Star of the Year '05: All About Norbert

Considering that he's already
won every theater honor
imaginable for his delicious turn
in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels a
Tony, a Drama Desk, an Outer Critics Award, a Drama League Award, an Astaire Award and two Broadway.com Audience Awards, it makes perfect sense that Norbert Leo Butz would come out on top in the first-ever competition for a brand-new prize, being named the Broadway.com Star of the Year for 2005.

Still, Butz is not one to take these things for granted. "I try to remain positively, humorously skeptical about it," he tells Broadway.com, when informed that online voters thought that he had the talent, charisma and promise to take home the title. "On one hand, I'm flattered. But on the other, if you believe it, you're in big trouble."

Well, we'll believe it for you, Norbert. Before 2005, we knew you as a versatile actor with the ability to be fearless as the Emcee in Cabaret, heartbreaking The Last Five Years and scene-stealing Thou Shalt Not. And we knew you as the one Fiyero who could really sing "As Long As You're Mine" opposite Idina Menzel in the second act of Wicked. But what we didn't know was how damn funny you were—and how capable you were of holding a great big Broadway audience in the palm of your hand. We couldn't imagine you playing the part before you did, and now we can't imagine anyone else doing it. Talk about star quality!

Although he says he's not one to rest on his laurels and reflect, Butz admits 2005 has been a good year and a time of change. "I get invited to more parties now," he shares. "I make more money. I get to sit at the grown-up table a little bit… But the day-to-dayness of my life, which is how I measure my life, is the same. It's me, my kids, my friends, my girlfriend and my cat." Butz says the biggest shift for him is in the responsibility that he feels to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. "Not that I've skated through my other performances," he says. "But with this one, I don't want to half-ass one single second."

Knowing a good thing when he has one, Butz recently signed to stay with Scoundrels at least through July 2006, which will mark almost two years since he started rehearsals for the part. "Usually the long run is not suited for me," he says. "After 10 months to a year, I'm usually done. It's not physically or vocally exhausting. It's mental. I just have a short attention span." So what's keeping his attention over at the Imperial Theatre eight times a week? "Great writing—the part is so multi-faceted. And the audiences are having such a great time."

Butz, too, is having a great time rehearsing with Jonathan Pryce, who will take over the role of Lawrence Jameson from John Lithgow on January 17. "We hit a grand slam with him," he exclaims. "He's just out of control. I'm really excited about it. I really hoped they'd find another actor that I could really play with." Butz admits that he was initially shy around Pryce, as he was a big fan of his work in films like Brazil and Glengarry Glen Ross. "I'm over it now," he says. "Once you dry hump someone and stick your tongue in their ear that sort of goes away."

Scoundrels helped Butz land a development deal with CBS, which could take him to TV Land after his run in the show. "With an eight year old and a six year old, working at night is hard," he admits. "I wouldn't mind trying a different schedule for a while."

Speaking of daughters Clara and Maggie, are they in awe of their dad, in all his Star of the Year glory? "God, I wish," Butz laughs. "They mouth back at me, and I'm like, 'Don't you know who I am? Look at that Tony Award up on the mantle!' They're like, 'Dad, that was last summer. It's over.' One thing I've learned is, as far as your kids go, there's definitely a statute of limitation of your coolness!" —Paul Wontorek