Theatre and television actress Kerry Butler, whose illustrious career includes roles as an original cast member of many legendary Broadway shows, will visit Longwood’s campus in February for two special events.
Butler, who is best known for her roles in Mean Girls, Beetlejuice, Hairspray and Xanadu, will teach a master class on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. in Molnar Recital Hall in Wygal Hall, and then perform a concert on Thursday, Feb. 29, at 7 p.m. in Jarman Auditorium. Both events are free and open to the public. The concert will feature an intimate evening of songs and stories spanning Butler’s 30-year career.
Butler’s visit will come on the heels of the Longwood Theatre Program’s production of Little Shop of Horrors, which will run Feb. 21-25 in the CSTAC Main Stage Theatre. Show times are 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased through the Longwood Arts Box Office in CSTAC or online. Regular ticket prices are $8 for Longwood students; $10 for senior citizens, other students and Longwood faculty and staff; and $15 general admission.
The musical will be directed by RJ Magee, visiting assistant professor of acting, and is being produced in conjunction with Longwood’s Department of Music. Dr. Christopher Swanson, professor of applied voice, diction for singers and opera workshop, will serve as the musical director of the show.
We are thrilled to be able to welcome a top-caliber Broadway actress and singer like Ms. Butler to Farmville and to have her share her incredible talent with our students. We hope that members of the community will come and join us for these delightful events.
RJ Magee, visiting assistant professor of acting Tweet This
“The last two weeks of February will be filled with wonderful theatre performances on our campus,” Magee said. “We are thrilled to be able to welcome a top-caliber Broadway actress and singer like Ms. Butler to Farmville and to have her share her incredible talent with our students. We hope that members of the community will come and join us for these delightful events.”
During the master class, Butler will give constructive feedback to students from Longwood’s theatre and music departments on live demonstrations from their vocal repertoire. The events featuring Butler are sponsored by the Rosemary Sprague Fund.
Butler earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a leading actress in a musical for her dual role as Clio/Kira in Xanadu from May 2007 through September 2008. She also earned award nominations for her Broadway roles in Mean Girls and Catch Me if You Can. In the early 2000s, Butler played the role of Audrey in the Broadway revival production of Little Shop of Horrors. She received an Outer Critics Circle nomination for her performance.
“Little Shop of Horrors is a great musical, and it will be a showstopper,” said Dr. Ronda Scarrow, theatre program coordinator, theatre education coordinator and associate professor of theatre education. “We are grateful to partner with the music department, and, when I reflect back on the past musicals we have done in collaboration, they have all been hits.”
The final show of the spring theatre season will be Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, directed by Bruce Speas, associate professor of theatre history and directing. The play is a comedy written by Christopher Durang and revolves around the relationships of three middle-aged single siblings. It will run April 17-20 with evening showtimes at 7 p.m. and conclude with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, April 21.
February will be a busy month for the arts at Longwood, with the Richmond Symphony set to return to the Jarman Auditorium stage for a free concert on Friday, Feb. 9, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are not required, and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
View the full calendar of spring events.
Leave a Comment