Kerry Butler

Infobox actor
name = Kerry Butler


caption = Kerry Butler performing at a benefit concert for Hurricane Katrina in New York City, October 23, 2005.
birthdate = birth date and age|1971|6|18|mf=y imdb name|0125013]
birthplace = Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York
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spouse = Joey Mazzarino [http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=552901&pn=2 Kerry Butler - Broadway.com Q&A] 24 September 2007.]
domesticpartner =
children = Segi (daughter)
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website = http://www.kerrybutler.net
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Kerry Butler (born June 18, 1971 in Brooklyn, New York) is a Tony Award-nominated American actress known primarily for her work in theatre.

Biography

Early life and career

Born in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York, Kerry Marie Butler began acting in commercials at age three. [http://www.kerrybutler.net/jffbio.htm Biography - Kerry Butler official website] ] She notes that growing up, "When I saw "Annie" ... I knew that was what I wanted to do." [http://www.haineshisway.com/interview/kbinterview.htm Kerry Butler interview - HainesHisWay.com] ] After a four-year hiatus imposed by her mother, Kerry started acting again at the age of nine and has been at it since.

Butler graduated from Ithaca College in 1992, where she majored in musical theatre. She toured with the musical "Oklahoma!" in Europe in the role of Ado Annie. Other New York roles included Vicki in the workshop of "Bright Lights, Big City", Barrow in "The "I" Word" and Claudia in "The Folsom Head". She also has done work on various commercials. [ [http://www.kerrybutler.net/resume.htm Kerry Butler's official website - Resume] ]

Butler made her Broadway debut in 1993 in the role of Ms. Jones in the musical "Blood Brothers", where she also understudied the role of Linda. In 1995, Butler originated the role of Belle for the Toronto production of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast", where she was nominated for the DORA Award for her performance, and eventually transferred to Broadway. After playing Belle for over two years, she left the musical in July 1997 and was replaced by Deborah Gibson. She then moved over to "Les Misérables" to play the coveted role of Eponine.

In 2001, Butler played the love interest Shelley in the acclaimed Off Broadway original musical "". Though the show had a "fanatical following," Butler noted that "We were really building an audience before Sept. 11. And after that we never recovered. People didn't want to go out at all, let alone downtown." "Bat Boy" closed in late 2001.

"Hairspray"

In February 2002 Butler was cast as Penny Pingleton (a role she had originated in workshops) in "Hairspray", the musical version of the John Waters 1988 film of the same name. After an out-of-town tryout in Seattle, "Hairspray" opened on Broadway on August 2002 and "became an immediate Broadway smash." [ [http://www.broadway.com/gen/show.aspx?SI=19072 "Hairspray" - Broadway.com] ] Even in a star-studded ensemble cast, reviewers singled Butler out for her sparkling performance as the spastic sidekick. [http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/2002/08/13/2002-08-13_this__hairspray__actress_has.html "This "Hairspray" actress has the roller of her life" - NYDailyNews.com] 13 August 2002.] The show would go on to win eight Tony Awards including Best Musical. The fact that Butler was not nominated for a Tony for Featured Actress in a Musical for her role was, according to BroadwayWorld.com, the "talk of the town." [http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=101 Kerry Butler interview - BroadwayWorld.com] 16 October 2003.] She was, however, nominated for the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards, and received the Clarence Derwent Award for her performance. Butler herself noted that "I got more press from not getting [the Tony nomination] so it was really good."

While "Hairspray" went into pre-production, Butler played the free-spirited performance artist Maddie in the limited run of the intimate Australian musical "Prodigal" at the York Theatre. In March 2002 Butler also appeared on the TV show "Sesame Street" as Ms. Camp, a letter carrier. During her run in "Hairspray" Butler filmed a TV pilot for Fox entitled "Twins", but it was not picked up for the season.

"Little Shop of Horrors" and beyond

Following the end of her "Hairspray" contract in July 2003, Butler was cast in the role of Audrey in the first-ever Broadway production of the musical, "Little Shop of Horrors". The show had enjoyed a long run Off-Broadway in the 1980s and had been adapted into a 1986 film starring Rick Moranis, Steve Martin and Ellen Greene, who also created the role of Audrey Off Broadway. Butler revisited her long-lost childhood Brooklyn accent to play Audrey, the love interest with a sadistic dentist boyfriend and a heart of gold. [ [http://nymag.com/nymetro/urban/seasons/fallpreview2003/n_9153/index1.html 2003 Fall Theatre Preview - "New York Magazine"] ] A fan of "Little Shop" composer Alan Menken, who also wrote the music for "Beauty and the Beast", Butler received an Outer Critics Circle nomination for "Little Shop".

After leaving the show in the summer of 2004, Butler traveled to San Francisco where she created the role of scheming, foul-mouthed teenager Dedee Truitt in the new musical "The Opposite of Sex", which had its world premiere at the Magic Theatre that fall. The musical is based on Don Roos' 1998 film starring Christina Ricci and Lisa Kudrow. [ [http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=11558 "The Opposite of Sex" - Broadwayworld.com] ]

In the fall of 2005, Butler appeared in the original Off-Broadway musical "Miracle Brothers" at the Vineyard Theatre. She played the role of Isabel, a mother made miserable by the rebelliousness of her son as well as her unhappy marriage. In the summer of 2006 she reprised her role of Dedee in "The Opposite of Sex" at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, and followed that by taking on the role of Kate, the Ayn Rand-loving runaway bride, in the New York Musical Theatre Festival production of "Party Come Here".

Butler also portrayed the manipulative heiress and recovering alcoholic Claudia Reston on the ABC soap opera "One Life to Live", from January 2006 until January 2007, when her character was written off the show.

"Xanadu"

Beginning May 2007 through September 2008, Butler returned to the Broadway stage to star in the new musical "Xanadu", based on the 1980 roller-disco film starring Olivia Newton-John. She plays Clio, a Greek muse who inspires and falls in love with a struggling artist. Butler mastered roller skating for the role and spends nearly the entire show on skates. [ [http://www.talkinbroadway.com/world/Xanadu.html "Talkin' Broadway Review: "Xanadu", 7/10/07] ] Widely expected to be a flop, the musical opened in July 2007 to extensive critical acclaim and was the surprise hit of the summer. [ [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/109525.html "Xanadu" Breaks Helen Hayes Box-Office Record", 7/12/07] ]

In February and March 2008, Butler appeared as Reese, the assistant to a fashion designer who steals her boss's work, in the first season of the television series "Lipstick Jungle", on NBC. [ [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/114376.html "Xanadu Star Butler Lands Recurring Role on NBC's "Lipstick Jungle", 1/17/08] ]

For her role in "Xanadu", Butler was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical [ [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/117686.html 2007-2008 Tony Nominations Announced; In the Heights Earns 13 Noms, 5/13/08] ] and the Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance. [ [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/117503.html LuPone, Ebersole and Baranski to Present Drama League Awards May 16, 5/6/08] ]

"Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust"

In May 2008, Butler released her first solo album on the PS Classics label. The album is entitled "Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust" and features some of Butler's favorite songs from Disney films and shows given "intimate, acoustic" arrangements. The title is taken from the lyrics of the Jonatha Brooke song "I'll Try", from the film "Return to Neverland," which is featured on the album. Of note is the track "This Only Happens in the Movies", an unreleased song written by Alan Menken being given its inaugural recording. [ [http://broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=25560 "Kerry Butler's "Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust" Set For May Release", 2/28/08] ] The full track listing is below.

In a unique contest sponsored by her official site, Butler let fans submit suggestions for one song to be included on the album, with the winner, chosen by Butler, joining her in the studio when the song was recorded. The winning entry was "God Help the Outcasts", from the animated film "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". [ [http://broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=25560 "Kerry Butler's "Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust" Set For May Release", 2/28/08] ]

Personal life

Butler continues to perform in various workshops, readings and benefit concerts. She is a vegetarian and activist whose concerns include youth mentoring, human rights violations, genocide and environmental issues. [ [http://www.kerrybutler.net/jffcauses.htm Kerry Butler's official website - Causes] ]

Butler is married to childhood friend Joey Mazzarino, and they have an adopted daughter named Segi.

Credits

Theatre

Broadway

* "Xanadu" - Clio/Kira, 2007-2008
* "Little Shop of Horrors" - Audrey, 2003-2004
* "Hairspray" - Penny Pingleton, 2002-2003
* "Les Miserables" - Eponine, 1998-1999
* "Beauty and the Beast" - Belle, 1995-1997
* "Blood Brothers" - Ms. Jones, 1993

Off Broadway/Regional/Tour

* "Party Come Here" at the New York Musical Theatre Festival — Kate, 2006
* "The Opposite of Sex" at the Williamstown Theatre Festival — Dedee Truitt, 2006
* "Miracle Brothers" at the Vineyard Theatre — Isabel, 2005
* "The Opposite of Sex" at the Magic Theatre, San Francisco — Dedee Truitt, 2004
* "Prodigal" at the York Theatre — Maddie, 2003
* "Bat Boy The Musical" - Shelley Parker, 2001
* "The "I" Word" - Barrow
* "The Folsom Head" - Claudia
* "Oklahoma!" - Ado Annie

Demos, readings and workshops

* "Baby"
* "Xanadu"
* "The Little Mermaid"
* "Pandora's Box"
* "The Man in the White Suit"
* ""
* "The Wedding Singer"
* "Easter Rising"
* "Taboo"
* "Bright Lights, Big City"
* "Le Passe Muraille" (later named "Amour")

Film

* "Second Honeymoon" (CBS) - Jennifer Luckenbill
* "Borough of Kings [also known as Brooklyn Sonnet] " (Lions Gate) - Anna Callahan
* "Campfire Stories" (Independent) - Beatrice

Television

* "Lipstick Jungle (TV Series)" (NBC) - Reese, 2008
* "One Life To Live" (ABC) - Heather, 2000; Claudia Reston, 2006-2007
* "Hometown" (CBS) - Patti
* "Another World" (NBC) - Tina
* "Sesame Street" (PBS) - Charlotte Camp, 2002
* "Crackle Box" (PBS) - Tunie
* "Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders" (Synd.) - Gwenevere

Cast recordings

* " Dear Edwina" - World Premiere Cast, 2008
* "Xanadu" - Original Broadway Cast, 2007
* "Anna Karenina" - The Broadway Musical, 2007
* "Little Shop of Horrors" - New Broadway Cast, 2004
* "Hairspray" - Original Broadway Cast, 2003
* "Prodigal" - Original Off-Broadway Cast, 2003
* "Bat Boy" - Original Off-Broadway Cast, 2001

olo album

* "Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust" - Released on May 13, 2008

Track Listing:

"This Only Happens in the Movies" "When You Wish Upon a Star" "I'll Try" "Call Me a Princess" "Colors of the Wind" "It's a Small World"/"God Help the Outcasts" "Baby Mine" "Minnie's Yoo Hoo" "Second Star to the Right" "The Bare Necessities" "When She Loved Me" "Disneyland"

Other recordings

* Featured on "Carols for a Cure: Volume 9" - "Away in a Manger", 2007
* Featured on "The Broadway Musicals of 1945" - "Here I Go Again", duet with Eddie Korbich; "It Doesn't Cost Anything to Dream"; "Slightly Perfect", duet with Scott Ailing; "What's the Use of Wond'rin", duet with Marc Kudisch, 2007
* Featured on Guy Haines' "New Guy in Town" - "Sure Thing", duet with Guy Haines, 2005
* Featured on "NEO: New, Emerging, Outstanding" - "Any Day", duet with Laura Bell Bundy and "Inside Your Heart", duet with Deven May, 2005
* Featured on "Jamie deRoy & Friends: Volume 6: When I Grow Up" - "Some Shoes Are Harder Than Others to Fill", 2005
* Featured on "Jamie deRoy & Friends: Volume 5: Animal Tracks" - "Lion Tamer", 2003
* Featured on "Jamie deRoy & Friends: Volume 4: Family" - "The Portrait", 2002

Awards and Nominations

*2003 Outer Critics Circle for Outstanding Featured Actress, Hairspray Nominated
*2003 Drama Desk for Outstanding Featured Actress, Hairspray Nominated
*2003 Clarence Derwent Award for Most Promising Female Performance, Hairspray WINNER
*2004 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical, Little Shop of Horrors Nominated
*2008 Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance, Xanadu Nominated
*2008 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical, Xanadu Nominated

References

External links

* [http://www.kerrybutler.net Kerry Butler's Official Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/kerrybutlermusic Kerry Butler's Official MySpace]
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* [http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Star_File.aspx?CI=29760 Kerry Butler Star File on Broadway.com]
* [http://broadwayworld.com/bios/viewstar.cfm?starid=109 Kerry Butler Bio and News at BroadwayWorld.com]
* [http://broadwayworld.com/galleryperson.cfm?personid=7189 Kerry Butler Gallery at BroadwayWorld.com]