of life will participate in this ongoing festival with special performances and appearances from Tony-winner Billy Porter (Kinky Boots), Chris Rock (The Motherf**ker with the Hat), Drama Desk-winner Larry Owens (A Strange Loop), Tony-winner Savion Glover (Shuffle Along), opera singer J’Nai Bridges (Carmen) and Tony-nominee Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple).

All those who work in the arts have been devastated by the pandemic.

Today we announce NY PopsUp—a nation-leading initiative to accelerate the revival of the arts: the creative energy that defines NY.

It will feature 300+ pop-up arts events across NYS. Watch for one near you. pic.twitter.com/LB0PO5OvzE

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) February 8, 2021

Even though the program started in February, performances in venues like the Music Box will welcome guests beginning in April. Programming updates will occur on a rolling basis.

The post Curtains Rise On Some NYC Theatre Venues in April as Part of NY PopsUp Initiative appeared first on Broadway Black.

Songs for a New World follows the journey of four individuals who are all faced with a variety of obstacles in their lives, but all relate to having to make the choice of running to it or from it. Jason Robert Brown’s first musical, tells the story of hope for a better tomorrow and a new look at life at the turn of a profound moment. The original Off-Broadway cast featured Billy Porter, Andrea Burns, Brooks Ashmanskas, and Jessica Molaskey and premiered in 1995 at the WPA Theater. 

Filmed in 2020 and performed completely in isolation during the United Kingdom’s first shutdown, the London Palladium performance of Songs for a New World stars Ramin Karimloo as Man 2, Rachel Tucker as Woman 2, Cedric Neal as Man 1, and Rachel John as Woman 1.

The performance will be streamed February 21-28 via the stream.theatre platform and in select movie theaters in the U.K. 

The production was directed by Séimí Campbell, with musical supervision by Adam Hoskins and musical direction by Josh Winstone. The creative team also includes lighting design by Jack Knowles, design consultancy by Madeleine Girling, and sound design by Jonny Dickie for Robins Audio.

For more information and ticket information, visit HERE!

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Billy Porter returns to Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest. Dick Clark Productions shared on their website that this will be Billy Porter’s second year as part of the event. Billy hosted the production’s 2020 New Year’s Eve festivities in New Orleans. This year he will ring in the New Year co-hosting in Times Square.

So where will you be watching from on December 31^st, 2020?

The post Billy Porter CoHosts 2020 New Year’s Rockin’ Eve appeared first on Broadway Black.

Update: Click

The holiday season is in full swing, and what the world needs now more than ever is some joy. Even though family gatherings may look a bit different this year and celebrations have been scaled back, the Broadway community continues to be a beacon of light during an unexpected dark time.

The Tony Award-winning and Grammy-nominated Broadway Inspirational Voices is a diverse choir of Broadway artists united in changing lives through the power of music and service. Founded in 1994 by Michael McElroy (Rent, The Wild Party), the annual concert, much like many other special musical programmings this holiday, will be live-streamed for FREE on Sunday, December 13 7:00 pm.

The concert “A Season of Hope and Inspiration,” will feature special guests, Billy Porter, Leslie Odom Jr., Daniel J. Watts, and Shoshana Bean; with special appearances by Leslie Uggams, Debbie Allen, Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Phylicia Rashad, Vaness Williams, and more.

McElroy has described the evening as a “moment of unity to bring comfort, healing, and great joy.”  And if you’re interested in hearing some pieces from past holiday concerts, you can check out their albums Great Joy: A Gospel Christmas and Great Joy II: Around the World.

The post Broadway Inspirational Voices’ A Season of Hope & Inspiration, Free Virtual Holiday Concert appeared first on Broadway Black.

The play, written by Lanie Robertson and directed by Lonny Price, tells the story of the legendary jazz icon’s loves and losses through a turbulent but extraordinary life. Providing the backdrop to these stories are the moving and stirring songs that Holiday is most famous for – “God Bless the Child,” “What a Little Moonlight Can Do,” “Strange Fruit,” “Crazy He Calls Me,” and “Taint Nobody’s Biz-ness.” The production will play at Wyndham’s Theater from June 25 to September 3. The official opening is scheduled for July 5. 

In Shuffle Along, McDonald will take on the role of “Lottie Gee” and Brian Stokes Mitchell will appear in the role of “F.E. Miller.” Billy Porter takes on the role of “Aubrey Lyles,” with Brandon Victor Dixon and Joshua Henry as “Eubie Blake” and “Noble Sissle.”

McDonald made Broadway history with a record-setting sixth Tony Award for her perfomance in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. She also has the distinction of being the first person to receive awards in all four acting categories. She has also won Tony’s for Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, and Porgy and Bess. We’ll cross our fingers and hope that her performance in the West End production will wow British audiences as much as it did those on Broadway and bring her an Olivier Award.

For tickets and more information about the West End production of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill visit here.

BREAKING! @audraequalitymc will take a break from #ShuffleAlong to do @LadyDayWestEnd! #br… https://t.co/ud5ogDQFZn pic.twitter.com/IYpDc6lh1n

— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) January 15, 2016

The post Audra McDonald To Make West End Debut In Lady Day appeared first on Broadway Black.

McElroy is the founder/director of BIV, a multi-ethnic, multi-denominational choral ensemble made of actors and musicians from Broadway and off‐Broadway shows. The ensemble members have appeared on stage in Aladdin, Book of Mormon, Cinderella, Jersey Boys, Kinky Boots, The Lion King, Motown: The Musical, Phantom of the Opera, and Wicked. The BIV’s mission is “strengthening and unifying the New York community through the transcendent power of music. “

Porter, who just wrapped up an award-winning two-year run as “Lola” in Kinky Boots, is joining an all-star cast who has amassed a long list of stage credits. In addition to Kinky Boots, Porter also has appeared on Broadway in Miss Saigon, Five Guys Named Moe, Grease, Smokey Joe’s Café, and Dreamgirls. In Shuffle Along, he’ll star alongside Henry whose stage credits include Violet, The Scottsboro Boys, Porgy and Bess, American Idiot, and In the Heights. Goldsberry is currently starring in the smash hit Hamilton and also has appeared in Good People, The Color Purple, Rent, The Lion King. And, James’ credits include Motown the Musical, In the Heights, Rent, and NBC’s “The Wiz Live!”

The concert begins at 7:30 pm with doors opening at 6 pm. General admission tickets are $30. Reserved seating VIP tickets begin at $75. Telly Leung, Mike Karns, and Rich Aronstein are producing the concert and tickets can be purchased here.

The post Broadway Inspirational Voices Concert Stars Billy Porter, Renee Elise Goldsberry, & More appeared first on Broadway Black.

In this divine union of Black Broadway brilliance, Shuffle Along, Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed is the reimagining of the classic 1921 musical.  The star-studded cast, including Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Billy Porter, chatted with “Sunday Morning” about the process and the progress.

“I actually threw some tap shoes on a few months back just to see what would happen, and my timing was very awful, you know,” joked Mitchell.  “But it came back after a while!”

Now, Shuffle Along is back, nearly 100 years after becoming one of the first hit musical comedies starring, written and directed by African Americans.  For all of the strides and successes it made in its time, its significance remained unearthed for decades following its closing.

“And then history stepped in and said, ‘Thank you — and maybe we’ll remember you, and maybe we won’t,” said Tony Award-winning director George C. Wolfe.

The all-star team is lead by Wolfe and his Jelly’s Last Jam protegé, famed choreographer Savion Glover. By all accounts, Glover’s unique tap style is less than old hat for the Broadway Vets.

“I learned how to tap traditionally… I can say this: I learned how to tap from the white folks!” Porter cackled.  “I was at a ballet bar. It was very technical. Now, it’s like learning a whole ‘nother language.”

Even the seemingly flawless Ms. McDonald is still trying to find her groove.

“Because Savion doesn’t necessarily say, ‘This step is a left flap-ball-change-shuffle.’ He goes, Ba-da-da ba-da-da … it’s just call-and-response with him. That’s how he teaches.”

But in true professional fashion, each of the players are up to the challenge.

“I’ll say, like, ‘Oh, I can simplify that for you.’ And they say, ‘No, give me the harder one. I wanna learn that,'” Glover said. “That makes me feel great!”

Glover and Wolfe have been successfully working together for 23 years, since Glover was a teenager.  Wolfe directed the piece in which Glover earned his first Tony award for choreography, Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk.  

“In our early years of working together, I was there, I was present, but the need to want to learn more wasn’t there,” Glover said of his younger experiences. “Versus this time, I’m learning as we’re working.”

Now, the duo is working together to retell this backstage story about the making of one of the first all-Black Broadway musical hits.  The original production, which launched the careers of greats including Josephine Baker and Paul Robeson, made fans of then New York City shakers George Gershwin, Fanny Brice, Al Jolson, and Langston Hughes.

The large cast of 30, which also includes Brandon Victor Dixon, Joshua Henry, Felicia Boswell, Amber Iman and Adrienne Warren, begins official rehearsals in January and we’re not sure who’s more excited, them or us!

“It is such an honor and such a gift to be able to actually exist inside of your dreams,” Porter told DuBois. “This is actually the dream. I am living the dream. It’s extraordinary; it really is.”

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