Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical- Page 2
Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
#25re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/30/05 at 11:39pmThe Last Five Years. End of discussion for me.
2. Great buckets of Spoffnor, they're going to sing!
3. "I love shrubs that are historical." -Johnny and The Sprites
4. "We're not singing it to you, we're singing it for us." -Rosario Dawson, about La Vie Boheme
5. "The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours." -The History Boys
6. "Pass the parcel. That's sometimes all you can do. Take it, feel it and pass it on. Not for me, not for you, but for someone, somewhere, one day. Pass it on, boys. That's the game I want you to learn. Pass it on." -The History Boys
Over_the_Moon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/22/05
#26re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/30/05 at 11:54pmno one's mentioned tick, tick...BOOM!?
Becky
Broadway Star Joined: 5/14/03
#27re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/31/05 at 12:01am
no one's mentioned tick, tick...BOOM!?
Norbert didn't do TTB.
#28re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/31/05 at 12:05am
I think Last Five Years is winning this vote by quite a large margin :) I think that's so funny and wonderful considering that L5Y was this small off-broadway show that was only open for a couple months and Wicked and DRS are these huge blockbuster broadway musicals.
Yay for the little guy :)
Labashier
Stand-by Joined: 10/9/04
#29re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/31/05 at 12:31am
I've actually gotta say DRS... it's the first time he's really gotten to take on a comic role, and he's HILARIOUS!
Also, you forgot to mention Rent. I never saw him, but I bet he made a fantastic Roger.
MTRBOI24
Broadway Star Joined: 12/11/04
#30re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/31/05 at 1:50amHOW COULD YOU FORGET! The National Tour Of Cabaret!
kitkatgirl54
Leading Actor Joined: 5/19/04
#31re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/31/05 at 2:13ami've seen him in rent and wicked ... although i didn't see him in the show, on the L5Y recording he makes me cry .. so there's the answer.
#32re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/31/05 at 2:33amLAST 5 YEARS!!!!!! "if I didn't believe in you..." AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Mamie
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/26/04
#33re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/31/05 at 2:43am
Good Lord. Does anyone on this board take anything in moderation? Why not just change his name to Norbert Menzel and be done with it. The silly mania has started all over again.
(YES, I've seen DRS. YES, he's funny. NO, he doesn't walk on water.)
A click for life.
mamie4 5/14/03
#34re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/31/05 at 2:45am
Summer's here. We're getting bored :) At least I am.
It just means more broadwayworld time and more obsessive threads...HA.
kitkatgirl54
Leading Actor Joined: 5/19/04
#35re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/31/05 at 3:13amha yeah i know i've answered 3 things i think today with 'well, last 5 years is good because...'
#36re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/31/05 at 2:08pm
I have to confess - I was not really a Norbert fan until hearing him sing "Shiksa Goddess" in L5Y. I listened to that for the first time on the El in Chicago, and laughed out loud. Then he further won my heart with "If I didn't believe in you." So I'm definitely saying L5Y...
Though I think Rent should be added to this list, even though he's not on a recording of it.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#37re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/31/05 at 4:06pmEven though I haven't seen him in anything live as of today, the Last Five Years is my favorite cast recording of his.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#38re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/31/05 at 4:16pmI'm writing in Cabaret. He was spectacular! L5Y was wonderful also, but Cabaret was a revelation!
#39re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/31/05 at 4:45pmThe Last 5 Years...no doubt about it!
CMoney3
Swing Joined: 5/31/05
#41re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/31/05 at 5:49pmok...shiksa goddess and if i didnt believe in you...can i melt into gush now or later? <333
wendy72
Broadway Star Joined: 5/9/04
#42re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/31/05 at 6:49pmIf I didn't believe in you...you can just imagine Norbs acting this part..so heartfelt, very relatable for anyone who has been in a troubled relationship.
#43re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/31/05 at 6:52pmMy vote is DRS.
sabrelady
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#44re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/31/05 at 7:38pm
Sorry but Menzel is simply not in Norb's league. Not as a singer Not as an actor. That is not gush that is a careful analysis. Norb truly creates all his roles from Caberet to Wicked to Last 5 Years. Norb also has strong classical work as a foundation too. He really never intended a musical theatre career, dramatic roles were his strength. ( & his musical ability may yet bite him in the behind when it comes to his future career. Outside of Kevin Kline I can't think of any recent performers who started in musicals & went on to be**** STARS**** NO Travolta & Zeta -Jones do not count!!! )And I actually like his speaking voice more than his singing and I really enjoy his singing!!
Updated On: 5/31/05 at 07:38 PM
BroadwayGirl107
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/26/03
#45re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/31/05 at 7:46pm
"That is not gush that is a careful analysis."
No, that's an opinion. I'm quite capable of careful analysis, and respectfully disagree.
As for my favorite Norbert show...I've only seen him in Wicked *yawn* and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Obviously he was at least 150 tmes better in DRS...I could see him being great in The Last Five Years as well, though...judging from the recording. For some reason, whenever I heard him sing anything from Rent, it left me with something to be desired, surprisingly. Maybe he grew into it further into his run...
sabrelady
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#46re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/31/05 at 8:00pmTo explain further-(and if u listen to Norb on the Working in the Theatre presentation on the Theatre Wing site) u can hear the construction he puts into his roles -talking about the character arc of Freddie- one of the great Vulgarians of stage and could be played as simply as that but he goes farther. As ee did in Wicked w one of the most underwritten hero roles in recent memory. There were so many subtle bits of business that seeing Derrick Williams in the role only cemented the realization of how good a performer he(Norb) is. Then there is the performance no one mentioned- Thou Shalt Not. The show was misguided but Norb got the ONLY good reviews & a Tony nom so h e certainly must be doing something right(how many people saw it & said they "knew" they were seeing someone extraordinary?)He has what I consider the whole package- technique, talent, intelligence and frankly a voice that simply makes me happy I can hear>
wendy72
Broadway Star Joined: 5/9/04
#47re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/31/05 at 8:16pmHe is a very good actor and is blessed with an amazing singing voice..for anyone who has seen DRS (and I've seen it twice, including once from the front row)..when Freddy says he could cause Lawrence some distruption because "I have a big mouth"..Norbs definitely infuses that moment with some dramatic tension, which one does not normally associate with a farce like "DRS". Personally, I can't wait to see him in a "straight" dramatic role..either on the stage or in an independent film.
BroadwayGirl107
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/26/03
#48re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/31/05 at 9:23pm
sabrelady, I'm sure if Idina had been on one of those seminars, she could talk about all the contruction...each little subtlty she puts into her characters. Her body language, her vocal characterization, the type of characters she plays shows her diversity, and seeing anyone else in Wicked (or Rent...) would confirm just how much Idina brings to the table that is not called for in any script. Always above and beyond.
Not saying that Norbert isn't a fabulous performer, I think he's marvelous...but in a different league? No. Unlike Idina, in Wicked he brought nothing special to the table. Of course he had little to work with, but he still didn't seem to go beyond what he was given.
Corine2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/14/03
#49re: Favorite Norbert Leo Butz Musical
Posted: 5/31/05 at 10:21pm
The Last Five Years. I loved that little show. One of the best things I have ever seen.
My best friend turned to me at the end and said "That was the best thing you have taken me to see, including Forbidden Broadway." I wanted to kill her, but I loved it too.
Just not as much as FB.
I hated "Thou Shalt Not" but he blew me away.
Who hated the tug boat song.
Updated On: 5/31/05 at 10:21 PM
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