Interview: Kerry Butler Prepares to Fly, Fly Away to Feinstein's/54 Below Later This Month

Broadway veteran Kerry Butler is hiting the Feinstein's/54 Below stage for the first time alongside longtime friend Seth Rudetsky. Their new cabaret show will be performed on October 15,16 and 21st and Kerry and Seth have a lot of tricks up their sleeves.

Kerry Butler checked in with BroadwayWorld to talk about what fans can expect from her new solo show and the thrill of bringing the show to New York City for the first time.

Check out the full interview below.

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You are coming to Feinstein's/54 Below for the first time with your solo show, how did this come about?

They've been asking me for years to do it and I've always been busy. Then I became available and Seth [Rudetsky] and I have been doing our own show and it's been REALLY fun. We grew up together so we do numbers from when we were kids together and it's just been a blast and it's been so much fun. So, I thought "Alright, if I do that show with Seth that's like simple." We got a great review when we did it before, so I thought "Alright, I can do that in New York."

You are making your debut at Feinstein's/54 Below and it's become such a big venue for Broadway stars. What are you most excited about to be performing there for the first time?

You know what, I'm really excited about the 11:30pm show I get to do. I just feel like it's going to be really, really fun. I'm not sure how crowded it will be or anything because people have told me that the late shows sometimes don't sell that well. So, Seth and I are just going to let loose and tell stories we've never told before. I might do a few different things. It's going to be so different for me because I'm always doing my Disney songs.

Can you give us an idea of what fans can expect to hear you and Seth sing?

Yeah it's mostly songs from shows that I've done. It's mostly my biggest hits and then a few different songs thrown in there.

You said you grew up with Seth. Have you guys always wanted to do a show together?

We have been doing it for a long time. This show in particular, I guess we just did it for the first time in Provincetown where Seth is as much a part of it as I am. we just have a great camaraderie and we have absolutely so much fun together. Seth and I sing together, he has a great voice, so it's a lot of fun.

You and Seth have done this show before. Are you changing or adding anything for the Feinstein's/54 Below shows?

I might change a few little things. I'm not going to change that much for 54 Below, except Seth and I really want to add somethings for the 11:30pm show because it will just be such a blast. I think for the other shows as well I'll change some of the stories from the previous shows because I know some people from Provincetown are going to be here. I have a lot of Rock of Ages stories I haven't told. I'm really excited for fans to hear the Rock of Ages stories because some of them are just CRAZY. I have more stories from that show than any other show I have ever done. For the 11:30pm show I might ask people to join me on stage, I haven't decided yet. I might send some emails. People can just come up and tell stories with me. I haven't asked anyone yet though.

You've done some TV in the past year, I know you were on 'The Mysteries of Laura'... how is it coming back to the stage in NYC?

It's very easy to jump back onto the stage. Sometimes when you do your own solo show it can be a little nerve racking because you have to be so focused and to keep an audience entertained for an hour or so by yourself is a lot of work and stressful, but with this it's so easy. Seth and I know each other extremely well. I know that if for some strange reason I have an issue Seth will be able to cover for me. It's just really casual and fun. Everybody who went to see the last one told us, "It was just so much fun. We felt like we were just watching you guys in this intimate conversation."

Last year you also starred in CLINTON: THE MUSICAL. Tell us about that experience.

It was really fun. I did not think I could ever do that, so it's always great to challenge yourself. I've never done impersenations before, not that I did a downright impersonation of Hillary Clinton, but I definitley when they offered it to me I thought that there is no way I could do this. Then when I started to get into it, it was so much fun and interesting. Usually I write a whole biography for my character to get to know them, but this time around it was written for me. It was such a different expeirence. I watched a lot of footage and it was difficult to find flaws to exagerate on stage. I found a few little things to hook into and then it was fun to play those.

Is there one musical number you are excited to sing at your concert or one that you know fans will enjoy?

I always love singing "Fly Fly Away." It's one of my favorite songs to sing. Fans always love hearing it and want that one usually.

Do you and Seth have a set structure? Or are guys just seeing where the evening takes you guys?

Yeah we know the things that we need to hit within the show, but we can go off. We don't know what we are going to say. We are just going to tell stories and have fun with the evenings. I'm excited!

Kerry Butler plays Feinstein's/54 Below (254 West 54th Street) on October 15 & 16 at 7pm and October 21 at 11:30pm. There is a $40-50 cover charge, $65-85 premium seating and $25 food and beverage minimum. Tickets and information are available at www.54Below.com. Kerry Butler is known for her roles in musicals such as Rock of Ages, Clinton: The Musical, Xanadu, Catch Me If You Can and Hairspray.