"'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" star Norbert Leo Butz is contracted with the show through July. Which means Broadway audiences still have time to catch him acting up as the cut-rate con man Freddy Benson.
So what's next for the Tony winner: Movies? TV? Nope. He's ready for more Freddy. "Looks like I'm doing the tour," he confided. The road production begins in Seattle on Aug. 6. No word yet on who will take over for Butz, but one actor now on Broadway in a killer role is the rumored replacement."
The actor with the killer role is thought to be Brian d'Arcy James, from what I've heard....Let the thoughts begin!
Well, as you can tell by my avatar (best night of my life) I'm a really huge Brian fan. So I think it would be really great to see.. but yeah, I thought he was doing Pirate Queen...
Um, no. I want to die. Because a) the tour probably won't come to SF while he's on it (when do they announce the dates?), b) I was really looking forward to his sitcom, crap though it probably would be, c) he needs to rest his voice for a year or so. What if he loses it altogether?
DRS isn't really a vocally demanding role. There's a few high notes, but its mostly within his range. I know DRS is coming to ATL, so I might have to drive over and see him. I wish I had see "Lestat" while in NYC instead of DRS - now that I know I can see him on tour.
I hope he gets the chance to do some more new works.
DATES AS OF NOW:
Seattle Aug. 4-12, 2006
Costa Mesa Aug. 29-Sept 10, 2006
Tempe Sep. 12-17, 2006
Houston Sep. 19-Oct 1, 2006
Columbus October 24-29, 2006
Atlanta Oct 31-Nov. 5,2006
Louisville Nov.7-12,2006
Tampa Bay Nov. 14-19,2006
Baltimore Nov.21-Dec.3, 2006
Miami Dec.5-1-,2006
Cinnicinnati Dec.19-31,2006
Milwaukee Jan.2-7,2007
Minneapolis Jan.9-14,2007
Appleton Jan.16-21,2007
Pittsburgh Jan.23-28,2007
Boston March 6-18,2007
San Antonio April 10-15,2007
--->Anyone know if there will be more dates announced?
Updated On: 5/2/06 at 01:04 PM
I would be so frickin excited if Jim Stanek did it, he'd be perfect.
What about Alexander Gemignani? Certainly he's never done a role this silly before since Assassins and Sweeney, but I bet he could do it. Of course I would LOVE to see Mano in this role as well, just as long as I can see him in Sweeney first!
I have heard Brian quite a bit on the rumor mill. I think people were saying that there actors have outs in their contract, and something like his role isn't the most leading in PQ, so if he wanted to do Freddy, which they don't see why he wouldn't, he could opt out of PQ for it...or something.
"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli