Kerry Butler to join 'Clinton: The Musical' off-Broadway
NEW YORK (AP) - Kerry Butler's next role will take her to the White House - the Clinton White House, that is.
The Tony Award-nominated star of "Xanadu" said Thursday she will play Hillary Rodham Clinton when the irreverent show "Clinton: The Musical" lands at New World Stages. Performances begin March 25.
The show explores and lampoons the Clinton presidency with appearances from actors playing Monica Lewinsky, Newt Gingrich, Dick Morris and Kenneth Starr. Bill Clinton is portrayed by two actors at the same time, one serious and the other randy.
Butler, who volunteered for Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign for president, was initially hesitant about mocking the politician but was assured by people who know Clinton that it would be better to have someone onstage willing to protect her.
"I have pushed them to make her stronger," Butler said. "I feel like she gets a bad rap. I've been doing so much research and a lot of the interviews I've seen she comes off as very sweet. I think that people are intimidated by her education and that she's a lawyer. And because she's a woman, they just put her in this category. In all the things I've watched, it doesn't seem that she's like that."
The story is by Australian brothers Paul and Michael Hodge and Paul Hodge wrote the music. It's directed and choreographed by Dan Knechtges, who also choreographed "Xanadu."
It arrives as Clinton is the leading Democratic candidate should she run for president in 2016. "If it's going to go, it should go now," Butler said. "It's really funny and timely."
The musical was nominated for Best New Musical at the 2012 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and transferred to London's King's Head Theatre in 2013. Last year, it played the New York Musical Theatre Festival.
Butler's other Broadway credits include "Catch Me If You Can," ''The Best Man" and "Rock of Ages." She was also recently seen off-Broadway in "The Call," ''Big" and "Under My Skin."
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Online: http://www.clintonthemusical.com
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