Orville Peck to replace Adam Lambert as the emcee in Broadway’s Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club

Country music's masked sensation Orville Peck is stepping into the spotlight on Broadway, taking over from Adam Lambert as the Emcee in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club. Joining him will be Eva Noblezada, who replaces Auli’i Cravalho in the role of Sally Bowles. The current leads will give their final performances on March 29.

“The Emcee has been my dream role since I was a teenager,” Peck said in a statement. “The nature of the character allows for complete freedom of individual expression. It can be portrayed through such a vast range of emotions, perspectives, and performance styles. That kind of freedom is every actor's dream.”

35th Annual GLAAD Media Awards held at the New York Hilton Midtown. Featuring: Orville Peck on May 11, 2024. Photo Credit: Jennifer Graylock/INSTARimages

The new stars will take the stage for a limited 16-week run, starting March 31 and ending July 20. Noblezada, a two-time Tony nominee, has impressed audiences with her performances in Broadway productions like The Great Gatsby, Hadestown, and Miss Saigon. The Rebecca Frecknall-directed Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club launched at the August Wilson Theatre in April 2024, with The Day of the Jackal star Eddie Redmayne as the original Emcee, reprising his acclaimed role from the 2021 West End production.

According to Variety, Peck, who performed the iconic “Willkommen” for his audition tape, remained mysterious about whether his signature mask would make an appearance during the show.

“I will say this – people will have to buy a ticket to find out,” Peck said.

The enigmatic performer's mask has become as iconic as Sia's blonde wig since his 2019 debut album Pony. Peck's musical journey includes the release of Bronco in 2022 and his third album Stampede in the previous year. His impressive collaborations feature industry giants like Elton John, Willie Nelson, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Shania Twain, Beck, Kylie Minogue, and Noah Cyrus. While he's made his mark in country music, Peck's theatrical roots run deep – he studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 2014 and portrayed Peter Pan in the Apollo Theater's 2016 production of Peter Pan Goes Wrong.

“I was a working actor and a dancer for many years before I started making music,” Peck said. “I did the hustle, and the struggle, for a long time, trying to make things happen for myself. But it taught me so much of who I am as a performer and a person, so it feels very full circle to be making a return to it at this point in my career.”