Is He Dead? Mark Twain play to open at the Lyceum on 29 Nov 2007 Norbert Leo Butz to star

Norbert Leo Butz is to star in Mark Twain's newly discovered play Is He Dead?, that is to open at the Lyceum Theatre on 29 Nov 2007, following previews from 8 Nov 2007.

The 1898 play was discovered by scholar Shelley Fisher Fishkin in an archive of Mark Twain's papers held by the University of California. Bob Boyatt obtained the rights to the play in 2003 and the script was published later that year.

Inspired by the posthumous bidding war that broke out between the United States and France over Jean-Francois Millet�s painting The Angelus, Is He Dead? is a comedy about a group of poor artists who stage the death of their mentor to drive up the price of his paintings. In order for the scheme to succeed, the artists hatch various hilarious plots involving cross-dressing, a full-scale fake funeral, lovers� deceptions, and much more.

The script is being adapted for seventeen characters by David Ives, and will be directed by two-time Tony Award winner Michael Blakemore.

Norbert Leo Butz will star as Jean-Francois Millet. Butz was last seen on Broadway when he played Freddy in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2005) for which he won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Butz was the original 'Fiyero' in the Broadway production of Wicked. His other Broadway credits include playing Camille Raquin in 'Thou Shalt Not' (2001) for hich he was nominated for a Tony, and Rent.

David Ives Broadway credits include adapting the script for Wonderful Town (2003 revival), writing the book for Dance of the Vampires (2002) and adapting Charles Dickens' David Copperfield for the stage - David Copperfield: Dreams and Nightmares (1996).

Michael Blakemore is the director of Terrence McNally's play Deuce, starring Angela Lansbury and Marian Seldes, which is running on Broadway through to 19 Aug 2007. He is the winner of two Tony Awards, Best Direction of a Musical: Kiss Me, Kate (1999 revival) and Best Direction of a Play: Copenhagen (2000).

The design team for Is He Dead? includes scenic design by Peter J. Davison, costume design by two-time Tony Award winner Martin Pakledinaz, and lighting design by Tony Award winner Peter Kaczorowski.

Is He Dead? will be produced on Broadway by Bob Boyett, Roger Berlind, and Daryl Roth.