Norbert Leo Butz To Star Opposite Marvel In Weller's 'Fifty Words'

  MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that Tony Award-winner Norbert Leo Butz has been signed to star opposite Elizabeth Marvel in the World Premiere Production of Michael Weller's Fifty Words, under the direction of Austin Pendleton.  The two-character play begins performances at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) on September 10 and continues through October 25, with an opening night set for Sunday, September 28 at 6:30 p.m.
 
New York theatre favorite Butz returns to the stage following his critically acclaimed performance in last season's Broadway production of the new Mark Twain play Is He Dead?  Butz rocketed to stardom in 2005 with his now legendary portrayal of 'Freddy Benson' in the musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, for which he won virtually every accolade and award in the book including Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Astaire and Drama League Awards as well as unanimous critical raves.  Fans also know him for originating the role of 'Fiyero' in Wicked, as well as his star turns in Cabaret, Thou Shalt Not (Tony Award-nomination) and Rent.  Off Broadway appearances include Buicks and Jason Robert Brown's chamber musical The Last Five Years at the Minetta Lane Theatre, opposite his Dirty Rotten co-star Sherie Rene Scott.  His latest film appearance was in Dan in Real Life, starring Steve Carell.
 
In Fifty Words, something's gone awry behind the idyllic façade of Jan and Adam's Brooklyn brownstone.  At 9:10 p.m., they're reveling in the freedom of having waved off their young son, Greg, to a neighborhood sleepover.  By 9:30 p.m., things have gone, well…way past awry.  Alternately funny and frightening, Fifty Words is an expansive look at modern marriage, as seen through the looking glass of one couple's long night's journey into day.

Academy Award-nominee Michael Weller shot to stardom with his powerful anti-war drama, Moonchildren.  Weller's unique voice, at once moving and revelatory, has garnered acclaim throughout three decades of productions at distinguished theaters such as Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company and New York's Circle-in-the-Square.  Renowned actor and director Austin Pendleton will direct Elizabeth Marvel, a true virtuoso of the modern stage, and Tony Award-winner Norbert Leo Butz, in this brutal and insightful new work by one of America's most perceptive playwrights. 
 
Individual tickets to Fifty Words are on sale now through TicketCentral.com or by calling 212-279-4200.  Subscriptions are also available now and are priced as low as $79 for MCC's entire three play season.  For more information and to purchase packages, visit www.mcctheater.org or contact TicketCentral directly at www.ticketcentral.com or call 212-279-4200.
 
MCC Theater is one of New York City's leading Off Broadway theater companies, committed to presenting New York and world premieres each season.  When MCC Theater was founded in 1986, its mission was simple: to bring new theatrical voices to theater-going audiences.  MCC Theater continues to accomplish this yearly through presentation of its mainstage works; its Literary Program, which actively seeks and develops new and emerging writers and its Education & Outreach Program, allowing more than 1,200 students yearly to experience theater, increase literacy and discover their own voices in the arts.  Notable MCC Theater highlights include: their 2008 Broadway-bound production of Neil LaBute's reasons to be pretty (to open at a theatre to be announced in February, 2009), the 2004 Tony-winning production of Bryony Lavery's Frozen; Neil LaBute's Fat Pig; Rebecca Gilman's The Glory of Living; Marsha Norman's Trudy Blue; Margaret Edson's Pulitzer Prize-winning Wit; Tim Blake Nelson's The Grey Zone and Alan Bowne's Beirut.  Over the years, the dedication to the work of new and emerging artists has earned MCC Theater a variety of awards.  For a complete production history, visit www.mcctheater.org

Photo Credit Peter James Zielinski

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