Kerry Butler: “It has been a dream of mine since I was a child to be nominated to the Tony’s”

Last July XANADU opened in Broadway’s Helen Hayes Theatre, based on the 1980 roller-disco film starring Olivia Newton-John.

The musical got an extensive critical acclaim and was the surprise hit of the summer. John Farrar, Jeff Lynne (music and lyrics) and Douglas Carter (book) are the creative team of this new musical in which Kerry Butler plays Clio / Kira, a Greek muse who inspires and falls in love with a struggling artist, Sonny (performed by Cheyenne Jackson). Butler mastered roller skating for the role and spends nearly the entire show on skates.

Kerry Butler performed Penny Pingleton in HAIRSPRAY´s original Broadway production, Bat Boy´s girlfriend Shelley and Audrey in the Broadway revival of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. She has just released her debut album, ‘Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust’, full of Disney songs.

Kerry Butler tells us her feelings about being nominated for the Tony’s and about performing the leading role in XANADU.

FIRST OF ALL, WE WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU FOR YOUR TONY NOMINATION. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU? I have been going to broadway shows since I was about 9 years old.  We would always watch the Tony´s on tv, and it has been a dream of mine since then to be nominated.  So it is very exciting.

XANADU OPENED ON BROADWAY LAST JULY, HOW HAVE YOU LIVE THESE MONTHS PERFORMING THE LEADING ROLE IN THIS MUSICAL? 
Yes I´ve been doing Xanadu for over a year now!!  With the skating in the show, i think that´s quite an accomplishment.  We have had three people break bones , so I have taken it day by day.  It´s a fun show to do, the audience is on stage with us, so we have to have strong concentration.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE CHARACTER YOU PERFORM? 
I like how positive she is!  All she cares about is inspiring others; she gets joy through watching others succeed.  Performing Kira is really fun for me, because I speak with a really exaggerated Australian accent, roller skate, and sing all songs I grew up singing.

THE SHOW IS INSPIRED IN THE 80’S MOVIE STARRED BY OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN. HOW HAS IT BEEN ADAPTED TO STAGE?
It is a completely different script, so I actually feel like I am in a new musical!  The initial idea is the same, but the characters and storyline is completely different.

THE CAST MET OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN THE OPENING NIGHT. HOW WAS THAT MOMENT? 
I was very nervous, I grew up worshipping her.  I didn´t want her to think that I was making fun of her.  But she loved it!!  Was laughing the whole time!!
YOU HAVE SAID THAT SKATING ON THE STATE HAS BEEN VERY CHALLENGING. HAVE YOU EVER HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH SKATES ON THE STAGE WHILE PERFORMING THE SHOW? 
I have fallen a bunch of times, which is never fun!  And I have knee problems that I go to physical therapy for, but other than that I actually love skating now.  

AMERICAN PRESS HAS SAID THINGS LIKE THAT: “XANADU IS ONE OF THE FUNNIEST THINGS TO LAND ON A BROADWAY STAGE IN AGES!”.  GOOD REVIEWS MAKE PEOPLE GO TO THEATRES? DO YOU USE TO READ ALL PRESS REVIEWS?
I didn´t read the reviews in the beginning, because I didn´t want it to affect my performance.  But now they are all over the theater, so it has been hard not to see them.  Luckily they don´t say anything bad about me!

YOU HAVE JUST RELEASED YOUR DEBUT SOLO ALBUM ENTITLED "FAITH, TRUST & PIXIE DUST". WHY DID YOU DECIDE RECORDING AN ALBUM FILLED WITH DISNEY SONGS?  
I am obsessed with Disney!  I go to Disneyworld all the time, and i don´t go for the rides, but I just love the message.  I love how everyone is happy there- even if they are only pretending. So I did a simple album that was all about the heart of Disney.  The songs are written by great musical theater writers so they also tell great stories.  

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THE SONGS THAT APPEARS IN THE ALBUM? 
Alan Menkin sent me some songs that no one has ever heard, so we sifted through those, and then picked songs that we liked and thought we could put a different spin on.

YOUR TWO LAST BROADWAY SHOWS WERE A LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (AS AUDREY) AND HAIRSPRAY (AS PENNY). DO YOU MISS SOMETHING OF PERFORMING THESE ROLES? HOW DO YOU REMEMBER WORKING ON THEM? 
I loved working on both those shows.  Hairspray was sooo much fun, because we were this huge hit.  We were constantly being asked to perform on tv shows, we had tons of celebrities see the show.  It was very exciting!  Little shop was such a great role, and I am a huge Alan Menkin fan, so it was wonderful to get to sing his songs!!  I have been very blessed to get to perform in such great shows!