Photo Flash: Norbert Leo Butz Suprises BAA Students
By: Faetra Petillo Aug. 20, 2008
Tony Award-winning actor Norbert Leo Butz delighted students as their special "surprise guest" during the Broadway Artists Alliance Summer Intensive (Session Two)
Butz lent his talent for a surprise Q&A with the students of Broadway Artists Alliance, led by musician, writer, and comedian Seth Rudetsky. He shared his thoughts, stories, and expert advice about the business to the 100 eager up-and-coming young artists ages 10 to 21.
Rudetsky had shared his talents earlier in the week, teaching a "Song Interpretation" class for the voice majors.
The Q&A session was part of Broadway Artists Alliance's two week musical theatre intensive at Ripley Grier Studios, NYC. Current Broadway artists visit, mentor, and instruct the group of young and talented performers during this two-week master class series. Other instructors for the Broadway Artists Alliance Summer Program include Tyrick Jones, Lorin Latarro, Tony Mansker, Lisa Gajda, Holly-Anne Ruggiero, Bob Cline, Michelle Kittrell, Marilyn Caskey, Steven Lutvak, Lisa Stevens, Paul Griffin, Celeste Simone, Ross Stoner, Alex Gemignani, Donna Drake, Michelle Federer, Phil Hall, Allison Lane, Seth Rudetsky, Michael Balderrama, Jason Snow, Jeff Shade, Brad Ross, Justin Boccitto, Bridget Berger, Brian Marcum, Katherine Tokarz, Paul Schaefer, Vince DiMura, and James Kinney as well as representatives from the industry such as Telsey & Co., Binder Casting, Jim Carnahan Casting, and the Carson/Adler Agency.
Butz joins Broadway Artists Alliance's roster of Tony-winning guest speakers, which have recently included impressive talent such as Laura Benanti, Sutton Foster, Beth Leavel, John Gallagher Jr., Lea Salonga, John Lloyd Young, and Jason Robert Brown. The students of Broadway Artists Alliance will meet another surprise Tony-winning guest on Friday, August 8. Additional past guest instructors and speakers include Stephen Schwartz, Jonathan Groff, Norm Lewis, Megan McGinnis, Andrea Martin, Lea Michele, Ashley Brown, Skylar Astin, Alexandra Socha, Morgan Karr, and many more.
Broadway Artists Alliance will continue with a new season of one-day master classes. Upcoming master classes include In the Heights (September 20), [title of show] (October 12), and Xanadu (October 13). A full list is available at www.broadwayartistsalliance.
Ross Stoner (Associate Director), Jennifer Johns (Program Director), Norbert Leo Butz, Seth Rudetsky, Michelle Lehrman (Admissions Director), Heather Parcells (Assistant Director)
Norbert Leo Butz and Seth Rudetsky
The students of Broadway Artists Alliance Summer Intensive
Seth Rudetsky and Norbert Leo Butz
Photos by Laura McBride
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