Hello, all! I was wondering if anyone got the chance to see DRS at the Pantages, or any other tour spots. If so, did anyone stagedoor and get to meet Norbert?
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<< Me and Norbie. I look icky becuase I was FREAAAAKKKIIINNNGG out.
Yeah. I went on Thursday and met pretty much everyone. Tom Hewitt was so sweet. We chatted for a min. Nobert came out last. He was super sweet. There were only like 10 of us there. He signed everything and posed with everyone for pictures. He couldn't talk cuz he was on vocal rest. But he was great. Laura Duncan was really sweet too.
The greats of musical theatre never had to be on 'vocal rest.'
That's completely untrue. It's not uncommon for performers to heavily restrict their talking when not onstage to preserve their voices for when they are onstage.
True, but he does sing a ton in that show and alot of belting. It's also different singing from the greats of the past. He's had vocal problems on and off so he's probably just being careful.
I saw the show on Thursday. Before the show I was walking away fron the Pantages down Hollywood Blvd towards Vine, and Norbert walked right past me. I didn't say anything because I didn't really realize it until he was past me.
that's just my point we never hear of the Mermans or the Drakes, et al having vocal problems and taking vocal rests. And yes..some of them were belters..seems to me singers these days are being improperly trained by less than qualified people if they cannot work approx. 3 hours a day without developing vocal problems.
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Let's not forget that there is the internet now and word travels much faster now than ever. The Merm may have had vocal trouble somewhere along the line but it was much easier to keep it quiet than today where anyone can learn anything thanks to the web.
kind of related question: does anyone know how long butz will be with the tour? i am seeing it when it comes to boston in march and i'm curious if he will still be with it.
CRAP!!!! He was he main reason I was going to see it in Atlanta!!! Does anyone know who will replace him? I'll try to go anyway, I HAVE to wanting to see/meet Tom Hewitt.
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I stagedoored at OCPAC and luckily I got to see Norbert. He rushed out pretty quickly and right after I took my picture he was gone. He definately was in a rush but he still signed and took photos with anyone who asked. If I didn't rush to the door I definately would've missed him, so make sure you get there quickly.
"First and foremost I want to thank God, because there is no way that somebody with my name from South St. Louis ends up at Radio City Music Hall holding one of these without some divine intervention" -- Norbert Leo Butz (Tony Speech)
I saw DRS at OCPAC on Saturday. Surprisingly, on our way over to the theatre from our hotel, my friend and I ran into Norbert on his way in. (It was 7 and the show started at 7.30, so we didn't talk to him or anything. I didn't want to bother him before the show) The show was absolutely fantastic and he was so great. I've never seen someone with so much energy on stage. Afterwards, we got back to the stagedoor as quickly as we could but there was already quite a few people there and he was out already. He was signing and taking pics but he looked absolutely exhausted and was trying to inch away bit by bit. By the time my friend and I made our way over, he had already turned to leave, so we didn't get pics or get to talk to him or anything, but it was still an awesome experience that I won't soon forget. :)
I saw the Sunday Mat and Norbert was out. It was a really disappointing to hear that because my friends and I drove all the way there from San Francisco just for Norbert. If we'd known he was going to be out then we would have waited for the San Jose stop. The show was still great, but I'm really sad that he wasn't there. He was so amazing when I saw it in NY that I really to see him again as Freddy and have my friends see him too. Because of that, and because I knew I'd be seeing it again in San Jose we decided not to stage door. We had a long enough drive to get home.
I believe that Timothy Gulan will take over as Freddy.
Dean: Can I tell you something?
Lorraine: That depends on what it is.
Dean: I think you're really really pretty.
Lorraine: (after a pause) Ok, you can tell me that.
I'm so sorry! I did the same thing. My friend is from SF and I'm from the Central Valley and we drove down and stayed in a hotel and spent tons of money just to see Norbert. Otherwise, we'd have seen it when it came to Sacramento. We went to the Saturday evening performance and were so paranoid he'd be out, because it was basically a $300 trip on what could easily have been a $100 trip tops if we'd seen it here. Luckily he was there Saturday. But I am really sorry. I can completely understand the disappointment. The Saturday evening performance, afterwards, at the stage door, he looked absolutely wiped. Just exhausted, so that's probably why he was out.
I stagedoored and got the main autographs I wanted. I would have liked more, but I didn't see everyone... Norbert looked tired and was kind of out of it. He seemed really exhausted. I wasn't talking really which I don't blame him since he did two shows that day plus two the next.
There was a Norbert groupie. Oh my. I have never experienced crazy fans like that before.
Anyway, other than that it was a good stagedooring experience, everyone was nice, etc.
2008 European Tour
London: Les Mis, Lion King, Sound of Music, Joseph, Hairspray, Billy Elliot
France: Le Roi Lion, Cabaret
Germany: Der Konig der Lowen
Holland: Tarzan & Les Mis
"There was a Norbert groupie. Oh my. I have never experienced crazy fans like that before."
Nope...wasn't me! I never made it up to OCPAC to see him. I seriously thought about trying again on Sunday sine he was out the night I went to LA, but now I am glad that I didn't. MyMeridith...I am sorry. The same happened to me (though my trip wasn't nearly as far).
To the fans 'after Dallas', Timothy is great....he is channeling Norbert's Freddie for the entire show. His vocals are strong, and his acting is hilarious. You will not be disappointed!
You're right Mer, we did have a long drive home. I was really looking forward to seeing Norbert and I was dissappointed that he was out, but the show was still great. We can stagedoor when the tour comes to San Jose.
Yeah I am planning on taking my mom to see it in SJ, so I will definately be stagedooring there. BTW, any SJ people, do you think most of the actors will leave from the top stage door or from that drive way...thing? I never knew what the difference was.
2008 European Tour
London: Les Mis, Lion King, Sound of Music, Joseph, Hairspray, Billy Elliot
France: Le Roi Lion, Cabaret
Germany: Der Konig der Lowen
Holland: Tarzan & Les Mis