Billy Porter is back where he belongs.
On Wednesday, Porter made his long-awaited return to the stage for the opening night of New York City Center’s Encores! production of La Cage Aux Folles. It marks his first major theatrical role since he suffered a life-threatening diagnosis of sepsis.
Directed by Robert O’Hara, “all-Black revival of the beloved musical runs through June 28.
Porter described Albin as “a role that I’ve been wanting to play since I was too young to play it.”
“It’s a fabulous show. Fabulous,” he said on CBS Mornings. “It’s all joy. And it’s all Black, Queer joy, and we need that right now.”
Porter spoke glowingly of his co-star Wayne Brady. The duo first connected through Kinky Boots.
“I have loved Wayne and his talent since the very first time I met him,” Porter said. “He can do anything, anything. One of the most talented people on the planet.”
Back in September, Porter left Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club after being diagnosed with a “serious case” of sepsis. Eventually, it was revealed that a kidney stone led to the infection.
“His doctors are confident that he will make a full recovery. But they’ve advised him to maintain a restful schedule the next couple of weeks,” the release read.
During an appearance on TS Madison’s Outlaws podcast, Porter explained the horrific medical emergency.
Placed on an ECMO life-support machine due to a severe infection, Porter faced another crisis when he developed compartment syndrome while in a coma. Doctors had to perform emergency procedures to save his leg.
“When they got in there, there was so much puss, bile, and infection behind the stone. It bubbled up, and I went uroseptic in minutes,” Porter recalled.
La Cage Aux Folles is currently playing at New York City Center specifically on the Mainstage, located at 131 West 55th Street in Manhattan.