Butz to Star in Twain Farce Is He Dead? on Broadway?

According to The New York Post's Michael Riedel, Tony Award-winner Norbert Leo Butz will return to Broadway next season in the farce Is He Dead?.

A newly discovered Mark Twain play, adapted by David Ives (All in the Timing), Is He Dead? will be directed by Tony Award-winning director Michael Blakemore.  Dates, official casting and a theatre have not yet been announced.

In addition to a Tony Award for his work as Freddy Benson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Butz received a Tony nomination for his performance in Thou Shalt Not. Other Broadway credits include Wicked, in which he created the role of Fiyero, and Rent, in which he played Roger. He was also seen as the Emcee in the national tour of Cabaret, and created the role of Jamie in the original Off-Broadway production of The Last Five Years.  His film credits include West of Here, Noon Blue Apples, Looking for an Echo and the upcoming Dan in Real Life, in which he'll play a major role alongside Steve Carell, Dane Cook, Juliette Binoche and Alison Pill.

Blakemore is a Tony Award-winner for Kiss Me, Kate and Copenhagen.  Other Broadway credits include Deuce, Democracy, The Life, Lettice and Lovage, City of Angels, Benefactors, Noises Off, Players and A Day in the Death of Joe Egg.

Photo by Linda Lenzi