Norbert Leo Butz Lands First Major Feature Film Role

According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, Norbert Leo Butz--who is reprising his Tony Award-winning performance as brash swindler Freddy Benson in the national tour of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels--has been signed to his first major big screen role.

Written and directed by Peter Hedges (Pieces of April), Dan in Real Life will co-star Steve Carell, Dane Cook, Juliette Binoche and Allison Pill.   Butz says of the film--a comedy about a dysfunctional family--"It reminded me of my family...good-hearted and loving, but under the surface of all those rituals there are demons lurking. It's funny and sort of sad."

Although Butz' film career is taking off, the Tony Award-winner says he has no plans to abandon the theatre (and that he would like to play Hamlet someday).  Previous film credits include West of Here and Noon Blue Apples (both from 2002), and Looking for an Echo.  Although he was previously signed to a sitcom development deal, a starring TV vehicle failed to get off the ground.

In addition to a Tony Award for his work 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.

The national tour of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels--a musical comedy concerning two competing crooks on the French Riviera with a score by Dave Yazbek and book by Jeffrey Lane--also stars Tom Hewitt, Laura Marie Duncan, Hollis Resnik and Drew McVety.  Butz will be with the tour through October 24th, when Timothy Gulan succeeds him as Freddy.  The tour kicked off at Seattle's Paramount Theatre on August 6th.  It plays the Pantages Theatre in LA from August 15th through 27th.

Visit www.dirtyrottenscoundrelsthemusical.com for more information on the tour.