Norbert Leo Butz News

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) is pleased to announce another all-star line-up for the company's annual gala, to be held Monday, March 9, 2009 at The Hammerstein Ballroom (311 West 34th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues).

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) is pleased to announce another all-star line-up for the company's annual gala, to be held Monday, March 9, 2009 at The Hammerstein Ballroom (311 West 34th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues).

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) is pleased to announce another all-star line-up for the company's annual gala, to be held Monday, March 9, 2009 at The Hammerstein Ballroom (311 West 34th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues).

I ATE WHAT? THEATRE, in conjunction with The Looking Glass Theatre Space Grant Program, is pleased to announce the return of Simona Berman’s acclaimed JUST SHUT UP & SMILE!, directed by Diana Basmajian. JUST SHUT UP & SMILE! will play a special limited engagement at The Looking Glass Theatre (422 West 57th Street, btw 9th/10th Ave). Performances begin Monday, March 16 and continue thru Friday, April 3.

The Drama League (Jano Herbosch, President) is pleased to announce that Jeremy Irons (Broadway's Impressionism) and Cynthia Nixon (Off-Broadway's Distracted at the Roundabout Theatre Company), who first starred together as father and daughter in the 1984 Broadway production of The Real Thing, will reunite this spring to serve as co-hosts for The 75th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon.

Tony Nominee Kerry Butler has been cast in the the upcoming musical adaptation of 'Catch Me if You Can,' by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the team behind 'Hairspray.'

The first full recording of Allegro, a 1947 musical by Rodgers & Hammerstein, has just been released on CD. Allegro producer Ted Chapin visited NPR Fresh Air from WHYY, February 17, 2009 to chat about the restored gem.

THE STORY OF MY LIFE, starring Will Chase and Tony Award nominee Malcolm Gets officially began performances last night, Thursday, February 19th at the Booth Theatre. BroadwayWorld's cameras celebrated with the starry crowd after the show at the legendary Sardi's!

THE STORY OF MY LIFE, starring Will Chase and Tony Award nominee Malcolm Gets officially began performances last night, Thursday, February 19th at the Booth Theatre. BroadwayWorld's cameras caught the starry crowd as they arrived for Opening Night!

Broadway Artists Alliance, the dynamic not-for-profit educational organization that is quickly gaining a reputation for ensuring the future of great Broadway talent by bringing together Broadway artists and promising young performers, presented their annual Winter Musical Theatre Workshop February 14th through 16th. Michael Cerveris, currently starring in Hedda Gabler, surprised the students with a visit. Seth Rudetsky moderated the Q&A.

The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization is now home to a newly launched podcast series on iTunes. The Sweetest Sounds, hosted by R&H President Ted Chapin (except where noted), and produced by award-winning NPR documentarian Jeff Lunden, will be an ongoing series of audio podcasts highlighting the musicals and authors we proudly represent.

Broadway Artists Alliance, the dynamic not-for-profit educational organization that is quickly gaining a reputation for ensuring the future of great Broadway talent by bringing together Broadway artists and promising young performers, will present their annual Winter Musical Theatre Workshop February 14th through 16th. Their roster of Broadway special guest instructors is impressive and diverse, ranging from Constantine Maroulis to returning guest Lauren Kennedy.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) is pleased to announce another all-star line-up for the company's annual gala, to be held Monday, March 9, 2009 at The Hammerstein Ballroom (311 West 34th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues).

BROADAWAY BY THE BAY (BBBay), the Peninsula's premiere musical theatre company, is proud to present 'An Evening with Lucie Arnaz,' a benefit concert for Broadway By the Bay, on Sunday, March 22, 2009 at Hotel Sofitel in Redwood City. Tickets range in price from $150 - $200 and are on-sale now at the Broadway By the Bay box office (600 N. Delaware Ave., San Mateo), by phone at 650-579-5565 or online at broadwaybythebay.org. 'We are honored and thrilled that Ms. Arnaz will be lending her support to raise funds for the many programs offered by Broadway By the Bay,' said Executive Director Jim Gardia.

THE SWEETEST SOUNDS -- ALLEGRO Written in 1947, ALLEGRO was preceded in the R&H canon by OKLAHOMA! and CAROUSEL, and followed directly by SOUTH PACIFIC and THE KING AND I. In this podcast, hosted by Jeff Lunden, the bold innovations and experimental aspects of ALLEGRO are explored in the context of the first complete recording of its score, released by Sony Masterworks Broadway today, February 3, 2009. The CD is produced by David Lai, Bruce Pomahac and Ted Chapin.

The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization is thrilled to announce that the first complete recording of Rodgers & Hammerstein's ALLEGRO will be released by Sony Masterworks Broadway on February 3, 2009. The CD is produced by David Lai, Bruce Pomahac and Ted Chapin.

Broadway producers Jeffrey Richards announced in an official statement on Friday that, 'The producers of SPEED THE PLOW have officially filed a grievance with Actors' Equity re: Jeremy Piven's departure. A date for the arbitration is to be determined.' Piven countered with his own response stating, 'The claims made by the producers of Speed-the-Plow are absurd and outrageous. Mr. Piven's serious medical condition has been well documented by multiple physicians. He withdrew from the play due to medical necessity on the advice of his doctors, after he was hospitalized and warned by his physicians that enforced rest was necessary in order to avoid serious medical problems, including a heart attack.' There is now rumors on the street intimating that the grievance was actually filed a week earlier than first reported but was kept quiet as SPEED producers didn't want any more negative press for the hit show. Sources also reveal that Piven's exit from the Broadway drama has given Hollywood producers pause regarding the Emmy winning actor. That being said up until the SPEED-THE-PLOW scandal he was sought after by industry executives and was celebrated by his peers in relation to his work in television and film.

SPEED-THE-PLOW producer Jeffrey Richards is not taking Piven's 'fishy' pleas regarding his departure from the show sitting down. Richards announced in a statement that, 'The producers of SPEED THE PLOW have officially filed a grievance with Actors' Equity re: Jeremy Piven's departure. A date for the arbitration is to be determined.' Jeremy Piven defended his sudden and shocking exit from SPEED-THE-PLOW in an exclusive interview on 'Good Morning America' yesterday morning. Piven told GMA host Diane Sawyer was 'brought to my knees' by his condition and said that on doctor's orders he 'couldn't do it.' 'You talk about 'the show must go on,' this is in my DNA. To have the rap be on me that I walked out on this thing. ... This was the greatest moment of my life,' he revealed to Sawyer. To watch the entire video visit the official ABC GMA site by going here.

Jeremy Piven, for the first time on a national news program defended his sudden and shocking exit from SPEED-THE-PLOW in an exclusive interview on 'Good Morning America' this morning. Piven told GMA host Diane Sawyer was 'brought to my knees' by his condition and said that on doctor's orders he 'couldn't do it.' 'You talk about 'the show must go on,' this is in my DNA. To have the rap be on me that I walked out on this thing. ... This was the greatest moment of my life,' he revealed to Sawyer. To watch the entire video visit the official GMA site by going here.

Jeremy Piven has been talking mercury poisoning for the past number of days and he'll continue his toxicity talking points tour on tomorrow's GOOD MORNING AMERICA between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Jeremy Piven claimed he was too sick with 'mercury poisoning' to show up for his Broadway show and abruptly left the production under a cloud of questions and mystery. In a Dec. 18 statement the play's producers gave a statement regarding the Piven exit, 'We have been advised by Jeremy Piven's medical representatives that he is seriously ill and is unable to fulfill his contractual obligation to Speed-the-Plow. Consequently, he has left the production ten weeks early.'