Michelle Williams to Make Broadway Debut in ‘Cabaret’

Evan Agostini/Invision, via Associated Press Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams, the three-time Academy Award nominee and former star of the television series “Dawson’s Creek,” will make her Broadway debut this season as Sally Bowles in Roundabout Theater Company’s revival of “Cabaret,” according to two theater executives familiar with the casting news. Ms. Williams will star along with Alan Cumming as the M.C., a role he played in the 1998 Roundabout production of “Cabaret” - and for which he won a Tony Award. The producers are aiming to start performances in early 2014.

The role of Sally - made famous by Liza Minnelli in Bob Fosse’s 1972 film adaptation - was initially going to be played by the film star Emma Stone (“The Amazing Spider-Man”), but her representatives said in May that movie commitments prevented her from starring in “Cabaret.” The news about Ms. Williams was first reported on Tuesday by Brendan Lemon on his blog lemonwade.com.

The two theater executives with knowledge of Ms. Williams’ casting spoke on condition of anonymity because Roundabout Theater Company had not authorized its announcement. A spokesman for Roundabout, asked about Ms. Williams, said on Tuesday, “We’ll be announcing information shortly, which will also be on roundabouttheatre.org.”

A representative for Ms. Williams, contacted on Tuesday afternoon, had no immediate information about the “Cabaret” casting. Ms. Williams was nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actress for “Brokeback Mountain” - in which she appeared opposite Heath Ledger, who became her partner and father of her daughter - and then for best actress for “Blue Valentine” and “My Week with Marilyn.” The director Sam Mendes is expected to stage the revival, with Rob Marshall as co-director and choreographer - duties they shared for the 1998 revival as well.

The original Broadway production of “Cabaret” opened in 1966 and won the Tony for best musical and best score for the composer John Kander and the lyricist Fred Ebb; the show has a book by Joe Masteroff, based on writings by Christopher Isherwood.