Norbert Leo Butz on Being the CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Tonys Ambassador

The 2011 Tony Award nominees were announced live from the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in New York City on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. The next day, proud nominees gathered at the Millenium Hotel in Times Square to celebrate and meet the press. Broadway Beat caught up with Norbert Leo Butz, Best Actor in a Musical nominee for Catch Me If You Can, who had this to say about his nomination:  

"I think in the past I was like 'Who needs the Tony Awards?' but I'm really, really deeply honored this year. I'm really grateful for the nomination. It was a hard road getting here on a lot of levels. I'm really an ambassador for the whole show- the show getting that 'Best Musical' nod is just so important to me, to the whole company, to the writers, to the director and choreographer."

As for playing a loveable FBI agent on stage, Butz commented, "Carl Hanratty is the role that was played famously by Tom Hanks in the film. I am the curmudgeonly, middle-aged, arthritic, flat-footed guy, who's trying to get his man. I love the part. He's such a pure character."

On his favorite part of his CATCH ME experience, Butz added, "I'm working with a group of freinds. Jack and Jerry and I did DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS together. Marc and Scott, we've done benefits and cabarets throughout the years. It's been a five-year process. The six principals have all been through it from the beginning. That's the best part of it- the familiarity. That tight-knit feeling of trust that we have as a company makes going to work so fulfilling."

To watch the full interview, click here!

The American Theatre Wing's 65th Annual Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards, which are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, will air on CBS on Sunday, June 12th from 8:00 - 11:00 PM (ET/PT time delay).

THE 65th ANNUAL TONY AWARDS take place at the Beacon Theatre. The awards will be followed by the invite-only Tony Gala which will take place at The Plaza Hotel in New York City.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos