Norbert Leo Butz Status Update

Oh my gosh, I hope he gets better soon! Thank you for the update, Ryan.

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Poor Norbert. I have way too much time on my hands, so did some searching around the net...I found this from a website for a singer, and it seems his situation is similar to Norbert's, he also gives info on nodes in general and such:

"I have developed marks on my vocal chords that are the early signs of something called a node. In short, a node is a callous on the vocal chords that is cause from excessive friction from overuse or misuse. Once a node has hardened, it almost always requires surgery to remove. Needless to say, a paper thin muscle membrane like a vocal chord is highly affected by any degree of change to its size or shape. Many folks who have this surgery can never sing again, whereas the lucky ones who regain their voices will attest to upwards of a year of no singing and limited talking, including a lengthy rehabilitation period to rebuild their voices. What I have is still in what's termed a "fleshy" state, meaning, with the proper drugs (steroids to dry up the area, allegra to stop the sinusitis irritation from the allergies, and prevacid to stop the acid in my stomach from leaking into my throat at night) and a healthy period of rest, I should make a full recovery. Hence, the cancellations. "

Hopefully, Norbert's situation is similar and he will be able to make a full recovery with whatever time is necessary. Knowing more of the sitatuion, I don't care at all about not seeing him Sunday or even in John's last or starting w/ Pryce, I just wish for his recovery. To say DRS would be a mess is exaggerating I think and anyway, really not the main concern given the situation.

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Okay, now I'm worried for Norbert because I read that. I just want to give him a giant hug right now.

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All my prayers that Norbert's voice makes a full recovery. Not just for those of us who love to watch him, but for HIM period. Being a singer, I can't even imagine facing the prospect of losing my voice permanently.

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Well Julie Andrews was a bit older. Age must certainly be a factor, no?

Yeah, Julie Andrews opted to get surgery instead of sitting it out. Surgery yields immediate results, but the voice never reaches the same potential that it had before the operation.

It's better to go to the trouble to not talk for like 3 months until it goes away by itself.

Wow guys, we are all overreacting. Nodes aren't good things, to be sure, but it seems that he caught this early (he hadn't been consistently missing performances the entire run, so this is a new thing) so he will probably be fine with a few weeks vocal rest. The nodes didn't kill Julie Andrews voice, it was the surgery for it, a route that she chose to take. FYI, MOST of nodes DO NOT require surgery, just voice rest. Also, Butz, is a full 20 years younger than Andrews was at the time of her voice problems. If he was able to perform without problem tonight, h will most likely be just fine in a few weeks.

And, well... her surgery was also fairly BOTCHED.

I'm not jumping off the deep end, (sorry if my first post sounded like it)... I'm just remembering a friend who had the same problem who I talked to for a long time about the possibility of not being able to sing again- which terrified him.

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Wickedrentq, try explaining how it is not appropriate to be dissapointed to two kids who have wanted to see this show since it opened. You have no control over your initial, gut response to ANY situation--especially if you're young and don't understand the severity of nodes.

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Vocal Nodes or Nodules are very common with singers. They are small knots that form on the vocal folds of your vocal chords. It can cause singers to sound hoarse while talking and (while singing) can sound "airy" or "raspy" because when the knots form they prevent the vocal chords from closing together when they vibrate. It’s the athletes sprained or pulled muscle of the singing world. They form from vocal stress, strain, overuse, misuse, if the singer doesn't take time to fully recover from a sore throat or other respiratory illness, and probably a number of other things. Take any show on Broadway these days and it's a wonder more performers don't have to deal with this. Vocal rest is almost always prescribed to recover. If the nodes go untreated for whatever amount of time the knots harden and then are called cysts. At this point they require surgery to get rid of. A vocal friend of mine just has this surgery a few months ago, has recovered wonderfully and is giving her DMA vocal recital in a few weeks. So best of luck to Norbert and hopefully his will heal without having to resort to surgery.

I'm surprised Greg hasn't mentioned anything about this. I mean, he wouldn't want to worry fans, but to completely deny the real reason is... so Hollywood.

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Oy, poor Norbert. Nodes are scary sh*t for a singer to have to deal with, and I hope he has a full and speedy recovery.

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