Norbert Leo Butz Dedicates Tony Award to His CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Cast

Last week, Norbert Leo Butz took a moment during the CATCH ME IF YOU CAN curtain call to thank the company for all of their support and assistance in helping him deliver his Tony-winning performance. This is what he had to say:

"I was honored this past Sunday night with a much deserved Tony Award [Laughter]. I have to explain something to you. I am the luckiest man- this is the second time I've gotten to do this and it's the most terrifying experience you could possibly go through. They ask you to sit three hours in a seat, and my category was last! So for three hours you're thinking 'What am I gonna say if I win?' 'What am I gonna say to my friends and family if I lose?' It's like having to speak while skydiving."

He continued, "If you'll indulge me, I wanna thank every person in this company for the support that they have given me. That award is an award for this entire company. I could not be doing this without the support of all of them- specifically these principals right here."

"This was not an easy process for me. I went through a really tragic loss on this journey, and if it weren't for these two men [Tom Wopat and Aaron Tveit] standing right here, I couldn't have done it."

On his co-star, Aaron Tveit, he added: "This guy right here, I love with all my heart. We have become like brothers, and have not slept a wink since I gave that speech the other night because I was not able to mention this guy. They cut me off, and I was saving the best for last- this is Aaron Tveit. The only thing more impossible than me winning two Tony Awards is that this guy was not nominated for a Tony Award!"

To watch Butz give the heart-felt speech, click here.

On Broadway, Butz has starred in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics, Astaire, Drama League Award winner, Best Actor, Musical), Enron, Speed-the-Plow, Is He Dead?, Wicked (original cast, Fiyero), Thou Shalt Not (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics nominations), Rent (original cast, Broadway debut). Off-Broadway credits include Fifty Words, Buicks (Drama Desk nomination), The Last Five Years (Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel nominations, Drama League Award), Juno and the Paycock (Roundabout), Saved (TFANA). National tours include Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Cabaret (Helen Hayes, Jefferson, Dora and Ovation Awards). Regionally, Butz has graced the stage in Catch Me If You Can (5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle) and productions at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival (four seasons) and Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN captures the astonishing true story of Frank Abagnale, Jr., a world-class con artist who passed himself off as a doctor, a lawyer, and a jet pilot-all before the age of 21. With straight-arrow FBI agent Carl Hanratty on Frank's trail, we're off on a jet-setting, cat-and-mouse chase, as a jazzy, swinging-sixties score keeps this adventure in constant motion. In the end, Agent Hanratty learns he and Frank aren't so very different after all, and Frank finds out what happens when love catches up to a man on the run.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is based on the book and hit 2002 DreamWorks film of the same name directed by Steven Spielberg with screenplay by Jeff Nathanson and book by Frank Abagnale, Jr.

Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz stars as Carl Hanratty and Aaron Tveit stars as Frank Abagnale, Jr. alongside Tony Nominee Tom Wopat as Frank Abagnale, Sr. and Tony Nominee Kerry Butler as Brenda Strong. The cast also features Rachel de Benedet as Paula Abagnale, Linda Hart as Carol Strong, Nick Wyman as Roger Strong, Joe Cassidy, Timothy McCuen Piggee, Brandon Wardell, Sara Andreas, Alex Ellis, Will Erat, Jennifer Frankel, Lisa Gajda, Bob Gaynor, Kearran Giovanni, Nick Kenkel, Grasan Kingsberry, Michael X. Martin, Aleks Pevec, Kristin Piro, Rachelle Rak, Joe Aaron Reid, Angie Schworer, Sabrina Sloan, Sarrah Strimel, Charlie Sutton, Katie Webber and Candice Marie Woods.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN features a Tony Award-winning "dream team," with a book by Terrence McNally (The Full Monty, Ragtime), an irresistible score by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman (Hairspray), choreography by Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray, Legally Blonde) and direction by Jack O'Brien (Hairspray, The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels).

Scenic design for CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is by David Rockwell (Hairspray), costume design is by five-time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long (The Producers), lighting design is by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner (Wicked) and sound design is by Drama Desk winner Steve Kennedy (Jersey Boys). The Music Director is John McDaniel.

 

 

 

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