TV: Broadway Beat Tony Interview Special - Norbert Leo Butz Reveals his 'Thrill of a Lifetime'
by Broadway Beat - June 1, 2011
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 was on hand, of course, to speak with all of the proud nominees. In anticipation of Tony night on June 12, 2011, BroadwayWorld will be bringing you new clips of the stars in conversation each week so be sure to check back!
Below, we bring you Norbert Leo Butz, Best Actor in a Musical nominee for Catch Me If You Can. Butz made his Broadway debut as Adam Pascal's replacement as Roger Davis in Rent in 1996. Additional Broadway credits include Enron, Thou Shalt Not for which he received a Tony Award nomination, Wicked, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Freddy) for which he received the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, a Drama League Award, and an Outer Critics Circle Award. Off-Broadway credits include The Last Five Years, Songs for a New World, Saved, and Juno and the Paycock (Jerry Devine), and he has toured as the Emcee in Cabaret and as Freddy in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
DIARY OF A CHORUS GIRL: Season Finale- Opening Night!
by Nicole Rosky - May 18, 2011
DanceOn, the YouTube partnership channel exclusive for dance videos, released the tenth and final episode of DIARY OF A CHORUS GIRL today. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN officially opens at the Neil Simon Theater, and Alex Ellis celebrates her Broadway debut
Real Frank Abagnale Jr. Hosts CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Talkback, 5/19
by Nicole Rosky - May 17, 2011
On Thursday, May 19, and Thursday, June 2 audience members at the new , Tony Award Nominated Broadway musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN will get the chance to hear first-hand from the real Frank W. Abagnale Jr. (played on stage by Aaron Tveit), whose teenage escapades are the basis for the musical and the 2002 film of the same name. Immediately following the 8pm performance, Mr. Abagnale will host an on stage post-show talk back and Q&A. Tickets for these performances can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com and at The Neil Simon Box Office (250 West 52nd Street). Only ticketholders for that evening's performance will be able to attend the Talk Back.
BWW EXCLUSIVE: Shaiman & Wittman Talk SMASH, CATCH ME & More!
by Pat Cerasaro - May 18, 2011
Legends in their own time, ascending to the top ranks of the Hollywood and Broadway songwriting landscape, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman have accomplished and climbed to heights most of what many film fans, Broadway babies and general entertainment junkies only dream of witnessing and ascending to. Marc Shaiman's work with Trey Parker and Matt Stone on SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER & UNCUT prompted Stephen Sondheim - as he told me himself - to cite it as one of the best musicals of the era. And, it is - as is their Tony-winning Best Musical HAIRSPRAY, based on the film by Pope of Trash John Waters. Featuring John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Queen Latifah and an all-around-amazing cast of triple-threats, the stunning Craig Zadan/Neil Meron-produced film version of HAIRSPRAY may be the greatest cinematic Shaiman and/or Wittman accomplishment so far. Then, there is CATCH ME IF YOU CAN - one of the snappiest new scores on Broadway in a strangely strong season of original scores - boasting boss Sinatra blues and sizzling Shirelles riffs and everything else that's swingin' in between. Up next for the team - onstage and off - is a stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY directed by Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes, in addition to what is perhaps the most exciting prospect on their impossibly cluttered horizon: the new Steven Speilberg/Craig Zadan/Neil Meron musical/comedy/drama series SMASH which has just been picked up for the Fall season on NBC! In this exclusive, extensive and exhaustive conversation we cover it all from HAIRSPRAY to CATCH ME to CHARLIE to all about SMASH and far, far beyond!
Frank Abagnale Jr. Set for CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Talkback, 5/12
by BWW News Desk - May 12, 2011
On Thursday, May 12, audience members at the new Broadway musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN will get the chance to hear first-hand from the real Frank W. Abagnale Jr. (played on stage by Aaron Tveit), whose teenage escapades are the basis for the musical and the 2002 film of the same name. Immediately following the 8pm performance, Mr. Abagnale will host an on stage post-show talk back and Q&A. Tickets for this performance can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com and at The Neil Simon Box Office (250 West 52nd Street). Only ticketholders for that evening's performance will be able to attend the Talk Back.
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Cast Recording Gets 6/28 Release; 5/23 Digital
by Nicole Rosky - May 11, 2011
Ghostlight Records is proud to confirm the release of the Original Broadway Cast Recording of ‘Catch Me If You Can'. The album is set for May 23rd digital and June 28th physical release, and captures music from the new production based on the hit DreamWorks film and the incredible true story that inspired it.
DIARY OF A CHORUS GIRL: Episode 9; Fly, Fly Away
by Nicole Rosky - May 11, 2011
DanceOn, the YouTube partnership channel exclusive to dance videos, released the ninth episode of DIARY OF A CHORUS GIRL today. Alex Ellis chats with Kerry Butler who plays Brenda Strong, the leading role Alex understudies, and gets the chance to sing Brenda's show-stopping number 'Fly, Fly Away' for the first time in front of a live audience.
Frank Abagnale Jr. Set for CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Talkback, 5/12
by Nicole Rosky - May 9, 2011
On Thursday, May 12, audience members at the new Broadway musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN will get the chance to hear first-hand from the real Frank W. Abagnale Jr. (played on stage by Aaron Tveit), whose teenage escapades are the basis for the musical and the 2002 film of the same name. Immediately following the 8pm performance, Mr. Abagnale will host an on stage post-show talk back and Q&A. Tickets for this performance can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com and at The Neil Simon Box Office (250 West 52nd Street). Only ticketholders for that evening's performance will be able to attend the Talk Back.
STAGE TUBE: Behind CATCH ME's Commerical Shoot!
by Nicole Rosky - May 6, 2011
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN stars Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz as Carl Hanratty, Aaron Tveit as Frank Abagnale, Jr., Tony Nominee Tom Wopat as Frank Abagnale, Sr. and Tony Nominee Kerry Butler as Brenda Strong. This new musical, created by a team of Tony winners, features a book by Terrence McNally, music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, choreography by Jerry Mitchell and is directed by Jack O'Brien. Click below for a behind the scenes look at the making of the show's television commercial.
DIARY OF A CHORUS GIRL: Episode 8; Being on Bway
by Nicole Rosky - May 4, 2011
DanceOn, a YouTube partnership channel exclusive to dance, released the sixth episode of DIARY OF A CHORUS GIRL today. The cast of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is rehearsing during the day and performing at night in preparation for their April 10th opening! Alex sits down with Tony Award-winning director Jack O'Brien to chat about what it means to 'be' on Broadway.
STAGE TUBE: Matthew Morrison Visits CATCH ME IF YOU CAN!
by Kelsey Denette - May 3, 2011
This past week, Matthew Morrison once again resided in a Broadway theatre - visiting Aaron Tveit, Tom Wopat, Norbert Leo Butz, his HAIRSPRAY costar Kerry Butler, and the rest of the cast of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN; view his backstage thoughts below!
SPOTLIGHT ON NY POPS: Tom Wopat Talks CATCH ME & More
by Pat Cerasaro - May 2, 2011
One of the busiest leading men on Broadway since his two-year stint in the smash hit revival of Irving Berlin's ANNIE GET YOUR GUN co-starring Bernadette Peters (and, later, Susan Lucci and Reba McIntire), having appeared in Joe Mantello's highly-lauded revival of David Mamet's Pulitzer Prize-winning GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS and last season's Sondheim musical retrospective SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM, the original star of DUKES OF HAZZARD himself, Tom Wopat, can currently be seen eight times a week in the jet-set new musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. In this career-spanning retrospective interview, Wopat and I take a look at his TV work ranging from directing DUKES to co-starring on CYBILL and bring it all the way to today with TAKING CHANCE on HBO and last year's JONAH HEX feature film. We also have news on John Doyle's directorial debut MAIN ST. co-starring Orlando Bloom, Ellen Burstyn and many more, as well as a thorough discussion of his musical side: Sondheim, his recording career, upcoming albums, concerts and more - plus, a complete consideration of his newest Broadway venture CATCH ME IF YOU CAN in anticipation of the NY Pops tribute to Bob Hope that he is co-starring in alongside Kelli O'Hara, Aaron Lazar and many more this Monday, also featuring a special presentation by legendary theatre icon Angela Lansbury. More information - and tickets - are available here.
DIARY OF A CHORUS GIRL: Episode 7; Previews!
by Nicole Rosky - April 27, 2011
DanceOn, a YouTube partnership channel exclusive to dance, released the seventh episode of DIARY OF A CHORUS GIRL today. The cast and crew of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN prepare for the start of previews, and Alex Ellis has her first performance on a Broadway stage! Click below to watch the episode!