Norbert Leo Butz News

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Catch Me' a 'Big Fish' in the Loop, 'Barnum' and 'Sweet Charity' keep Coleman in the spotlight, 'The Pajama Game' up north, 'Oliver! out west, two from Theo Ubique and more!

Stars of Second Stage Theatre's The Last Five Years, Betsy Wolfe and Adam Kantor, recently recorded the cast album for their production and then sat down to talk about it. Watch Kantor perform 'Shiksa Goddess,' then Wolfe joins him in a portion of 'Goodbye Until Tomorrow/I Could Never Rescue You.'

Stars of the new Big Fish musical, Norbert Leo Butz and Kate Baldwin, as well as director/chorgeographer Susan Stroman, spoke with WGN TV about the premiere in Chicago which is now in tech rehearsals. In this interview, Stroman says working on this show is 'Tiring, exhausting, but fun,' Butz talks about how tech is really Susan's time, and Baldwin discusses the journey of this 'fantastical' show.

On Monday, April 8, television personality CARSON KRESSLEY will host "Karaoke Nights," an evening of Karaoke madness and fun at the Ryan Center.

If you haven't had the chance to catch up on your theater news, look no further than today's recap of all things theater - exclusive features, interviews, reviews and more! - around the Broadway World for the week of March 18!

According to the New York Post, Katie Holmes is eager to return to Broadway, but this time in a musical. The NYP writes that Holmes is 'interested in finding another theater project' and will soon start recording music with pianist Peter Cincotti.

BIG FISH might not be heading to Broadway until Fall 2013, but the Chicago production is currently gearing up, and you can check out two just-released promo images of the shows stars (Norbert Leo Butz and Kate Baldwin) below!

On Wednesday, March 20, 2013, BroadwayWorld's Chicago Regional Editor, Paul W. Thompson, sat down for exclusive talks with co-star Bobby Steggert, with the writing team of Andrew Lippa (music and lyrics) and John August (book) and with co-star Kate Baldwin in the balcony lobby of Chicago's Oriental Theatre. Here is his report:

Below, check out two new songs from the show: 'Fight the Dragons' as sung by Norbert Leo Butz and 'Time Stops' as sung by Butz and Kate Baldwin. Catch a first listen below!

In the video below, director Susan Stroman chats with 'Windy City Live' about the new musical and stars Kate Baldwin & Norbert Leo Butz perform 'Time Stops.' Check it out below!

In an all-new interview featured in the upcoming issue of Allure Magazine, Katie Holmes spoke about her hopes and plans for the future, which may include an exit from the entertainment industry.

BIG FISH, a new musical based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and the 2003 Columbia Pictures film written by John August, will open Sunday, October 6, 2013, at Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street). Directed and choreographed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman (Contact, The Producers, The Scottsboro Boys), with music and lyrics by Grammy and Tony Award nominee Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party, The Addams Family), a book by Grammy and BAFTA Award nominee John August (Frankenweenie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Big Fish begins previews on Broadway Thursday, September 5, 2013. CLICK HERE to listen to 'Time Stops' as sung by Norbert Leo Butz and Kate Baldwin!

The New Jersey Theatre Alliance and Midtown Direct Rep will present a reading of the play 7.5 Wondrous Act(s) of True Love by Jeremy Desmon as part of Midtown Direct Rep's recently launched play development series focused on new and innovative American theatre. Today's March 17th reading is part of The Stages Festival, an annual statewide program that provides discounted and free theatre performances, workshops and events throughout the month of March. This performance, typically $15 per ticket, will have a limited quantity of free tickets available as part of the Stages Festival. (Limit two per patron while supplies last).

It used to be, in days gone by, that hit Broadway shows would be made into movies; now, it's the reverse. With a dearth of ideas for Broadway musicals, the trend lately has been to turn to the big screen and revamp a popular film for the stage, adding song and dance. Such was the case with 9 to 5 and later Legally Blonde engendering quite a bit of success. Those two had female stars at the core, so it's high time a male got some attention. Voila! Catch Me If You Can has a quirky real-life story about an anti-hero Frank Abagnale Jr. (Stephen Anthony) who in the 60s was called the Johnny Appleseed of fraud. The outstanding creative team of book writer Terrence McNally and musical wizards Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman took an old idea and created an entertainingly fresh showcase around it. The resultant Catch Me If You Can which received several Tony Award nominations in 2012 - one win for Norbert Leo Butz as Best Featured Actor playing Agent Carl Hanratty - is on tour and now playing the Pantages through March 24 with Merritt David Janes essaying Hanratty.

BIG FISH, a new musical based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and the 2003 Columbia Pictures film written by John August, will offer $29 tickets to college students for its first four performances, April 2-5, 2013. Students will also be invited to attend a Q&A following the show with the cast and creative team members. 200 tickets per performance will be available at this special price when students use the code UNIVERSITY. Tickets are available online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Jason Robert Brown's score is worth the visit.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, March 3, 2013 - Sunday, March 3, 2013.

Today in 2005, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels openend at the Imperial Theatre, where it ran for 627 performances.Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a Broadway musical, with music and lyrics by David Yazbek and a book by Jeffrey Lane; it is based on the 1988 film of the same name. The director was Jack O'Brien, choreographer was Jerry Mitchell, scenic design by David Rockwell, costume design by Gregg carves, and lighting design was by Kenneth Posner. The cast included John Lithgow, Norbert Leo Butz, and Sherie Rene Scott, with Joanna Gleason and Gregory Jbara.

One of the newest ventures of Broadway Records is the release of a new series of CDs recorded live at 54 Below in New York City. The first singer to open the elegant new night club space was Broadway's extraordinary Patti Lupone last June, 2012. So it is only fitting that her Far Away Places be the first recording. Two-time Tony Award winning actor/singer Norbert Leo Butz played the room in August, 2012. His exciting Memories & Mayhem is the second live CD released.

The New Jersey Theatre Alliance and Midtown Direct Rep will present a reading of the play 7.5 Wondrous Act(s) of True Love by Jeremy Desmon as part of Midtown Direct Rep's recently launched play development series focused on new and innovative American theatre. This March 17th reading is part of The Stages Festival, an annual statewide program that provides discounted and free theatre performances, workshops and events throughout the month of March. This performance, typically $15 per ticket, will have a limited quantity of free tickets available as part of the Stages Festival. (Limit two per patron while supplies last).