Tony Award Winner Performing at Anti-Violence Event

Broadway actor and singer Norbert Leo Butz, known for his roles in “Catch Me If You Can,” “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” and “Big Fish,” will be a featured guest at One Billion Rising Essex on Friday, Feb. 14, noon at the West Orange Armory.

His appearance, which will include a song he has chosen, will be part of a one-hour event which will include music, dancing and speakers, along with information and numerous resources to address violence against women and girls. One Billion Rising for Justice is a global event created to promote the end of such violence and to bring attention to the atrocities of domestic violence, rape, teen dating violence, human trafficking, mutilation and slavery worldwide.

Butz has a personal stake in the message of One Billion Rising as his younger sister, Teresa, was raped and murdered in 2009 in Seattle. Since then he has memorialized her through music, hoping his appearances not only honor his sister’s memory but shine light on the often-hidden issue of sexual violence. 

“I love to sing, I love to make music, I love to perform,” Butz said. “And it’s a great gift to me to be able to do that in a way that’s not just self-serving but has a bigger purpose.”

One Billion Rising Essex is being convened by the National Council of Jewish Women-Essex County, along with the support of many organizations and individuals to add local voices to this worldwide event that takes place on Valentine’s Day. This is a free public gathering to call for an end to violence, and for justice and gender equality. All attendees will receive a complimentary One Billion Rising T-Shirt.

One in three women will be raped or beaten in her lifetime, according to the National Council of Jewish Women of Essex County. This year people from all over the world will rise, dance, gather, hold a poster, support women, and be there and be counted. Attendees will demand justice for all survivors of gender violence, and call for an end to the rampant impunity that prevails globally.

To register for One Billion Rising, visit www.onebillionrising.org/events/1-billion-rising-for-justice/ or call 973-740-0588. 

For more details visit www.ncjwessex.org or like the Facebook pagewww.facebook.com/onebillionrisingessex. 

By registering and attending, participants will be eligible to win an iPad in a drawing at the event. Must be present to win.  

The West Orange Armory is located at 1315 Pleasant Valley Way in West Orange. 

Submitted by National Council of Jewish Women-Essex County