Acting in Beetlejuice on Broadway
Make it Sparkle Video with Kerry Butler
Broadway Actress
3:42 (runtime)
Director’s Notes
Broadway actress Kerry Butler shares valuable insights and experiences from her acting journey, particularly her role in "Beetlejuice” on Broadway—in a candid chat with Mitch Stark, the host of Theatre Inspires. Drawing on both the playfulness and challenges of her career, Butler underlines the transformative power of fearlessness and authenticity in sharing one’s performance and navigating the vibrant world of theater.
Kerry admires Alex Brightman’s fearless and genuine performance in "Beetlejuice," noting his willingness to explore, take risks, and utilize constructive direction in his acting.
Highlighting the importance of playfulness and spontaneous imagination, particularly in fantastical productions like "Beetlejuice," Kerry discusses the freedom to experiment with inventive and unexpected elements on stage.
She discusses her initial struggles with worry about public perception and comparison. She says that shedding such apprehensions allows actors to produce their most honest and free performances.
Sharing experiences from the early days of internet chat rooms, Kerry underscores the lesson of focusing on trusting one's director and instincts instead of being swayed by public opinion—especially during the early stages of a show’s development.
Kerry reflects on the liberation that comes with age and achievement in the industry, appreciating her fulfilling career and embracing any future opportunities as delightful additions to her already rich experiences.
About Kerry Butler
Kerry Butler was born in Brooklyn, New York and, from the age of three, she knew that she wanted to be an actress. She started doing commercials until her mother decided that she was too young to be acting and wanted her to have a "normal" childhood. However, Kerry's acting was not simply a childhood phase. After much begging, her mother let her return to acting when she was ten and she's been doing ever since. Kerry has had a few small roles on television such as on Sesame Street (1969), Another World (1964) and One Life to Live (1968). She also appeared in the horror movie Campfire Stories (2001) and also in the independent film, Brooklyn Sonnet (2000) (aka Borough of Kings). But, she is best known for her work in theater. On the stage, Kerry has enjoyed long runs on Broadway as "Belle" in "Beauty and the Beast", "Eponine" in "Les Miserables", "Ms. Jones" in "Blood Brothers", "Audrey" in "Little Shop of Horrors" and she created the role of "Penny Pingleton" in in the Tony Award-winning musical "Hairspray". Her voice can be heard on both the "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Hairspray" soundtracks. Recently, Kerry created the role of "DeDe Truitt" in "The Opposite of Sex" in San Francisco and she is the Principal in "The Miracle Brothers". For being only 5' 2", it is amazing how incredibly powerful her voice is!