Official Norbert Leo Butz Love Thread- Page 57

[Alejandra925]

Posted: 6/4/05 at 10:49am

"In their Own Words"--David Yazbek and Jack O Brien. I love what David says about Norbert!

David Yazbek
Best Original Score Written for the Theatre, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Q: Everybody in your cast is a star. What is it like to write for them?

David Yazbek: It's very relaxing because you know that when you write a song it's going to be handled well and it's not just that these people are stars, they're also extremely intelligent actors and great comedians. So they understand the timing, they understand how to land jokes. And it's a pleasure!

Q: Were any of these songs written for these particular actors?

Yazbek: Yes, some of them were. Once we got to San Diego and doing the show, I got to write new songs and I knew who I was writing for. I knew what they were good at and what their styles were. The 11-o'clock number, "Dirty Rotten Number," I knew I was writing for John Lithgow with all his style, and I could almost see him dancing to it. And Norbert Leo Butz, who by then had impressed me as an incredibly energetic and somewhat lunatic performer.

Q: How about "Great Big Stuff"?

Yazbek: "Great Big Stuff" I wrote before the show was cast, but I can't imagine anyone doing it better than Norbert Leo Butz. I mean my demo was pretty good but Norbert kills that song--and I mean that in a positive way.


Jack O'Brien
Best Direction of a Musical, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels


Q: What was the most fun moment to stage?


Jack O'Brien: I think lunch. Lunch was pretty funny. You know, we all laughed from the moment we met. And at all the subsequent rehearsals we kept slapping each other and kidding each other and showing off for each other, and so one thing didn't stick out until it started to come together by itself. And I think that's the truth about comedy. It's amazing that people laugh at the same time. I mean you can be moved a lot of different ways but there's only one way to laugh--which is out loud. So it's kind of a mirror. When that happens, when you get that one, you know you're right.

Q: Sondheim says that comedic songs are the most difficult to write, and this show is comedy song after comedy song. Did that make these numbers difficult to stage?

O'Brien: It depends on how well the joke lands in the song. David Yazbek is a kind of freak genius about making people laugh. He leaves air in his songs for you to laugh, so you don't lose the next joke. So no, you just find the truth of them, of David's stuff, and let the rest take care of itself.

Q: Can you talk about what it's like to work with John Lithgow?

O'Brien: The thing about John, and I have to say this, is he's the funniest guy. He's such a gentleman and he's such a hub around which this play takes place. He makes it possible for anybody to be funny. So basically I just stay out of his way and encourage him. He's a dear friend, and I let him do what he wants to do because he is amazing. Amazing!

[Alejandra925]

Posted: 6/4/05 at 10:58am

I'm on a roll this morning LOL. The Tony Awards Web site posted pictures from the rehearsal (which they acquired from WireImage).

Here they are!

A.
Updated On: 6/4/05 at 10:58 AM

[hedwig14]

Posted: 6/4/05 at 11:55am

Alejandra: Thanks for all the Norbert and DRS goodies. I love the look on his face in those pics, and I can't wait to see them perform tomorrow night!


H.

[broadway betty]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 12:00am

Alejandra-You're an angel for giving us so many goodies! So excited for tomorrow! It's going to be a great night! I hope. :)

[wendy72]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 12:23am

Since Matthew and Nathan are going to be there (obviously promoting not only The Producers movie, but the Odd Couple)..I am thinking they will either give out the Best Actor in a Musical Tony, or the Best Musical.

I'm looking at the list of presenters and I can't imagine which female could present rather than a male...maybe Bernadette? Someone from musical theatre, I would suppose, rather than say Angela Bassett.

Anyone else have a guess?

[broadway betty]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 2:58am

Maybe Matthew and Nathan will hand out best musical. Nathan and SJP did so last year. As for best actor, who knows? Maybe some movie star. Nicole Kidman and Renee Zippidy-dippidy gave out best actor and actress last year, so... Oy! Do I hate movie people at the Tonys but what can you do? They say it's for ratings but ratings stink anyway.

17 HOURS UNTIL THE 59TH ANNUAL TONY AWARDS!!!

GO NORBERT!!!!

[hedwig14]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 3:03am

"Renee Zippidy-dippidy" huh? Tee Hee.

BTW-bb, I finally got my LITP cd this week. So beautiful.


H.

[broadway betty]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 3:18am

Hedwig-You have Piazza, yay! So beeeyuuuuteeefulll! I've been listening to it at least three times a day. So addictive!

16 HOURS AND 40 MINUTES AWAY!

[ainmama2001]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 8:00am

The composer for ALITP, Adam Guettel, is the son of Mary Rogers...the daughter of THE Rogers... of Rogers and Hamerstein.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 9:39am

I will be watching the awards but sadly cannot be on line while doing it. I'll check the board soonest for all commentary. Again thanks for the rehersal interview bites! When Norb opened in DRS 6 of his family came came up for the show. Wonder if the whole family will show for this- It would give him his own cheering section- NOT including the rest of the audience!

[broadway betty]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 10:09am

ainmama-

Everytime Adam Guettel is mentioned in the papers or in an interview, whatever, they always mention that he's Richard Rogers' grandson. He doesn't need any favors, his work can stand on it's own. But it's kinda cool that he's sorta theatre royalty. BTW, welcome to the boards and this thread!

I don't think I'll be online during the awards, I'll be too nervous maneuvering the remote cutting out the commercials. I only slept 4 hours last night or early this morning and I feel great. I'm too excited to sleep! The CBS Tony special is in less than 2 hours.

LESS THAN 10 HOURS AWAY!!!!

[ainmama2001]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 12:49pm

I'm really new to the whole theatre scene here...having been out of it for a long time due to having kids and all...so if I sound stupid or have many more "duh" moments, forgive me.

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 12:52pm

I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE NORBIE!!!!!!!!!!!

JUST THOUGHT THAT ID SHARE

hes got a great personality, i personally find him really hot, hes got teh sexiest voice ive ever heard in my life ((melts into a puddle of mush))

[gavrochegirl]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 12:59pm

Norbert!! Whoo! Bad actor? No. Lunatic? According to Mr. Yazbek, yes!

[sabrelady]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 1:00pm

Hon, u are hyperventilating!! Deeep sloow breaths! In thru the nose out thru the mouth. Otherwise someone is gonna have to dial 911 for u when Norb actually wins! ( *smiles indulgently*)

[hedwig14]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 1:10pm

Is anybody here on the west coast like myself? I'm going to have to avoid the internet like the plague starting at 5p, I'm guessing. So disappointed about the tape delay here in SoCal.

[ainmama2001]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 1:11pm

I love Hank Azaria and Tim Curry and all the guys from Spamalot...but it's mostly commercialism with that show. Not that DRS isn't based on a pretty damn funny movie too, but the talent in DRS and the creativity and talent (a.k.a- The Norbster) is just not surpassable.

NORB FOR PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[broadway betty]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 1:14pm

Norb for president, lol!

LESS THAN 7 HOURS AWAY!!!

NORBERT! TONY! NORBERT! TONY!

[broadway betty]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 1:17pm

BTW, did anyone in the NY area see the CBS Tony special? They showed footage of DRS in the recording studio and lots of DRS clips along with John Lithgow interviews.

[ainmama2001]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 1:17pm

(Continues the chant) NORBERT! NORBERT! TONY! TONY!

[gavrochegirl]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 1:31pm

NORBERT! NORBERT! TONY! TONY!

And I am avoiding the internet at 5pm too, because the Tonys are being delayed here! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.....

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 1:33pm

YES I SAY WE DO START A NORB FOR PRESIDENT CAMPAIGN!
IM A NORBIE-CRAT MYSELF

[hedwig14]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 1:38pm

gavrochegirl: It's so painful isn't it? I did find the TV Guide channel on my set though so I will at least be able to watch the red carpet starting at 7p (my time, of course).

Scoundrel: LOL I don't know about president, I would definitely settle for a fabulous performance tonight and hopefully a statue for him to take home.

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 2:31pm

this is my fave pic of norbie...
cuz im in it!!!! arent we cute together? massive smile on my face that day! lol. i gotta edit out some of the other random people in the pic later lol.

Updated On: 6/5/05 at 02:31 PM

[sabrelady]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 3:32pm

AWW! How cute (u2) LOL . But I stand by my advise u will scream yourself into an anurysm when the boychick wins.


( Personally I describe myself as a Butzonian)
Updated On: 6/5/05 at 03:32 PM