THEATRE GOSSIP #591: The Patti vs. Audra Edition

The previous thread, which ended without so much as a "BAJOUR!"

I am so glad not to see that picture of Audra that was at the top of the last thread.

I am absolutely positive she is wonderful in the role, but the picture is not.

R1 the sign of a juicy thread ;)

*2* GIRLS *2*

What’s weird is they did:

Sweeney Todd

Passion

Sunday In the Park With George

Anyone Can Whistle

Mahogany

And dozens of concerts together

And now they are sworn enemies!

What happened???

The Cuntess with the Mostes'

I hope Patti presents Best Actress in a Musical on June 8th.

Mahagonny!

r5 With Patti does anything have to have happened? She seems the type to wake up in a mood and decide random people are now her mortal enemies. If there was any real basis to it she would've told everyone already.

[quote]The previous thread, which ended without so much as a "BAJOUR!"

Here, r1.

If you can't end a thread with Bajour, it seems only right to begin a thread with Bajour.

Your welcome, r12.

^ You're

The outrage over Patti's "frank" remarks on here is amusing since she sounds EXACTLY like EVERY thread on here.

She is the Empress Goddess of DataLounge!!!

This thread will never get going while the Patti LuPone drags EVERYTHING..... thread is still active.

That thread will be a DL classic for the ages.

Is the "outrage" in the room with us now?

If I see one more fucking Just in Time ad on Youtube...

I'm seeing tons of ads for the Stranger Things play.

It looks fun!

As anyone on here actually seen it?

That's the weird thing about the theater threads...not much actual talk about individual shows and how they were. Unless it's Gypsy or Follies or Dolly or some dumb "controversy".

[quote]That thread will be a DL classic for the ages.

How, r16? It's just the same ol' ragging on Patti. It's Patti. Where's the novelty?

I’m going to see Floyd Collins on Saturday. We will dine first at The Leopard at des Artistes. It could be a spendthrift’s bacchanal. But I am on Ozempic, so it’ll be a glass of wine and 2 appetizers.

That’s your idea of fine dining?! Good luck.

R22, I’d prefer McDonalds actually.

Floyd Collins is two hours and 35 minutes including an intermission? Fuck that.

Audra was excellent in that production of Mahagonny. Sexy as hell.

She was certainly statuesque, r25.

La Stratas

Speaking of Stratas, does anyone remember the Live from the Met presentation of Lulu (no, not that Lulu) where Stratas was taken ill and Julia Migenes subbed for her with very little rehearsal. Julia was fabulous and my little gay heart was positively fluttering.

Mary Beth Peil dishes Patti LuPone (WOMEN ON THE VERGE)

From the interview collection HERE'S TO THE LADIES (whose predecessor volume found Patti LuPone calling Sherie René Scott "a travesty of a leading lady"):

-- Danny Burstein was outside. I could hear Patti singing some of Sherie René Scott's music. I said, “What happened?” Danny looked at me and said, “Patti had some ideas.”

-- I remember just sort of watching how both Yazbek and Bart — it's not that she was dictating things or telling them what to do, but they were checking with her, sometimes in obvious ways, sometimes in more passive-aggressive ways.

-- [Sherie] never felt listened to or heard from early on.

-- And then, little by little, we all start to feel not heard.

-- Bart knows that I do hold him accountable. For the mood in the room, for allowing that rift between Patti and Sherie to happen . . . He saw it happen, he watched it happen, and Sherie was the most vulnerable one.

-- I learned to love Sherie. I tried to love Patti. I would watch her sit with some of the kids in the wings when Sherie was onstage and she would be saying not good things about Sherie’s performance . . . It was like she was enlisting the kids to agree with her. I didn’t ever get to know Patti and kind of stayed out of her way.

-- The production would always have been in trouble, but with Patti’s support, and had Sherie been supported by the director, she would have soared, I have no doubt.

[quote] There was a Mahogany musical? With Audra? AND Patti??

Mahagonny is an opera.

Didn't Migenes do the Rags recording?

[QUOTE] Me and my husband saw the premiere of this play at Shadowlands Ensemble a few summers ago (we have a summer place nearby and subscribe)

Oh, dear. Is there a Summer Adult Learning Center nearby as well?

Audra is on the cover of the new issue of Time. Unlike Patti, she looks good in her photo

I wonder if the "Art" revival will have an intermission to facilitate more booze sales and a snack time for Corden..

r9=Rose Nylund

Funny - I always wondered whatever happened to the proposed Broadway musical 'Mahogany' (based on the 1975 Diana Ross film) which Lionel Richie was going to 'exec produce' (meaning 'finance' and write most of the new music) and his adopted daughter Nicole was to star in and design her own costumes. It sounded like a big push to make her a Broadway star.

It was bounced around 15+ years ago, and then.....nothing. Maybe they all realized that an actress who looked like she had a light suntan wouldn't be taken seriously as a dark-skinned character named 'Mahogany' ? (Though the movie could very well be easily turned into a B'way musical).

Berry Gordy was a fool for firing Tony Richardson and directing Mahogany himself. It would have been a much better movie.

R37 I'll admit - it was tough to sit through when I finally watched it in the 80s on HBO.

And the soundtrack would have been so much better if they included all the songs originally written for the movie by Micahel Masser and recorded by Ross, instead of replacing them with 'instrumental' music. (Most of the songs ended up on her 1976 album and her 'To Love Again' album in 1981). Originally, the ballad 'To Love Again' was written as the 'love theme' to the movie, and to be released as the single. Then Gordy came across 'Do You Know Where You're Going To ?' (already recorded and released in 1973 by Thelma Houston). He thought that would be a better song for the movie, so he had Ross record that. (He had to fight with the Academy - and probably pay a few people off- for them to include it as a qualified nominee at the 48th Academy Awards for 'Best Original Song' since it was already 2 years old, already recorded and released, and was not original / written for the movie. Don't know how Gordy did it - but he somehow did.

About ten years ago, Hip-O Select was supposed to have re-mastered the original album and re-release it in its 'expanded' edition, complete with all the Masser songs included. Then Masser passed away unexpectedly, and they had trouble settling with his estate (so it was said on a Motown message board). Nothing has been done with it since (and I don't believe the soundtrack was ever released on CD here in the US).

Can you imagine being Audra and Kecia tonight?

Audra, Kecia and Patty circa 1977

Young Bill Boggs was so damn cute!

I wanted Bill to sing “Younger Than Springtime” to Mary, Lillian & Helen.

Patti is over...

Such a class act, our Patti.

I wondered what was going to happen with The Astor Place Theater...

The Astor Place Theater should have sufficient seating for a Janet Jackson concert.

Cumming soon to Asstor Place Theater: DAWSON’S 50 LOAD WEEKEND, THE MUSICAL!

I never thought commercial off-Broadway theatre would make a comeback but glad to see it seems to be happening now.

If only we could return to off-Broadway prices.

It only works because actors like John Krazinski don't really need the money, so they'll work for "pennies" compared to Hollywood money, but only for a limited time. I don't see the days returning to long-running off-Broadway plays.

But why must off-Broadway plays run endlessly? I'd rather see more great new plays produced that can make a decent profit and move on to the next great new play. Some may need stars to sell them but some won't.

I think Broadway would be in a better state if there somehow was limit imposed on how long a show could run. The same show clogging up a valuable Broadway theater for 10+ years is not a healthy state of business or art.

And to add to my comment:

Of course, not every new play off-Broadway will be a hit. But I'd rather see more produced. I can remember the old days in the late 70s/early 80s when off-Broadway companies like MTC, Playwrights Horizons, The Public and the WPA (RIP) would each produce as many as 10 shows each season. Some were bombs and some were successes. But it gave so many more artists, young and old, a place to be seen and heard, even if only for a few months.

And Circle Rep!

I know that costs have gone way up, but the companies R52 mentions do so many far fewer productions each season, yet the pay to their executives are extremely higher proportionately then "back in the day" and rarely seem to take much of a hit. The non-profit-industrial-complex needs to be ripped apart (like so much else in this fucking country).

Of all people they chose Montego Glover?

Tonya Pinkins

Patina Miller

Heather Headley

La Chanze

Sharon D. Clarke

Hell, even Queen Latifah for one week!

On another pressing topic: was it a SCANDAL when Nancy Dussault was nominated for a Tony for beloved flop Bajour, but her higher-billed co-star Chita Rivera was not?

Lillias White circa her Tony win for The Life would have been perfect for Rose in Gypsy.

Montego Glover will star as “Rose” in Gypsy for 8 performances from Monday, June 30 through Sunday, July 6, 2025 while Audra McDonald is on vacation.

r55: How do you know they didn't offer Rose to all of those other actresses and they each passed?

We can't always get what we want.

To really piss off LuPone, they really should have gotten Kecia Lewis

R54 and that is the reason why I stopped giving money to BAM, MET, Playwrights and so many cultural organizations. Once you see what the board makes, you realize that it is ridiculous. I know that they work hard but their salaries are completely out of synch with the rest of the world.

The board doesn’t make money, dimwit. It is the senior artistic person and the senior admin who rake in the cash.

Exactly, the board is raising the money to pay these ridiculous salaries AND continue to allow it.

DL fave Donna Murphy commented on Paul Wontorek’s instagram and was decidedly on Audra and Kecia’s side.

RIP Taina.

[quote]Oh, dear. Is there a Summer Adult Learning Center nearby as well?

I deserve this cunty response. I posted under the influence of a bright Pinot Grigio and didn't check for grammar and spelling, fully aware the DL does not have an edit feature.

My karma for being exactly the sort of cunt you seem to be.

I'll look around for an adult learning center that caters to or tolerates the needs of Cunts

[quote]I'll look around for an adult learning center that caters to or tolerates the needs of Cunts

oh. dear. "caters too"

I really do need that adult learning center

Nine

I've been seeing a shit ton of YouTube ads lately for MJ.

Over the years, I've developed a strong antipathy towards Patti LuPone for her rampant ego, selfishness, and constant raging over one thing or another, not to mention her public trashing of SO MANY people she has worked with and her insistence on portraying herself as a victim, no matter what the situation. BUT I will say that I'm partly in her corner regarding the Kecia Lewis affair, only because Lewis's charge that racism was somehow involved in Patti's complaints over the sound bleed from HELL'S KITCHEN was so rash and outrageous and totally unfounded.

R63 the board is simply a rubber stamp.

Patti thinks she’s Bette Davis.

Not exactly…

I always get Taina Elg mixed up with Big Tiny Little.

You would, r73.

I always got her mixed up with Tiny Tim

And with Tiny Meat

I’m completely on the side of anyone accused of “micro aggressions.”

The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny is a satirical Brecht-Weill show about an American Gold Rush town where the only crime is being poor.

No grosses yet?

[quote]I’m completely on the side of anyone accused of “micro aggressions.”

really. what ever happened to "sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me" Anyway, the term "passive aggressive" has been around for decades and i'ts perfectly serviceable to describe any hidden form of aggression.. Just call it out or let it go, but attributing motivation of racial bias to every moment in which you feel uncomfortable isn't helping anyone AND it's frequently white folks who are yapping about micro aggressions anwyay.

Not saying that there aren't institutional biases that should be addressed but if you attached an accusation of racial or gender bias to every instance where you do not get your own way, you are leveraging power and claiming privilege.

Deal with behavior and leave motivation out of it. otherwise, toughen up princess!

R79 you don’t say—

[quote]Not saying that there aren't institutional biases that should be addressed but if you attached an accusation of racial or gender bias to every instance where you do not get your own way, you are leveraging power and claiming privilege.

And also, of course, there's the "boy who cried wolf" effect.

Taina Elg, 95, died about seven months after her "Les Girls" co-star Mitzi Gaynor, who was 93.

[quote](Tuesday, May 27, 2025) Tony Award nominee Montego Glover (Memphis, Into the Woods) will star as "Rose" in six-time Tony Award winner George C. Wolfe's critically acclaimed production of GYPSY, which is currently nominated for five Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical. Montego Glover will play 8 performances from Monday, June 30 through Sunday, July 6, 2025, at the Majestic Theatre (245 West 44th Street) while Audra McDonald is on vacation.

Hopefully Sir Ian doesn't fall off the stage again

If Audra doesn't win the Tony, I wonder if she'll return to the role when her vacation is over ?

Don't you all think that Audra has suddenly become the fave to win that Tony now?

No, R87, because she keeps missing performances. My first guess for the winner is Jasmine Amy Rogers, my second guess is Nicole Scherzinger.

Still appreciating Patti for saying she hates that mother fucker (Trump)

[88] That was rude.

I'm so curious about the origin story behind the Patti vs. Audra feud. Though, given that it's Patti, Audra may have had no idea they were even feuding. It's easy to get a laugh out of Patti's endlessly catty comments (and, I frequently do!), but... the cumulative effect of that LONG New Yorker profile is actually kind of exhausting and sad. Is there ANYONE she doesn't have a grievance with?

Patti is unquestionably one of the biggest Broadway stars of all time and beloved by so many, but she... has some kind of inferiority complex and, seemingly, a complete lack of self-awareness. She said she was done with Broadway. Well, whether or not she was crying wolf, I fear that article may have solidified the end of her career in NY. Good thing she keeps getting all those film and TV gigs.

I'm just gonna admit I'm insanely jealous of Paul Wontorek's hair. I'm a decade younger than him and I wish I still had hair that thick and lush. I guess the face makes up for it.

Amazing what 'Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific' shampoo will do

But what does Patti think about Paul's hair?

Not a Patti fan but she and Christine were great in War Paint. How they came up with those performances in one of those so bad musicals with anyone else you would have gone postal is amazing.

r95: I've always loved Patti's line "It is dangerous to wound the enemy. The blow must be FATAL!"

It sounds like it was cribbed from Maria Montez in COBRA WOMAN.

The next project in the Ryan Murphy's "Feud" series: "Feud: Patti vs. Audra". There will be guest appearances by ALW and Glenn Close.

Then again, that may be too limiting...it's gotta be "Feud: Patti Lupone vs. Broadway". Or "Patti Lupone vs. the rest of the World."

We don't know her.

It's too bad SNL is done for the season because Patti would have made a fabulous guest host and might have found a way through the monologue and sketches to apologize or kid herself enough to bring in some much needed sympathy. Haven't other troubled celebs done that in the past?

Oh wait, she's nowhere near famous enough to host SNL. Never mind.

Sure, Jan.

That would have been the lowest of low-rated shows.

Chess is official with Lea Michele and Aaron Tveit

Wayman is jerking off as we speak....

I like the Mountain Duet from Chess.

They’d do well to do incredible stagings of the songs and not focus too much time on the book or trying to make sense of it.

Chess has defied such directors as Michael Bennett, Trevor Nunn, and Des McAnuff. Who really thinks Michael Mayer is the one to solve its issues?

Kenny Leon declined.

I wouldn’t try to resolve any issues with Chess. Just stage the fuck out of it like Harold Prince did with Evita.

Julie Benko IS Thursday night Florence. You know Lea will not sing 8 shows a week.

^ the role of Thursday night Florence has already been accepted by Kecia Lewis!

Mayer is directing. It's going to be a train wreck.

I think Jasmine doesn't have a prayer of winning for a show that is so bad.

Audra’s chances for another Tony has definitely increased this week. Would love to see her win now! Also rooting for Nicole.

[quote]Amazing what 'Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific' shampoo will do

Do they make a "Gee Your Pussy Smells Terrific"?

r111: I'm Team Patti, but I think now Audra is a lock. Even though Patti's comment was rather delicious, it also increased Audras chances tremendously.

It would be even MORE delicious if Audra thanked Patti in her acceptance speech, a la Julie Andrews thanking Jack Warner in her "Mary Poppins" speech.

Golden Globes honey, not at the Oscars…meaningless

As soon as they announce the Thursday night Florence, that's when I'll get tickets.

Thursday night Florence is Beanie, of course.

She'll be doing "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" underground.

This version of CHESS, directed by Michael Mayer, was done at the Kennedy Center a few years back, and the new book by Danny Strong was maybe only very marginally better than that awful book Richard Nelson wrote for the Broadway premiere production. The KC show starred Raul Esparza, Ramin Karimloo, and.....Karen Olivo!

R116 Nicholas looks like the the pre-trans version of the DisneyWorld restaurant troll

How many GYPSY performances has Audra been absent from?

Chess is already a disaster. Why is the guy from Barbados playing the Russian? Are they using the same casting director who cast Funny Girl?

[quote]How many GYPSY performances has Audra been absent from?

Don't know. Don't care.

Hilty, Simard and Williams all out of DBH today. Again. Is the show that demanding? Why don't they just make it official and cut them back to 6 or 7 shows a week because that's all they show up for anyway.

[quote]Why is the guy from Barbados playing the Russian?

Maybe he could be Cuban in this version.

Evita is a show that shouldn't work but just does.

Minus Patti

Grosses are out. Tick tock Boop, Real Women Have Curves, Dead Outlaw, Floyd Collins, Smash.

You know who else was named Patricia Ann?

Take a guess.

Hey, Bitch! My name is Patti! I'm named after a famous Opera star, Adelina Patti, who I'm distantly related to. So fuck off!

Sure, Jan. Now your Spanish?!

LOL...audiences really do not give a shit about Audra in Gypsy.

It was a holiday weekend and almost every show had a decent uptick in sales.

Gypsy's uptick: 0.13%

[quote]How many GYPSY performances has Audra been absent from?

To find the answer to your question, all you have to do is comb through hundreds and hundreds of DL "Theatre Gossip" posts.

I asked ChatGPT: "how many performances in gypsy has audra mcdonald missed"

ChatGPT's answer: "As of May 2025, Audra McDonald has missed at least one performance of Gypsy on Broadway. On February 19, 2025, she was absent for both the matinee and evening performances. Her standby, Tryphena Wade, stepped in as Mama Rose, making her debut in the role on February 18 and performing again on the 19th. Playbill+5BroadwayWorld+5New York Post+5

Additionally, during the 2024 holiday week, the production canceled seven consecutive performances between December 23 and December 28 due to widespread illness within the company, including McDonald. She confirmed her own illness on social media during that time. CBS News+1People.com+1

While there have been reports of last-minute cancellations and understudy performances, specific details about each instance are limited. It's important to note that McDonald has faced personal challenges, including attending a family memorial service, which may have contributed to her absences.

Overall, McDonald's commitment to the role has been evident, and any absences have been due to unforeseen circumstances. Fans and theatergoers continue to support her and the production. New York Post+3Broadway News+3"

Hey r127, you forgot The Last 5 Years!

[quote]Overall, McDonald's commitment to the role has been evident, and any absences have been due to unforeseen circumstances. Fans and theatergoers continue to support her and the production. New York Post+3Broadway News+3"

Well, I'm sure SOME "fans and theatergoers continue to support her and the production." But then there are all those people who are NOT buying tickets, maybe at least partly because she has had a significant number of unscheduled absences during the first six months of the show's run. For the record, I believe that number was up to six the last time we attempted to clock it, and then there was another unscheduled absence last week.

Audra missed three shows last week.

So this is just a part-time gig for Audra ? She chose this instead of driving for UberEats a couple of nights a week ?

No offense to Montego Glover but do producers really think she's going to sell out the show when even Audra can't. They're investing money in rehearsals, costumes and wigs when they could have just put Tryphena on for the week. Unless Montego starts subbing for Audra once or twice a week after her vacation.

Are Tony voters still attending shows this week? Seems the DBH and Gypsy gals would want to be there. Or is voting already over?

[quote]Are Tony voters still attending shows this week? Seems the DBH and Gypsy gals would want to be there. Or is voting already over?

I don't believe the voting is already over. Yes, one would think these part-time performers would want to up their attendance during the voting period, but I guess not.

Nicole doesn't have a chance. She's thin in the part, she sings like a fucking Barking Dog, and Audra is magnificent in her part. And Nicole wore a Maga hat.

The Tony voting isn't over because certain shows have had to reschedule voters attending several times due to missing stars.

[quote]No offense to Montego Glover but do producers really think she's going to sell out the show when even Audra can't. They're investing money in rehearsals, costumes and wigs when they could have just put Tryphena on for the week. Unless Montego starts subbing for Audra once or twice a week after her vacation.

Honey, use a little imagination, this is a lower cost way to test out the viability of continuing the production after Audra departs. They don't commit to anything beyond Montego being a week-long vacation cover. If box office goes down dramatically that week, it positions Audra as a viable box office draw (relatively speaking) and it lets them make the final decision on closing the production with Audra.

I actually agree with you. I'd be shocked if Montego (who is very talented, no doubt) sets the box office on fire. Hell, I'd be surprised if Heather Hedley (who it was rumored producers were pursuing as well as possible post-Audra Rose) would have sold enough tickets. Unfortunately, I think it would have to be MUCH bigger name -- an actress with a film/tv or music following.

Back in the old days they would have called up Liza...or Raquel...or Debbie.

True, R144, but replacement stars of that caliber (talent + box office draw) who are, primarily, live/theatre performers are rarer and rarer these days. There are, undoubtedly, talented Black actresses who could do very well in this role (and probably sing it more naturally than Audra), but finding one who is a bigger box office draw? That seem a tall order.

[quote]So this is just a part-time gig for Audra ? She chose this instead of driving for UberEats a couple of nights a week ?

She had to. The chance of Patti LuPone's car running her down was too great in the other model.

Yes, r145, and when Yul went on vacation they replaced Anna with a star, not the king.

R147 - If I'm not mistaken, dear Angela's short run in The King & I was a box office failure. At that point, they might as well have just changed to the title of the show to Yul & I. He was the draw to that property, no doubt.

And, yes, Angela deserved better. But this business is cruel and fickle. Even to legends like Angie.

She only did it during Yul's vacation, r148. That's all she was booked for.

Queen Latifah would have raised ticket sales. But, she's apparently not interested in doing live theater.

Who are they kidding? Audra can't get attendance above 75% and she's "beloved" and Broadway's GOAT.

That no one flocks to see after the first week of opening...

Even if it wins a Tony or two, it ain't gonna break out as some huge hit.

It's gonna be lucky to limp to Audra's vacay.

R149 - I'm aware. But there was someone who worked on that particular run of King & I who posted a lengthy (and fascinating) remembrance of his time working there on the fabulous "Broadway Remembered" Facebook group. He posted that Angela was, sadly, playing to half-empty (and worse) houses during her run because, seemingly, Yul was the draw and, somehow, she was not enough of a draw without him being there. I'm sure that would have changed post-Sweeney (and Murder She Wrote), of course, but, we'll never know. I recall the poster noting that, despite the rows of empty seats, Angela remained a class act backstage and gave a beautiful performance on stage.

When a Broadway production casts a famous white diva as Deena Jones in a DREAMGIRLS revival and the people cheer, I'll stop mentioning the hypocrisy of a black actress playing Rose Hovick, a character based on an actual real person, unlike Deena Jones who legally is not Diana Ross!

It goes both ways or none. I think it's fine if Patti thinks it is really bizarre bad casting choice, especially since Audra, a very fine performer, is completely wrong vocally for the role.

Sigh. If anyone needs directions to the "f/f" button or the "ignore" button for R152, do let us know.

Ryan Murphy could have a ball with this.

I still think if you're a big star and a big expensive musical is depending on your presence missing performances for your father in law's memorial service is a pretty lame excuse no matter how much you loved him.

Now Verden missing her mother's funeral because she had a matinee was absurd which even she admitted in a what was I thinking way.

[quote]Audra can't get attendance above 75% and she's "beloved" and Broadway's GOAT. That no one flocks to see after the first week of opening...

But it's impossible to tell if people stop flocking to see her after the first few weeks because (a) she's just not that big a star in the eyes of the general public, or (b) word gets out that she's missing a lot of performances, as per usual.

You can sigh until you die, R153, but R152 is entitled to both of the opinions they expressed, and I'm sure many people share them.

Did they ask Patti to cover the role of 'Rose' while Audra's on vacation ? Bernadette ? Tyne Daly ?

Wasn't good ol' reliable Debbie Allen available ? Didn't Jasmine Guy have room on her calendar that week ? How about that old chestnut Whoopi Goldberg - she could do the show or a week while sleeping in her chair at 'The View'.

Surprise! Huffpost calls Patti's actions " racial microaggression."

[quote]Monica Cwynar, a licensed clinical social worker with Thriveworks who specializes in trauma and coping skills, told HuffPost that the situation surrounding LuPone and Lewis serves as a reminder that “we as a society have a lot of work to do.” She said that Lewis’ statement that LuPone’s actions and remarks about “Hell’s Kitchen” being “too loud” were examples of microaggressions “rings true.”

r159 specifically included "licensed clinical social worker with Thriveworks who specializes in trauma and coping skills" for the purposes of diminishing the comments of said licensed clinical social worker.

Huffpost, really? Hardly the standard for responsible journalism.

"It goes both ways or none."

That's the most shallow analysis ever.

Why would someone with a "name" work her ass off to perform 8 performances in a role known to be back-breaking? Unless of course the money is incredible.

I remember when Angela did King and I but wonder why I skipped it, given that I adored her. Tix were not exorbitant in those days, so I can only guess that there just wasn't any buzz about that production.

[quote]there just wasn't any buzz about that production.

It was the same production as Yul's, r163.

Surprisingly, Angie had two flops after Sweeney. A Little Family Business and her Mame revival. 20+ years later she returned in Deuce and it was a success. Of course, that was after Murder She Wrote.

[quote]Queen Latifah would have raised ticket sales. But, she's apparently not interested in doing live theater.

The only way a big star is going to do Broadway is if they premiere a role and have a chance at winning a Tony. It's all about winning the Tony, not doing theater for the fun of it.

I remember that Yul revival but also remember I had no interest in seeing it because I perceived it as a tired and many-years-long touring production that was stopping in NY for a while, and a production in which the balance was thrown off by featuring Yul as the one and only lead (IIRC Constance Towers was his Anna?). It all sounded stale to me.

Lansbury taking over for Anna was the only thing that suddenly piqued my interest but for whatever reason, probably her run was too suddenly announced and too short, I didn't get it together to see her. I'm sure she was perfection.

The Times had a very positive review of Angela in THE KING AND I in 1978.

Angie Leonowens

[quote]I remember that Yul revival but also remember I had no interest in seeing it because I perceived it as a tired and many-years-long touring production that was stopping in NY for a while, and a production in which the balance was thrown off by featuring Yul as the one and only lead (IIRC Constance Towers was his Anna?). It all sounded stale to me.

In my opinion, that revival was brilliantly well done overall, and though of course it was dominated by Brynner in terms of marketing and publicity, he was brilliant in the part without overshadowing the rest of the very strong cast that also included Constance Towers, Martin Vidnovic, and some very talented Asian performers. (Although, admittedly, based on my second viewing of the production later in the run, Brynner did start to fool around a bit onstage, which was very disappointing.)

[quote]Queen Latifah would have raised ticket sales. But, she's apparently not interested in doing live theater.

Only one problem with Latifah...SHE CAN'T SING.

R171, it's objectively untrue that Latifah "can't sing," and you seem like an idiot for posting that.

I can sing and I'm available.

Queen Latifah is wonderful in Living Out Loud, one of her earlier films. And she sings in it. Beautifully.

I went the first time King and I was revived on Broadway at the Uris and Brynner's performance was completely robotic as if he was bored with the role. A big disappointment. It was though a big success and one of those cases where the audience is seeing something completely different from what you are seeing.

Yul would cut 'A Puzzlement' when he was feeling tired. Understandable.

[quote] it's objectively untrue that Latifah "can't sing," and you seem like an idiot for posting that.

And you must be deaf.

Does anyone think Latifah could take over the role of Mama Rose successfully?

Latifah can be very winning, but there’s a very laidback essence to everything she does, which to my mind wouldn’t work for Rose. She’s more of a Herbie.

I think twenty years ago, Whoopi would have made a brilliant Rose in the Tyne Daly mode.

Audra responded to CBS news and the clip is on instagram. She basically says she hasn’t seen Patti in over 10 years, has no idea what rift happened, and told Gayle King to ask Patti!

Ouch!

Yes, Dana/Latifah can sing, and has a lovely voice, but I don't know that she has the "pipes" that a role like Rose requires.

link r181?

McDonald's approach in that clip is my new working definition of "class."

[quote]Julie Benko IS Thursday night Florence. You know Lea will not sing 8 shows a week.

Um, if you recall, Julie Benko was originally hired to be Beanie Feldstein's alternate in FUNNY GIRL.

After Beanie was let go, they didn't want to fire Julie, too, so she was retained when Lea came on.

Lea had no problem doing 8 shows a week during SPRING AWAKENING, her previous Broadway show.

The whole problem is that Patti is and has always been ugly. She is plain hard to look at.

R185. Why would they fire Julie along with Beanie? Julie kept the show running and wisely used social media to promote herself and the show to the point where people didn't feel cheated seeing her instead of Beanie and Lea.

Rachel Zegler said on a BBC TV show Tuesday night that she’d be playing Evita eight performances a week. No Alternate Eva for this dame!

I said it upthread (or was it in the last thread?) and I'll say it again: Patti has virtually guaranteed Audra winning her 7th Tony.

How ironic!

[quote]Why would someone with a "name" work her ass off to perform 8 performances in a role known to be back-breaking?

Because she accepted the role when it was offered, which is performed eight times a week. Imagine that ? She accepted it.

[quote]McDonald's approach in that clip is my new working definition of "class."

What ever happened to class?

[quote]Audra responded to CBS news and the clip is on instagram. She basically says she hasn’t seen Patti in over 10 years, has no idea what rift happened, and told Gayle King to ask Patti!

So she has no recollection of liking Kelcia's post?

Do better Audra. Being passive aggressive for a Tony isn't cute.

None of them come off looking good.

“We didn’t drift away, Marion. I WITHDREW.”

Has anyone on Broadway totally fallen from grace like this?

A beloved legend of the theatre become HATED in like 1 day?

She's not hated by me.

r153, your virtue is evident to us all now.

However can we thank you!

[quote]"It goes both ways or none."

[quote]That's the most shallow analysis ever.

Are you not aware that you are a rigid ideologue for whom facts and reason mean nothing? In what universe does your "one-way logic" meet any standard of fairness, or make sense?

"We 're next door to a musical that's really lod."

"Racist!" "Microaggressions!"

NOBODY was talking to Kecia Lewis! No one at all! Kecia is exhibiting "Main Character Syndrome". She is playing the race card to severely damage a reputation of someone who is NOT TALKING TO HER! She might as well be screaming "I saw Goody LuPone with the devil!"

Wow, such a toxic and damaged person using whatever platform she has to unleash her rage. I didn't really know who she was before this and frankly, I can't stand LuPone, but this acting out and supporting her toxic nonsense is bizarre.

*loud

Nor I, r196. It's just more noise when more noise is the last thing we need right now.

Reading all through the many posts and takes on Patti's drive by interview , it occurs to me that there isn't one current production ON or OFF Broadway that generates as much interest, drama, curiosity and polarizing opinions.

In other words, A great night of theatre.

A smart producer would be trying to pull together a production of literally ANYTHIHNG starring Patti, Audra and Kecia.

Some of these takes ("why can't a white actress be cast in Dreamgirls"?) are just wild. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the klan grannies like theatre, too.

I've loved Patti since I was a kid, but she has royally fucked up.

Here's what I want to know, did she not have a publicist prior to this? And if she did, who the HELL is that publicist because they... suck at their job.

The funny part is that Audra also throws Kecia under the bus by not even acknowledging Kecia's name or post that helped ignite the firestorm, and which Audra liked at the time.

As I mentioned in the other thread, there was a way to have handled this with shade and with class. And she didn't even have to mention Patti by name. She could have brought up the points that Kecia made about black theaters and noise. Instead, Audra just high schooled it and sidestepped any serious discussion because she doesn't want the bad press around Tony time.

It's amusing to read posters acting like this is a big win for Kecia, when Audra is basically like "Fuck both of you, I'm getting my seventh"

Audra, giving off mom energy with her "oh, my friend had a post - hit "like" and put a heart or 2 there"

[quote] When a Broadway production casts a famous white diva as Deena Jones in a DREAMGIRLS revival and the people cheer, I'll stop mentioning the hypocrisy of a black actress playing Rose Hovick, a character based on an actual real person, unlike Deena Jones who legally is not Diana Ross!

Why would that happen when 9 out of 10 lead female roles in musicals go to non-Black actresses? Which venerated white actress needs to do "Dreamgirls" because she needs a vehicle that matches her celebrity and acclaim?

Y’all throwing out Black actress names for Audra’s replacement as if just anyone a sing Rose.

Queen Latifah can hit the notes but she has the most boring timbre. She’s blow out her voice if she tries to sing Rose even once.

Sure, she’d sell tickets but so would Sammy the Seal. A Tony for Audra would give the production a boost for some time.

Is Sammy the Seal a Sally or a Phyllis?

Sammy could sing ALL the roles in Follies, bitch!

Courtesy of mrmarkodonovan on Instagram...

Audra isn't drawing an audience. I checked the matinee a few weeks from now and the whole rear mezzanine is empty.

[Quote] Wow, such a toxic and damaged person using whatever platform she has to unleash her rage. I didn't really know who she was before this and frankly, I can't stand LuPone, but this acting out and supporting her toxic nonsense is bizarre.

She wrote one line on social media and you’re getting all worked up. Ignore her if you don’t want to believe her, but you’re the one acting bizarre here

[Quote] As I mentioned in the other thread, there was a way to have handled this with shade and with class. And she didn't even have to mention Patti by name. She could have brought up the points that Kecia made about black theaters and noise. Instead, Audra just high schooled it and sidestepped any serious discussion because she doesn't want the bad press around Tony time.

Audra answered it with utter class and perfection. She’s not getting in the middle of anything. She doesn’t owe anyone an explanation.

Audra hasn’t seen or spoken to Lupone in over a decade. Suddenly she has to respond to some crazy bitch talk Ing about Audra not being a frienD?!

She’s smart enough to no put coal on that fire. Let it burn by itself

[Quote] So she has no recollection of liking Kelcia's post? Do better Audra. Being passive aggressive for a Tony isn't cute.

Actually Audra did exactly the right thing. If she had been bitchy or even started discussing race, it would has suddenly put her on the defense. The Mariah Carey “I don’t know her” is exactly what an expert would do and Audra is an expert a social ques

Audra knows full well that the millions of people in the audience of that TV interview have no idea about Kecia’s social media post and Audra’s supportive emojis. She’s not going to explain anything to anyone.

Her denying she know what the heck Lupone is talking about just reinforces to everyone that Lupone is the aggressor here

Why was Patti interviewed for the New Yorker now anyway? What is she promoting? (didn't read the article.)

[Quote] Does anyone think Latifah could take over the role of Mama Rose successfully?

The “I have a Black friend” crowd apparently does. Because all Black actresses are apparently the same

Patti, Audra and Bernie all did the Sondheim birthday thing, didn't they? With Stritch? And of course Marin Mazzie (RIP).

While I was never bored during Oh, Mary, I didn't find it that funny and Cole nor the show deserve any awards for it.

[quote] While I was never bored during Oh, Mary, I didn't find it that funny and Cole nor the show deserve any awards for it.

MARY!

Donna Murphy was terrific in that Sondheim Birthday special. She stopped the show with "Could I Leave You" from Follies.

I haven't seen Oh, Mary but the clips I have seen....meh.

A PTown gay comedy show.

And, a little Cole Escola goes a looooooong way.

[quote]Some of these takes ("why can't a white actress be cast in Dreamgirls"?) are just wild. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the klan grannies like theatre, too.

Why on earth is that "wild", or indicative of being a "klan granny", a term casually thrown at any person who dares disagree with you, no doubt? Casting a black actress to play a real life white woman is "stunning & brave", but casting a white actress to play a black character is unspeakable? You have a deeply ingrained bias that think makes you feel virtuous. It's actually kind of scary!

Please explain to us all of the characters white people are allowed to play, and those they may not! We're dying to hear your logic.

If you look at Kecia’s video in its entirety, and then realize Audra sent an emoji of clapping hands, you might begin to be on team Patti.

Broadway Names with Julie James on Sirius. Has she EVER met a performer or seen a show that didn’t make her clit quiver?

Madame Rose is a feisty asian tiger mum at heart.Just saying

Lea Salonga is looking mature. I feel so old.

Somebody who has worked at the Majestic has told me the large theater is sometimes close to half empty at some performances and without some major Tony wins will not even make it till August. Even if it had been a sold out hit from day one a large musical like this takes a long time to recoup let alone make profits for investors. Financially what was the point unless the very rich investors wanted Broadway Producer under their belt. Maybe if Audra is willing to tour which could do extremely well.

I so wish Patti had left the Harold Prince chapter in her book. I have never heard a bad word about him except for George Chakiris who did the national tour of Company and of course the London WSS before the film.

He got a very unhappy look on his face on the Brownstone interview mentioning Prince but unfortunately did not go into detail. I wish Harvey asked more about it.

[quote]Somebody who has worked at the Majestic has told me the large theater is sometimes close to half empty at some performances and without some major Tony wins will not even make it till August.

I'm calling it now - if she's not handed a Tony on June 8, she will not be returning to the show after vacation. There will be some lame excuse about an injury she suffered on vacation. As a matter of fact, if she doesn't win the Tony, I expect her to call out sick for more performances over the following weeks leading up to her vacation.

With no Tony, what will be the motivation for her to continue playing to half empty houses each night ?

(On the other hand, if Nicole wins....expect SB to extend its run way past the July closing date).

Has a New Yorker article ever caused such a pop culture tizzy as this one? I also wondered why they published it now, since Patti isn't exactly of the moment.

[quote]The “I have a Black friend” crowd apparently does. Because all Black actresses are apparently the same

And so are all raving idiots, like you.

If Audra doesn’t win the Tony, Gypsy will be closing on July 1st.

R219, that was his 80th birthday, so more than 10 years ago.

[quote]A smart producer would be trying to pull together a production of literally ANYTHIHNG starring Patti, Audra and Kecia.

That would be hell on earth. But a smart playwright would be trying to pull together a play inspired by the mess (but hopefully with a few more levels of complexity). Everyone would want to play those parts. It's All About Eve if Margo had taken on Kit Cornell, with Eve just playing interference from the sidelines.

Who are you calling a smart playwright?

Nicole will NOT be extending her run.

R230, when I screened the original Broadway production of ‘Master Class’ at the NY Performing Arts Archive, I was surprised to see Audra’s role played by her understudy (this was before Audra vacated the production). I wasn’t aware she had a reputation for missing performances, but apparently it goes way back.

[Quote] Casting a black actress to play a real life white woman is "stunning & brave", but casting a white actress to play a black character is unspeakable?

Rose is a character we only know from the show nowadays. Plus the show isn’t a point-by-point biography.

Sure you can cast a white actress in a traditionally black character role, but it’s very odd when the show is about being black and what black people have faced.

GYPSY is not about being white.

Yet, you’ll have absolutely no complaint when Jesus characters in various shows are played by lily-white actors

Audra has only missed about 10 shows. This is not actually pretty low. Pretending it’s some catastrophe seems to have a motive behind it….

Audra will win the Tony because, despite her load of Tonys, this is the best currently on Bway

Both Gypsy and Sunset aren’t doing that well. Both are on TKTs and TDF. At least Gypsy has the potential to keep going for a while if Audra wins. Sunset is closing if Nicole wins or not

Patti’s autobiography is just a litany of complaints. It’s entertaining because we know she’s a bitch and takes no prisoners.

Patti in the NY article is showing us a personality disorder. Everything is terrible; everything is stupid.

There’s something really wrong with her

How many performances has Darren Criss missed? Jonathan Groff? Brooks Ashmanskas? Danny Burstein?

R243. Criss had two or three scheduled absences. Groff, none so far. And I think he only had two or three scheduled absences during Merrily. Brooks? none have been mentioned on social media. Danny missed one.

Saw Dead Outlaw. I’m sorry but I don’t think Andrew Durand has a strong voice.

[quote] Patti’s autobiography is just a litany of complaints. It’s entertaining because we know she’s a bitch and takes no prisoners

being a bitch and "taking no prisoners" is Patti's schtick. She's a performer and knows her audience expects this kind of disruptive stuff from here. it's baked into her public image.

Having said that, schtick has to evolve and what was cute at 27 is not cute at 76. How many of her fans and detractors would be disappointed if she really did (as she often threatens to do) quit performing and doing concerts and interviews. Plenty.

She just needs to get on top of her schtick and refine it

Patti is not a top.

[quote]When I screened the original Broadway production of ‘Master Class’ at the NY Performing Arts Archive, I was surprised to see Audra’s role played by her understudy (this was before Audra vacated the production). I wasn’t aware she had a reputation for missing performances, but apparently it goes way back.

Yes. I knew someone who was on Audra's rep team when she was in RAGTIME, and he said he had to endure several screaming phone calls from Garth Drabinsky over Audra's absences.

I'm having a hard time understanding the fuss about Patti's comments about Audra. She says that, as a veteran stage performer, Audra should've understood the noise issue and not supported the post. She then goes on to say, "She is not a friend."

Audra pops up a couple days later and says she doesn't know what Patti is talking about (which is terribly disingenuous, as everyone else seems to know what Patti is talking about). She then goes on to say, "I haven't seen her in about 11 years."

I'm sorry, but even without the emoji business, I wouldn't consider someone I hadn't seen in 11 years to be a "friend". So how was Patti so wrong? I love Audra, but on this issue, I guess I'm Team Patti.

[quote]How many performances has Darren Criss missed? Jonathan Groff? Brooks Ashmanskas? Danny Burstein?

Men, especially white men, have more stamina/endurance than women.

Black women are the laziest.

R250. I'll say!

R249, I agree in spirit with much of what you wrote, but what do you mean when you state that "Audra doesn't know what Patti is talking about (which is terribly disingenuous, as everyone else seems to know what Patti is talking about)." As other people have attempted to clarify here, Patti was clearly referring to some sort of rift between her and Audra that happened long ago, NOT to Audra's support of Kecia Lewis, which was quite recent.

So, can you please clarify what sort of rift you think Patti is talking about?

[quote]Black women are the laziest.

Also r250:

*The King is Coming!*

[quote]R 110 please, Democrats are the evil Americans, who want to turn the USA into a communist police state like the UK and Canada have become.

[quote]They have no freedom of speech over there and are under surveillance 24/7 and can also be arrested/cited for not going along with far-left woke ideology (anti-men, anti-white, anti-police, anti-Christianity, anti-Western civilization, anti-women when it comes to the trans/nonbinary issue).

[quote]Democrats project a lot when they call Republicans fascists and racists -- all because Republicans are dismantling woke policies, which are un-American and anti-USA.

[quote]But Democrats will learn the hard way in the next few years, as they keep doubling down and getting voted out of office. That shit may work in ultraliberal Europe and Canada, but at the end of the day most Americans are moderate/conservative.

[quote]The 2024 election showed that there are no blue states, just big blue cities in a sea of red. It's the major cities that are liberal; the suburbs/rural areas tend to be conservative.

There's an old story of a similar incident in London when Maggie Smith was doing Lettice and Loveage (IIRC) and there was sound bleed from Five Guys Named Moe next door. She asked stage management if they could do anything about it. A few hours later, an ASM knocked on her dressing room door announcing 'we fixed the problem, we hung some blacks' (referring to black drapes as a sound barrier) to which Maggie's voice responded "I don't think you needed to go quite that far'.

I have no idea what long-ago rift Patti is talking about, but I think one of the problems was that she didn't elaborate on it. Not only did that let her in for a huge backlash, it also provided cover for Audra to deny knowing anything about it. Still, I would argue that I think Audra knows what this is really about, as it was obviously enough that they haven't seen one another in 11 years. That means that, despite being erstwhile co-workers and theatrical peers, neither of them has checked out the other's performances in a decade, attended parties or events where they may have met, etc. The Kecia thing was probably just the cherry on top.

I have a couple friends who play the same game. One claims that there was some huge rift, while the other claims to know nothing about it. Regardless, they haven't talked to one another in well over a decade.

This is the top story on Playbill.com

Patti LuPone is to be banned from the Tony Awards and all other theatre functions until she completes anti bias and racial counseling programs. She is also to officially reprimanded.

She is asked to be banned, right r256? But these people are not actually banning her, right? Or has Courtney Love somehow been empowered with all authority over Broadway?

R257 I highly doubt in these times that they will invite Patti to any event given this is the groupthink response lol

I will say, Patti kept talking for two years about being done with Broadway. Seems she got her wish

How fucking ridiculous

I loathe Patti but I hope she tells them to go fuck themselves.

that letter is self parody.

RIP Loretta Swit

Poor Loretta! I blame Patti.

RIP, Cagney I.

My one disappointment with that NYer profile -- the author didn't ask Patti for her opinion on Bernadette. I assume Patti would have pronounced B's name with a VERY hard "t" at the end.

Seriously, though, if Patti is not genuinely working with a crisis PR team right now, yeah, I think her Broadway career is officially over. Whether she (as she claims) wants it or not.

Patti's Broadway career should have ended when she quit Equity.

As a child of the 80s and 90s, I grew up adoring Patti and Bernadette. But for years I've felt that Bernadette is a 'boring' interview subject. Patti held nothing back (clearly) while Bernadette was so careful, cautious, deliberate.

Clearly, Bernadette made the smarter choice there, though!

You can say nothing and still be entertaining

[quote]Nicole will NOT be extending her run.

She will NOT be extending her run AT THIS MOMENT (as Zoomers like to say). However, give her a Tony on June 8, and negotiations to extend her contractual run will start early on Monday June 9. No way will the producers close a show a month after their leading lady walks away with the Tony, and not try to extend the run. (Same thing should she not win, but the production wins 'best revival' - no way will they close a month later).

[quote]I'm sorry, but even without the emoji business, I wouldn't consider someone I hadn't seen in 11 years to be a "friend".

I have plenty of friends whom I haven't seen in 10+ years. Not that I don't want to see them, but location, travel time, and expenses has kept us away from each other - yet we haven't lost a beat thanks to cell phones (no more paying for long-distance land lines) and social media. I may not be celebrating birthdays or holidays with them each year, but thanks to videos via text messages and social media, it's close enough to 'being there'.

[quote]How many performances has Darren Criss missed?

Probably doesn't matter. The Tony-nominated actor just extended his run for 'Maybe Happy Ending' (one of the most nominated musicals this season) until Labor Day Weekend. He's not disappointing tourists this summer. (I wonder of this news will influence Tony voters to vote for him in his category?)

[quote]I loathe Patti but I hope she tells them to go fuck themselves.

That very well may be a safe bet.

A Tony win for either Audra or Nicole won't really do much for either of their shows. A tiny bump for the week after at best.

[quote]AT THIS MOMENT (as Zoomers like to say)

They do? Source?

I'll take that tiny bump!

Oh, please. Like they would bar Patti from the Tonys or whatever, especially given the attention it would currently command.

R279, at this point, I’m surprised CBS isn’t demanding she open the show!

^I meant R275, not 279.

R273 College campuses across the country. It's been years - if ever- you've been on one, obviously.

Interesting to read the Playbill article to see how the outrage has shifted from the original grievance between Lewis and Patti (where it’s by no means clearcut that Lewis was on firm ground racializing the situation) to Patti insulting Audra, who is certainly a big enough star herself to handle the situation.

Maybe because I’m old, I see this as a tempest in a teapot and the idea of this pretentious letter is simply ridiculous. Nor have I ever heard of the majority of the signees —certainly a lot of well known Broadway names haven’t signed it yet.

And the dumbest thing the Tony hierarchy could do would be to disinvite Patti — on the contrary they should do everything in their power to get her to show up, begowned and bedizened. The ratings for the Tonys have been on life support for years and if people thought there’d be a hair-pulling match on the red carpet or a chorus of boos from the audience a la “Dangerous Liaisons,” the ratings would double.

At last, Broadway is fun again with everyone taking sides and stabbing backs just like the good old days!

[quote] especially given the attention it would currently command

It's hilarious to see quite how massively some are over-estimating the interest in this.

r279 Oh great, now we're getting double posts from the Patti thread

I doubt Patti has any interest in attending the Tony's especially since she wasn't nominated and Mia was. And, if Mia wins will she thank Patti?

I think there is, at this point, close to zero chance Patti attends the Tonys.

But will voters now vote for Mia just to spite Patti?

Most people aren't giving a shit, r283.

Where's Paul Rudnick when we need him? I feel like he could do the Patti-Audra-Kecia story justice. And Scott Rudin can produce!

Kecia Lewis will never be more relevant than she was today.

I bet she's going around telling people "You're WELCOME!"

Good Lord.

This coming week ...

MONDAY -- Operation Mincemeat has a performance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Jonathan Groff is on The Tonight Show and George Clooney, Jennifer Simard and Christopher Sieber are on Late Night with Seth Meyers

TUESDAY -- Audra McDonald is on CBS Mornings, Real Women Have Curves has a performance on TODAY, and Kara Young is on The View

WEDNESDAY -- Cynthia Erivo is on CBS Mornings and Renee Elise Goldsberry performs on TODAY

THURSDAY -- Dead Outlaw has a performance on The View and Cynthia Erivo is on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

FRIDAY -- Phylicia Rashad is on CBS Mornings and Cynthia Erivo performs on TODAY

“Dr. Rashad, tell us about Patti”

Patti has had her request to appear on the Tonys rescinded. That has happened. You read it here first. No one will talk on the record, but it has happened.

Even before the interview, why would she want to be there?

r289 - I mean, it was inevitable. Honestly, if she had an ounce of self-awareness she'd know that even if that hadn't happened, it would be wise for her to decline to make an appearance now. Maybe she can claim she has a drinking problem and go to rehab. That used to be the ticket.

[quote]Patti has had her request to appear on the Tonys rescinded. That has happened. You read it here first. No one will talk on the record, but it has happened.

And you know this how, exactly?

Wait, I want to understand this, R289. Are you reporting that LuPone requested to be on (or at) the Tony show? And that they’ve now said she can’t? Were they willing to accommodate her before this kerfuffle?

I think nominee Mia Farrow should bring Patti as her guest. Though she’s probably bringing son Ronan, who may well be telling mom to boycott Patti.

Mia Farrow wants nothing to do with Patti. They were not speaking by the final weeks of "The Roommate."

Patti was scheduled to present an award for the Tonys. They pulled the invitation. Fact.

I hardly think Lupone's cunting could be described as "microaggressive." It was her usual--aggressive. Not that I'm on the side of the far-from-luminaries who signed the letter demanding "restorative justice," whatever the fuck that means. No winners here--just twats.

[quote] How many of her fans and detractors would be disappointed if she really did (as she often threatens to do) quit performing and doing concerts and interviews. Plenty.

I last saw Lupone in concert about 25 years ago and even then she was past her prime.

R297 = Bernadette Peters

Open Letter From The Broadway Theater Community.

CBS is thrilled that Patti got dumped as a presenter so they can have one of their hot stars from Chicago PD/FD/Rescue Team Squad take her place!

I saw her in concert a year ago and she was outstanding. You’re full of shit.

Scrolling IG, I have seen many videos of NS with Mandy G. singing "With One Look" at the Ham4Ham thing. Could Mandy take over? I thought it was very nice for NS to sing a signature song with her Tuesday replacement. I actually do not think I have ever seen it.

R295 do you know anything else about her fall-out? Was there any other real repercussions for her from what happened? There was an upcoming concert on her website that when you click on the date it now says file not found. I don’t know if she cancelled, the venue did. It also seems that she was dumped from WWHL next week (or she cancelled)

This is not going to age well for anyone. The letter is ridiculous and will do nothing to address racial inequities real or imagined on Broadway....

I didn't think this whole affair was about racial inequalities. I though it was about sound from one show bleeding onto the stage of another.

I'd love for her to return to The View before their season is over at the end of July. Tell her side of the story (if I'm not mistaken, when she was on the show the very last time, it was in November when her play opened, and the day after her appearance is when that 'tweet' went out about her).

I really wish the show would address all this in their 'Hot Topics' this week (I can't believe they didn't mention it at all the past few days). I know who's side Sunny will be on, but I'm not sure what the others will say.

That's surprising about WWHL because Miss Andy Cohen loves it when Patti cunts off about everybody and everything. Patti probably canceled.

The “Audra doesn’t owe anyone an explanation” excuse is just more passive aggressive bullshit. You publicly sided with a woman who accused an actress of being racist. It was pointed out in the media.

Audra chose to put herself out there, nobody else did. She has a right to respond however she wants to. But clearly something in Kecia’s post compelled her to like it.

[quote] (I can't believe they didn't mention it at all the past few days)

It's almost like this story only interests a small number of people.

R310 Yes, but this is making headlines in the entertainment industry (way beyond Broadway) and in NYC. I think in the past few days, it has grown from 'a small number of people' - it's now pop culture hot topic.

[quote]it's now pop culture hot topic

No it isn't.

I know he's disliked, but I wish Michael Riedel would cover this story.

I don’t understand why her interview is causing such a commotion. It’s Patti Fucking LuPone. Of course she’s going to stir up shit in an interview.

I loved every word of the interview! And I love every bit of her! And I love that she didn’t have a publicist hack riding shotgun to ensure she behaved herself.

R256 that letter! oh, fer chrissakes. How is asking a neighboring theater to tone done noise racist? How is saying Audra isn’t her friend racist?

If the whiny babies want to ban Patti from their Broadway parties because she’s a cunt? Fair play! But they want to ban her because she’s a “racist?” Bullshit!

R312 You're not familiar with the term 'Pop Culture' , are you ?

R256 is a freaking idiot.

r316 Let me guess, you're one of the people who think that having Patti at the Tonys will lead to big ratings?

Get out of your social media bubble. Outside of the theatre world, no one cares about this.

Why does BENJAMIN BUTTON sound like RIVERDANCE?

Patti LuPone is acting like Donald Trump -- I can say whatever I want, to whomever I want, however false, nasty or mean, and that's my right because I am ME!!!! We're all done with these types, and I'm loving that people are standing up and saying you can't PUBLICLY call an esteemed Tony Winning actress "A Bitch" and not have a reaction and consequences. She is behaving more nastily that all the people she claims have harmed her - Kevin Kline, ALW, a hockey player, Audra. She's a narcissist and she won't go away unless the press stops falling for it. Same with Trump.

Stop double-posting between this gossip thread and the separate Patti thread, R320. You’re not as brilliant as you seem to think you are.

She bullied Sherie Rene Scott which is worse than all of her other miserable antics combined. That's like clubbing a baby seal.

R318 You guessed wrong once again. The Tonys has never pulled in big ratings (which is why it's telecast in the early days of Summer, when no one is watching TV) and Lupone being there or not won't change much.

If no one cared about this 'outside of the theater world', it wouldn't be getting the mainstream pop culture coverage as it has. It would have only been covered by 'Theater Week', 'Playbill', 'Broadway.com' - not PEOPLE, Variety, New York Times, and CBS - for starters.

It's like saying no one is interested in the Diddy trial except for those who listen to Rap/Hip/Hop/R&B music.

Again, you're really not familiar with 'pop culture'.

r323 When your examples are People, Variety, NYT and CBS, maybe you shouldn't be trying to lecture to others what pop culture is. Mind you, this all started with your shock that The View wasn't covering this, so that says it all, really. Hell, the fact that you keep saying pop culture does too.

R324 PEOPLE and Variety are two leaders covering pop culture entertainment. Not sure what backass town you live in over flyover America, but do us all a favor and stay there.

r325 Hey, I can only dream of being cool enough to read People and Variety

[quote] Why would someone with a "name" work her ass off to perform 8 performances in a role known to be back-breaking? Unless of course the money is incredible.

I have an answer to that question.

Matt Doyle posted on Threads he’s moving to Korea. Is it because of Patti?

R328 Thank God! FINALLY!!

R320, she didn't call McDonald a bitch, though she did call Kecia Lewis and Glenn Close bitches. The New Yorker piece shows that she's overbearing and self-absorbed, with an uncontrolled martyr complex. But that opportunistic petition is full of the kind of false assertions of racism, "white privilege," etc, that now quickly falls on deaf ears, as it should. These kinds of uber-left tropes are doing progressives no favors, and that might finally be dawning on them. Liberals should be utterly rejecting this kind of thing and concemtrate on winning elections.

Cast Patti, Audra and Kecia in Follies and watch DL's head assplode!

"I'm Still Here, BITCH"

[quote]Matt Doyle posted on Threads he’s moving to Korea.

If that's true, I'm surprised. His career has really seemed to be going great guns recently, even if I've heard he's being replaced the Sinatra musical. Is he leaving the country primarily because of Trump and his crew? And if so, why Korea?

R328-He's starring in The Great Gatsby in Seoul. Who could have guessed he's a rice queen.

R334. Not me!

Did anyone catch Kiss Me Kate on Great Performances last night? I enjoyed it but some of the casting was meh.

I was part of the “Broadway Community” for almost a decade, fairly successfully.. For the most part people were fine, but if asked to define the “community” as a group, the term I’d use would be “high schoolers.” This letter is a perfect example of why.

PACO.

If someone asked me to define social media as a community, the term I'd use would be "middle schoolers."

[quote]I doubt Patti has any interest in attending the Tony's especially since she wasn't nominated and Mia was. And, if Mia wins will she thank Patti?

Patti will pull a Crawford and show up to accept Sarah Snook's Tony just to stick it to Mia.

Patti surrendered and apologized. Her statement is on instagram

Doyle posted he’s “moving to Korea.” That sounds somewhat permanent to me. If it was just for a show woukdn’t he have been a bit more specific?

Rice queen

[quote] Patti surrendered and apologized. Her statement is on instagram

Now lee see Kecia get all of these starring roles, since she's such a beloved veteran of the industry, apparently.

We're waiting.....

That's actually a good (and, thankfully, brief) statement from Patti. It's kind of refreshing to see a public figure make an apology without excuses or over explanations. I guess she DOES have a publicist.

A publicist that she definitely directed to make the apology sound like her own voice.

[quote]Patti will pull a Crawford and show up to accept Sarah Snook's Tony just to stick it to Mia.

She'll get Kanye to rip the award from Snook's hands and declare that LaTanya Richardson Jackson was more deserving.

It's so nauseating to see her grovel to the likes of whomever the nobody cunt was who started this petition. Never give in to a bully. The bitch took a page out of the Trump playbook--attack.

What Patti said was unprofessional, unwise, and given her age makes you wonder if she's experiencing the disinhibiting effects of dementia. But that's as far as I'd go in comparing her to Donald. She's not EVIL evil.

In a related event of craven, grovelling behavior, the sued playwright Miss David Adjmi has deleted her yesterday's defense of La LuPone on Facefuck.

Are you defending the petitioner, R350, looking for her 15 minutes?

[quote] This is not going to age well for anyone. The letter is ridiculous and will do nothing to address racial inequities real or imagined on Broadway....

The racial inequities on Broadway are certainly not imagined.

[quote] A publicist that she definitely directed to make the apology sound like her own voice.

"Directed"?!!

Honey, they had to tranquilize and restrain Lupone so she couldn't throw the publicist's laptop out the window. That bitch wasn't trying to apologize. It was an executive decision made over her vigorous, full-throated objection by everyone with a stake in what remains of her professional life.

If she feels she has to bow to the whims of that no-one letter writer, R354, then that's pathetic.

Patti's original apology was this:

No more wars to fight,

White flags fly tonight

I am out of danger now

Battlefields are still

White poppies on the hill

I'll be back on stage, 'cause I surrender

I will see you soon, 'cause I surrender....

She should have stopped after the first paragraph.

I am going to need a place to channel that anger so I've decided that I'm going to give the NRA my full attention. I hope Wayne LaPierre will enjoy his retirement party. I'm going to do it at the same place I had my cherry plucked. I'm making a movie about our President, perhaps we can make it a joint retirement party. One year ago, I began organizing a $5 million foundation to give scholarships to women directors of color at NYU. While this might seem coincidental, it has been in the works for a year. It will be named after my mom and I won't disappoint her.

Secret last paragraph

An uplifting evening ahead!

[quote]The letter is ridiculous and will do nothing to address racial inequities real or imagined on Broadway....

Mostly imagined unless you mean the mandate that every musical has a black female lead, regardless of the character they are portraying.

Patti didn't say or do anything racist.

Not liking A person who happens to be black isn't racist...unless you dislike them because they ARE black.

[Quote] Did anyone catch Kiss Me Kate on Great Performances last night? I enjoyed it but some of the casting was meh.

Unfortunately these are filmed with the London casts because it’s so expensive to film the Bway casts.

I want to hear about Audra not being overly supportive towards her black theater peers.

crickets...crickets...crickets....

Audra is beloved for a reason.

That Kiss Me Kate on PBS was unwatchable.

I noticed it was on , r366, watched a small bit and said no thanks.

It was truly terrible.

I watched about twenty minutes and grabbed the remote. It should be retitled, 'Not So Great Performances'.

Is this the first time it was on, or is it from the past?

Little Charlie Stemp was a bright spot. Stephanie J. Block is never more than mediocre and Adrian Dunbar was just too old. And I say that as an old person myself. Lois Lane was dreadful and the gangsters sucked. But, it's a great show with a lovely score and it was well sung.

On Adrian Dunbar's detective series, Ridley, he always found a way to shoehorn in a terrible vocal number for himself. So self-indulgent.

Stephanie J. Block, like many current B'way "stars" seems like she should be the biggest star in a provincial city. Good enough to snag all the good roles in her age range in Seattle or Atlanta or Cleveland but not really starry enough for B'way.

FLOYD COLLINS sucked! It was the same song for the entire length of the show. Just slight variations here and there.

But there was a woman who looked awful an lot like Cynthia Erivo there tonight.

[quote]Has a New Yorker article ever caused such a pop culture tizzy as this one?

No, honey. Not "Radical Chic" by Tom Wolfe nor Janet Malcolm on Sylvia Plath.

Nothing that has ever appeared in that magazine has ever been as important as this controversy. Not even Hannah Arendt's reporting on the Eichmann trial nor John Hersey's "Hiroshima" or Shirley jackson's "The Lottery."

[quote]Good enough to snag all the good roles in her age range in Seattle or Atlanta or Cleveland...

[quote]Playhouse Square is a theater district in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is the largest performing arts center in the US outside of New York City (only Lincoln Center is larger). Playhouse Square welcomes more than 1 million guests to 1,000+ performances and events each year. Its KeyBank Broadway Series season ticket holder base (more than 45,000) is the largest in the country, making Cleveland one of fewer than 10 markets that can support a three-week run of a touring Broadway show.

Cleveland is an excellent theater town.

At least ,now, the entire country knows who Patti LuPone is.

Little Charlie Stemp is surprisingly dominant and aggressive in bed. Almost as much as MikeR.

KISS ME KATE is one of the shows on my list of musicals whose score is great but whose book is such a bore that I'd avoid any production in the future. But I'll play the album any time.

I was fast forwarding through much of it. But, did they not include "From This Moment On"?

It puzzles me as to why none of the stage revivals of KISS ME, KATE have added "From This Moment On" and placed and performed it as it is in the movie, where it's the absolute highlight of the entire film. My only guess is, the film version is SO fabulous and iconic that people are intimidated by the thought of recreating it, but I think a really talented choreographer could figure it out. They could use the original choreography (some of it by Fosse) as a basis and maybe just tweak it a bit if necessary. Any thoughts as to why no one has been brave and smart enough to do this?

Such elementary choreography for what should be a show stopper.

Boring " Another Openin'."

R374: I saw her at Operation Mincemeat. The House Manager brought her to her seat and she had a security guard standing in the rear of the orchestra like she was President of the United States. BTW, she's just as ugly in person.

I don't think there's a prayer of it happening but I hope something stops the extremely overrated Oh, Mary from winning next week.

In the video at R382, the huge sweat stains on that first featured guys' shirt, near his armpits, are very off-putting. I suppose some might find that hot, but pas moi.

The song is Too Darn Hot, for fucks sake.

[quote] Not liking A person who happens to be black isn't racist...unless you dislike them because they ARE black.

You don't have to 'dislike' a Black person to be racist. You just have to call them a 'bitch' in a high-profile publication and dismiss their entire 40 year career because they only appeared in 'Black' shows. I think that's pretty racist.

[quote] I don't think there's a prayer of it happening but I hope something stops the extremely overrated Oh, Mary from winning next week.

I could see voters giving Best Actor to Cole Escola, but Best Play to Purpose or John Proctor. I didn't hate Oh, Mary!, but the other four nominees are all better plays and worthier winners.

P386, that clip is porn for the Armpit Troll.

R389: I didn't hate it either but the play isn't particularly funny and Cole is one-note.

I very much doubt that OH, MARY! will win Best Play.

R388 is making shit up. She did NOT call McDonald a bitch (which, at any rate, is NOT racist) and she did NOT "dismiss their entire 40 year career because they only appeared in 'Black' shows." Prove where LuPone said any of that. Of course you can't, so I guess lying and assuming no one will call you on it is easier. Very Trumpian.

I think that's overstating it, R377--the whole country?

Yes, R394...the WHOLE COUNTRY.

No, R395. I assure you they're not discussing this Drama Queen fracas in Ohio, or Kansas, or Maine, or many other places.

R378-Did Stemp have a fling with Gavin while he was onstage in the West End?

Devil Wears Prada seems to be a big hit in the West End but no talk of a Broadway transfer?

[quote]Did Stemp have a fling with Gavin while he was onstage in the West End?

Hell, even I knew to do it offstage!

So are Audra and Kecia going to meet with Patti or not?

Audra has no interest in meeting Kecia, I mean is she really a veteran next to Queen Audra?

Oh, Mary R401. Talk about a queen.

Given the competition, I'd call any performer with 1 Broadway credit a success. I think 5+ credits makes you a veteran, though perhaps not a star or a "name"

[quote] BTW, she's just as ugly in person.

Who knew that some theater queens were so racist? The Patti defender has been busy this week defending Patti and attacking black women ad naseam. Just say that you don't like black people and go.

[quote]Given the competition, I'd call any performer with 1 Broadway credit a success. I think 5+ credits makes you a veteran, though perhaps not a star or a "name"

HEY! Who are you to question Patti?

If I see one more fucking Maybe Happy Ending ad on YouTube...

I see some of the SJW's on the socials aren't having ANY of Patti's apology. The are stating their boundaries very clearly: The consensus seems to be that, until Kecia Lewis and Audra ACCEPT Patti's apology, the apology did not happen.

Translation: the SJW's were enjoying the duck out of their self righteous hate the Karen outrage and aren't ready to let it go

R396, plenty of queens here in Ohio have been discussing this dust-up. Take your coastal snobbery and shove it up Patti's ass.

Hunty R408, stop tring to sell this shit as if it was a thing. It'll be old news in a day.

R407 That's a lot of pressure on Audra, especially the final days of Tony voting. What, pray tell, will they do ? Will she agree to accept the apology, and hope this pushes her over the finish line ? Will she not and take her chances ? I'm certain she's hunkered down in a safe place with her strategists, planning her next move - and cursing out Kecia for starting all this in the first place.

Chalamet and Jenner were apparently at Oh, Mary the other night. Anybody see them there?

I want to hear more about Charlie Stemp’s aggressive topping. Is he all about dick these days?

[quote]I'm certain she's hunkered down in a safe place with her strategists

Audra’s strategists = Door Dash straight from Chipotle

[QUOTE] No, [R395]. I assure you they're not discussing this Drama Queen fracas in Ohio, or Kansas, or MAINE, or many other places.

You’ve apparently never been to Ogunquit (or the storied Ogunquit Playhouse) where you can’t walk down the street without tripping over an elder-gay.

I’m a D.C. gay but this stupid anti-flyover shit is very tired. Work on some new material now that Patti v. Audra is over.

R414, it's you turning into an alleged anti-flyover issue. Let me put it to you very clearly: this is not on the radar of 90 percent of Americans. Okay?

[Quote] I'm certain she's hunkered down in a safe place with her strategists, planning her next move - and cursing out Kecia for starting all this in the first place.

Patti started this. She needs to stop putting down the careers of her colleagues.

I am sure Audra will never mention this again. She’s handled the whole thing perfectly. She did not get triggered and go off. Feigning ignorance was the best strategy

I agree with you, R416.

[quote]Patti started this. She needs to stop putting down the careers of her colleagues.

Patti posted an 'open letter' on Instagram, accusing her self of bullying, being offensive and being racially microagressive ? I didn't know that.

r419, LuPone has been cunting on people for years. She just met her match with opportunist-of-color Kecia Lewis.

Whatever this whole kerfuffle is (or isn't), LuPone has (surprisingly and laudably) taken the high road and apologized -- not, be it noted, specifically for racism, but for her thoughtlessness. That's smart of her (and/or her publicist) -- loathe her though I do, I'd never argue that she was intentionally racist at this or any other time. (What most of her "defenders" here and elsewhere fail to acknowledge -- and what she perhaps has -- is that we're ALL capable of a racist moment; any decent person, when told that they've said/done something racially insensitive, takes at least a moment to consider whether that's true. I'm not aware that anyone ever argued that LuPone was a closet KKK member; the real delusion is imagining that you or I are somehow above ever doing/saying something offensive.)

Everyone else ought to take a cue for her and move on -- and stop making it a referendum on your own personal issues re: race, MAGA or anything else.

R421, anyone can and will say something that someone else will find offensive. She in no way said anything in which race could be brought in. Not a bit. When it's a power play that's played out on social media, the flavor of the moment wins.

"Not a bit," R422? Because you say so? So there's no evidence whatever to support the contention that anything black-adjacent is often dismissed as "too loud"? Please.

Some of you remind me of the disingenuous types who insist that because the adjective "niggardly" isn't etymologically derived from the Latin word for "black," no one's allowed to raise an eyebrow or take exception when it's used. Yes, that makes sense -- as long as you pretend that the word's still in common use (it isn't), and as long as you don't give a fuck how you sound to contemporary listeners.

Everyone is thanking Patti and/or her publicist for the well-written apology that was posted. I think we should give credit where credit is due. THANK YOU, CHATGPT!

Now, if only Trump could learn to use A-One.

It’s kinda funny. Sentient Americans are filled with dread and misery about the world.

So who do we direct our significant anger?

Patti LuPone.

[quote] So there's no evidence whatever to support the contention that anything black-adjacent is often dismissed as "too loud"? Please.

Oh Mary R423, you're idiot-adjacent. You know damn well that wasn't LuPone saying "they're loud next door because they're black." The sound was bleeding into the theatre where she was acting in a two-hander next door to a rock musical, in front of a paying audience that wasn't paying to hear strains of the musical next door. Fuck off.

R425 Eight gays on the DL

And by the way, if "Spring Awakening" (with all white actors) was blaring next door, they wouldn't be able to bring this fake charge against LuPone, would they?

Lea would…she didn’t pop her toys out at the end of the first act for nothin’

tits not toys^

[quote]Audra’s strategists = Door Dash straight from Chipotle

Oh, look. Another hilarious Chipotle joke.

I can never tell if the dinosaurs on here are willfully obtuse or just ignorant of the definition of things being discussed. Personally, I always thought Kecia's initial post was a touch of an over-reaction. I think she should have maybe started by sending Patti a letter (though, knowing Patti, she probably wouldn't have reacted well to that... either.) But, regardless, I always understood what Kecia was referring to.

It's disingenuous to say she accused Patti of being an OVERT racist. Are you all so small minded that you can't understand there are degrees here? No one's accusing Patti of the being the Grand Wizard of the KKK. Microaggressions are called that precisely because that's what they are.. micro. They can seem innocuous to the person perpetrating them. The person perpetrating them can mean no ill intent and have no prejudicial intention. They might be in the forms of jokes, statements, questions....

You know, you introduce yourself as Joseph Weinstein and someone immediately jokes "Oh, YOU must be a doctor." or "I guess YOU won't be tipping for service."

Few people experience microaggressions with more frequency than Black women. Seriously, if you actually KNOW a single Black women (I already know most of you commenting, do not), they can confirm this for you. From strangers touching their hair without their permission, to people commenting on how articulate they are, to people asking them why they need to wear sunscreen, to people offering unsolicited commentary on hip-hop and on and on and on. Is one of those going to ruin someone's day let alone her life? Of course not, but, when that woman is hearing that shit endlessly it does add up, it does create a toll. And, YES, one of those is commenting on how loud Black people / Black culture / Black music is.

Anyway, Patti's apologized. It's a great apology. So... why are you STILL attacking the Black women in this situation?

18 lines too long. You may stop.

Kecia will be fine—no harm. Audra IS Audra—no harm. Patti is now Retired Patti—again, no harm.

R426, way to miss my point -- deliberately. Blocked.

The only Chipotle jokes that are funny are the ones pertaining to Wesley Tay Tay.

Aw, butt-hurt R426 blocks people she can't deal with in an argument. Adorable.

[quote] From strangers touching their hair without their permission, to people commenting on how articulate they are, to people asking them why they need to wear sunscreen, to people offering unsolicited commentary on hip-hop and on and on and on. Is one of those going to ruin someone's day let alone her life?

Yes, all that happened, years ago, R432--let's be generous and say as recently as 10 years go. Speaking of dinosaurs, you sound like one, in your outrage over the old days. It wasn't just an overreaction on Lewis's part. It was an attack played out on social media to fuck with LuPone. Stop downplaying it.

And stop mansplaining, Mary, as if you have all the answers. You have opinions.

And by the way, R43e2--LuPone should not have apologized. She owed Lewis nothing.

Meant for R432.

The official VAR confirms: this is over and done.

NEWS AT 11: Elderly, white homosexual [ R436 ] declares no racial microaggressions have occurred since 2015.

[quote]And by the way, R43e2 - Meant for [R432].

I was beginning to worry.

How a Tony nominee blows off her co-star and the paying audience, yet still gets a NYT Metro section feature…

Lord almighty, whether Audra wins or loses, I'm going to be glad when this year's Tonys are in the rearview.

Truth, r443.

R440: News at 11: know-it-all gen X-Y-Z cunt thinks she knows anything, but she doesn't.

Every actress nominated in the 4 Tony categories deserves some Gay Pride

[quote]Microaggressions are called that precisely because that's what they are.. micro. They can seem innocuous to the person perpetrating them. The person perpetrating them can mean no ill intent and have no prejudicial intention. They might be in the forms of jokes, statements, questions....

You're being vague. It is a subtle form of prejudice. The problem with your argument, though, is you have to prove that Lupone's intentions were deliberately based on prejudice. Do you honestly believe that had it been a white musical next door that was loud and disrupting her show and rehearsals, she wouldn't have done the same thing? A woman who's had a long history of trashing Caucasian producers, playwrights, actresses and actors in print over decades. MANY incidents and FAR more brutal, before this one?

It's not even mentioned that she called Glenn Close a bitch in this same article and has accused the poor woman for years of plotting to destroy her career. Again, where was the outcry from ANYONE?

[quote]So... why are you STILL attacking the Black women in this situation?

I asked why Audra simply doesn't state why she liked that actresses post. If that's an attack, explain why?

If you want to take it there, if Patti had called Candace Owens or another prominent black conservative female a bitch, there would not be any of this controversy or outcry. Many of the people outraged and upset would either be laughing or agreeing with her. Just saying.

Yeah, calling out Candace Owens for her numerous vicious rants is totally the equivalent of calling a Tony winner a bitch because she called herself a Broadway veteran. Totally the same.

Jesus, R447. The lack of reading comprehension. The post you're quoting literally spells out that a person saying/doing a microaggression can have no ill intent or intended prejudice. That's part of what can make them seem so innocuous. It is fascinating to me that some white people are incapable of even envisioning a scenario in which their worldview is not constantly centered.

Anyway, it's time to move on. I assume y'all can now transfer all your vitriol to Cynthia now.

The 2025 Tony Awards predictions on All The Moving Parts. I like Patrick Pacheco, Helen Shaw and Adam Feldman but Jan Simpson is an idiot. She hardly ever looks up from her fucking list of nominees..

Can we just move on from the whole Patti thing? There are other related threads to use. It's already taken up more space than it's worth.

[quote]The lack of reading comprehension. The post you're quoting literally spells out that a person saying/doing a microaggression can have no ill intent or intended prejudice. That's part of what can make them seem so innocuous. It is fascinating to me that some white people are incapable of even envisioning a scenario in which their worldview is not constantly centered.

I asked what separates this event from all the others, in tone and substance, cupcake. An answer instead of a sweeping, redundant monologue would be nice.

[quote]Anyway, it's time to move on.

Why don't you actually try making a point for a change? Must everything be reduced to childish cowardice when confronted? I was bored just reading your comments.

Less than 150 posts left. Would someone please talk about Follies?

Oh, I've got something. It's actually about Company. I forgot that before Death Becomes Her, Jennifer Simard and Christopher Sieber played husband and wife (Sarah and Harry) in the most recent Broadway production. And I even saw the damn thing.

What's become of our beloved banjo-strummin', dancin' Tony-Award-winnin' superstar Karen Ziemba?

R450, interesting that they all say Audra deserves to win on the merits but she already has so many awards.

So should the Tony go to the one who deserves it or should they spread the wealth around?

"Deserves it" is subjective....like all awards.

From the clips I've seen, she doesn't but...clips.

Also: she already has too many damn Tonys.

Is it true Jennifer Simard and Danny Burstein are dating? If so, if Jennifer doesn't feel like going on a date does her understudy go in her place?

That feels like the premise of a Carol Burnett sketch, R458.

[quote]Is it true Jennifer Simard and Danny Burstein are dating?

Talk about not having a *type*.

[quote]Kecia will be fine—no harm.

I don't know. Let's see about that.

I doubt we'll ever hear from her again. This was her high tide, I think.

Hey, everybody. Miss me? I'm currently fucking my way through London.

[quote]r85 Hopefully Sir Ian doesn't fall off the stage again (in trans TWELFTH NIGHT)

Wasn't there an (Irish) all boy production of AS YOU LIKE IT that visited NYC in the 90s?

My female friend's actor boyfriend met the cast in a pub, and proceeded to pass out in their hotel.

None of us know what happened.

R461 I think you’re mistaken. She’ll be on stage long after you’ve been FF off the DL. Just a guess.

I do have to wonder if Audra and Patti will forever be asked in interviews about all of this.

R381, From this Moment On was included in both the 1999 and 2019 revivals, fourth song of the second act, performed in both shows by Harrison and Lilli.

[quote]r163 Why would someone with a "name" work her ass off to perform 8 performances in a role known to be back-breaking?

My point exactly!

My point exactly!

Audra will probably have her publicists block any questions from being asked. You see how quickly her fangurls arguments crumbled in this thread when they have to go beyond simply screaming racism to try and win an argument.

R393 cannot read. Patti Lupone called Kecia Lewis a "bitch" and dismissed Lewis' characterization of herself as a Broadway veteran even though her first Broadway credit was 1985. But some of those credits were "Once On This Island" and "Ain't Misbehavin", which of course are not meaningful shows to the Wicked Witch of Long Island.

[quote]r199 She might as well be screaming "I saw Goody LuPone with the devil!"

I don't know how it went from "These theater walls are not insulated enough" to "You are too loud."

I wonder what the fix entailed? Because I don't imagine it was telling the cast to sing softer.

There's something off about Kiss Me, Kate.

The voices are good and the songs are as clever as ever, but they're not landing the laughs and the staging is a little stiff.

Maybe turning the sound levels of the mics down just a bit, r471?

Gypsy won the Drama Desk for Best Revival, something neither Bernadette or Patti could do!

[quote] It's not even mentioned that she called Glenn Close a bitch in this same article and has accused the poor woman for years of plotting to destroy her career. Again, where was the outcry from ANYONE?

[quote] If you want to take it there, if Patti had called Candace Owens or another prominent black conservative female a bitch, there would not be any of this controversy or outcry.

You're not making any sense, dear. Glenn Close IS a bitch. Candace Owens IS a bitch. Their public statements and actions could support a reasonable person's characterization of them as such. Kecia Lewis in an unknown, singing for her supper 8 shows a week. Lupone's insult was an entitled overreaction, she has no cause to refer to Lewis as a "bitch" in tandem with diminishing her professional life and career. It was evil.

r472. That’s them Brits…anytime they try the Great American Songbook.

Audra and Jasmine tied for Drama Desk

I can read, cunty R470. You didn't specify which black actress. She didn't call McDonald a bitch, though she did call Lewis a bitch (pretty accurate). She should have called herself a bitch as well. Just how many years on Broadway qualifies as legendary status has't been weighed.

Jennifer simard is not dating Danny Burstein.

Lovely critics awards sweep for Maybe Happy Ending. Hopefully it cleans up next week too.

And go Audra!

The award is called the DRAMA Desk—for reasons known to the recipients.

I want to know - What was Ms. Lewis’ proposed solution to Ms. LuPone’s sound concerns?

Did Lewis think her show should be heard in the theater it’s playing in… and ALSO in the neighboring theater (which is not empty, but attempting to deliver an entirely different play to ticket holders?)

I’d be so embarrassed, appalled and apologetic if I were getting in the way of someone enjoying a play… which incidentally they paid A LOT to see!

are you all enjoying the tall chorus boy in the burgundy underpants in Another Opening Another Show dance break in the PBS Kiss Me Kate.?

you can't miss him

No. He’s wearing a dog collar…like the rest of the ensemble.

Bleech!

[quote]I want to know - What was Ms. Lewis’ proposed solution to Ms. LuPone’s sound concerns?

She has zero control over the sound levels.

Yes, but if she feels LuPone handled the sound concerns in the wrong way, how does Lewis think it SHOULD have been addressed? Or is her position that it should never have been addressed at all, and the theater next door and its audiences should just lump it?

If Audra had made the complaint instead of Patti would Kecia have given a flying fuck.

Yet Patti had immediate access to the other theater’s owners and the other show’s producers.

Patti is a star. Patti has worked in many Shubert houses. Why shouldn’t she ring up Bob Wankel?

Because that’s what cunts do. Professionals don’t act like cunts.

[quote]And by the way, if "Spring Awakening" (with all white actors) was blaring next door, they wouldn't be able to bring this fake charge against LuPone, would they?

No, nor if THE WHO'S TOMMY or BE MORE CHILL or AMERICAN IDIOT had been playing next door. Kecia Lewis's injection of race into the situation was outrageous and disgraceful.

R491’s injection of race into the situation was outrageous and disgraceful.

Explain yourself, R492. Kecia Lewis injected race into a situation that had nothing to do with it back when she made her public statements about Patti LuPone's comments that HELL'S KITCHEN is too loud.

Blah Blah, Blacksheep.

Go to sleep, Stephen Miller—tomorrow is a Monday.

R478, gurl, I did not state or imply that Patti called Audra a 'bitch.' So whether you can read will continue to be a matter of dispute.

R482

You can hear traffic, sirens and street noise from every orchestra seat in a Broadway theater. What to do, what to do?

Shut the fuck up and let the show go on. That’s what you do.

Bass frequencies are almost impossible to dampen with conventional sound baffling. Walls act like giant vibrating speakers, transmitting those sound waves far beyond the confines of the building where they originate. Acoustic foam and other sound-absorbent/reflective materials do not help at all - the only thing that really works is a second wall with a six foot air gap. That is, a room within-a-room.

No Broadway theatre was ever designed for heavy amplification (and sub-woofers).

No “old” or unreconstructed theater was designed for heavy amplification (and sub-woofers). FIFY

Someone wrote here that in the West End they just hang the blacks.

Tom Francis of “Sunset Boulevard” to appear on the WNYC radio show All Of It today. He’s been getting a big push, which makes sense because he’s young, hunky and a Tony nominee.

But am I right in assuming he’s been doing the heavy lifting for his show because co-star Nicole can’t stop herself from talking about how much she loves god and Donald Trump?

[quote] Someone wrote here that in the West End they just hang the blacks.

That Maggie Smith story quoted earlier, and perhaps apocryphal, has always referred to the New York run of Lettice and Lovage, which played at the Barrymore Theatre, and a short-lived Mahalia Jackson musical, Truly Blessed, which played the Longacre. Those two theatres are back to back. I'd never heard it in reference to London theatres, which tend to be more spread out.

R501 I will accept your correction. Thanks.

[quote]It's not even mentioned that she called Glenn Close a bitch in this same article

R501, not in Shaftesbury Avenue they ain’t. If I hear so much as a “Hosanna!” from Hadestown at the Lyric bleeding into my Fawlty Towers play at the Apollo I will wreak havic upon them.

June Havic? 😵‍💫

You fixed nothing, R498. I stand by my post.

The only sound baffling that actually works for bass frequencies is an air gap. Period.

Eleven shows are performing at the Tonys this Sunday, in addition to the Hamilton reunion and presumably the in memorial segment.

R500, could we get a citation for Nicole taking about how much she loves Donald Trump?

Well this actually sounds like fun.

If one to acquire amateur/stock rights to KISS ME KATE...... . would we get the 1948 orchestral arrangements? or does MTI (or whoever) give you a revised edition of the show? say from 1999 or 2019?

I'm asking because the current PBS production... the arrangements sound so different .

Thanks in advance

It is bizarre to me that not one person with a ring through their nose realizes how much they resemble Ferdinand the Bull, when everyone without a ring through their nose does.

Woah, Woah, r509.

Most of us left our 60s Disney days behind. Are you one of those ageing WDW queens in Wilton Manor?

For R511^

Kiss Me, Kate is available for licensing in its 1948 original version and the 1999 revival version, via Concord Theatricals.

We’ll pass

When I directed KMK back in 2006, we did the 1999 version. The arrangements were fine and sounded great in our smaller theater.

Was that 7th or 9th grade?

It makes a difference.

“ Most of us left our 60s Disney days behind.”

Asshole

Speaking of '60s Disney (and to bring the thread closer to an end), does anyone have anything to say about the stage version of Mary Poppins?

No x80 posts.

We have the Snob Hit of 2025-26! Kyoto, opening at the Newhouse this fall.

I'm more curious about The Whoopi Monologues. Which character will Kerry play? Fontaine? Surfer Girl? The Little Girl? Raisin Lover?

I don't have a working VCR any longer, but I still have the videotape of Whoopi On Broadway. Truly hilarious (and heartbreaking).

Wouldn't KMK have some disturbed about the misogyny , especially for a school community or a semi-pro setting? " Brush Up Your Shakespeare" alone is enough to have the drama director suspended or fired. Or, are gay-friendly plays the only ones being disallowed? Have the ignorant, prudish Karens and Kevins totally taken over?

Damn straight, R523! "A-round/the world/In eighty/motherfucking days!"

Looks like some idiot is going to stick an intermission in the middle of "Art" where one doesn't exist. Telecharge lists the running time at 100 minutes and the play runs about 85 at best.

*intermi$$ion* >>> art

R520 The stage version of "Mary Poppins" is....ok. The ghastly Julian Fellowes did the book and it added shit that really doesn't add much to the story...Mary Poppins gets fed up and leaves at the end of Act I to teach the kids a lesson, and Mrs. Banks hires her husband's childhood nanny who is an ogre but she's quickly dispatched. And, for some dumb reason, Mrs. Banks is now a former actress and not a suffragette. When they introduce this element, you think "Oh, Mrs. Banks is somehow going to use her former actress skills to help save the day!" but that never happens. I guess it's just there to make her "not fit in" respectable Edwardian society but it doesn't make much sense that an uptight stick like George Banks would every marry an actress. It's your typical stupid Julian Fellowes "plot twist"!

[quote]R528 …it doesn't make much sense that an uptight stick like George Banks would every marry an actress.

Had they not cut the Backstreet Abortion Ballet, this plot point would be clearer.

Look for a 'big announcement' to be made at the Tony's on Sunday night (some are saying early next week, but Sunday is the target date). Rumor has it that the 'long-planned' 50th Anniversary Revival of 'A Chorus Line' will be on stage this Fall, with a few familiar names attached. Please keep Mario Lopez far away.

[quote]R530 Look for a 'big announcement' to be made at the Tony's on Sunday night (some are saying early next week)

Maybe it’s that Patti’s agreed to begin her Road to Redemption maneuver by volunteering for a year in Equity’s HR Department?

It’s supposed to bring her back in touch with The People.

T528 I’m terrified that there's a person here who knows all the beats of this show.

Did your parents torture you?

All these people who are complaining about Kecia’s post only know one person’s side of the story…

Do you believe that Patti sweetly asked the manager to fix the volume?

[Quote] Audra and Jasmine tied for Drama Desk

Is a tie award always an exact tie?? What are the chances?

R533. Do you think Patti ran over to the Shubert screaming and banging on dressing room doors until the noise situation was resolved. Kecia doesn't seem like the shy type. If she has more to say then she'll say it.

I think there are only about 100 Drama Desk members, so the chances of ties are a lot greater than with the Tonys, where there are hundreds of voters.

R535 thats’s a Patti move fer sure.. Thanks fer asking!

The anger of those reading Patti’s interview had little to do with Kecia’s accusation. That happened a while ago. No one cares any more.

It’s was Patti’s belittling of Kecia, Audra, Glenn and everyone else that broke the camel’s back

[Quote] Rumor has it that the 'long-planned' 50th Anniversary Revival of 'A Chorus Line' will be on stage this Fall

I excitedly bought tickets to the last revival, which supposedly copied the original. What a slog

is Tony voting done?

R538William Shawn has now arrived

[Quote] Do you think Patti ran over to the Shubert screaming and banging on dressing room doors until the noise situation was resolved.

Yes

Patti yelled, “Hey, Nigga Bitch!!”

Fuck off

I have to admit it was hilarious when Kecia showed Patti's thank you note to the sound department as Exhibit A for her bigotry.

Miss R545, you seem to misunderstand what the word bigotry means.

Enough with the fucking Patti-Kecia posts. It's already a dead story. Let it go, Marys.

"Enough with the fucking Patti-Kecia posts"

Dear, that topic will persist forever on DL and especially in Theatre Gossip threads.

[quote] Dear, that topic will persist forever on DL and especially in Theatre Gossip threads.

R547, those are the saddest words since "Joyce Carol Oates."

I'm convinced that Joyce Carol Oates and Stephen King have a million tiny robotic monkeys in them all creating "stories" 24 hours a day.

Not til Friday at Noon, R540.

I saw KYOTO in London and it's a real snooze, more a history lesson than a play. Couldn't believe Stephen Daldry directed it as there was so little point of view to any of the staging and material. And Stephen Kunken while a fine actor is simply not charismatic enough for the underwritten lead role. Most of the rest of the cast in London was really sub-par, though I assume they'll all be recast.

I saw Kyoto in Japan. So there!!

thx R515 / just curious... do most companies choose to perform the 1999 version?

R532 I just saw Mary Poppins here in Seattle a couple months back...still fresh in my mind.

Never seem to hear about Disney Theatricals developing any new shows anymore.

Did it all die with Thom Schumacher's dismissal?

I'm surprised they haven't done any stage musicals from the Pixar catalog.

Toy Story the Musical could work.

Maybe they will try to milk the "Lilo & Stitch" revival boom with a culturally sensitive and aesthetically innovative Broadway musical directed by Julie Taymor.

R554 that’s not really a good defense 🤷🏻‍♂️

His look is quite…dead.

R540: Supposedly they start counting the votes on Thursday.

[quote]r511 It is bizarre to me that not one person with a ring through their nose realizes how much they resemble Ferdinand the Bull, when everyone without a ring through their nose does.

Do you only associate with fat whores, so that now everyone, nose piercing or not, resembles a bovine?

He associates it only with the Blacks, to be sure.

[Quote] Toy Story the Musical could work.

Dear, Jesus!! Don’t give them any ideas!

I wonder if Ryan Murphy’s proposed limited series about the early days of A Chorus Line (beginning with the taped conversations) will ever hapoen.

Was Patti's dancer brother a bitchy [italic]feygele,[/italic] with bombastically shrewish behavior matching hers?

Melissa Erico posts comments on Audra’s Rose:

“Highlight of my weekend. To return for a moment to the work itself, I have seen this show six times — and I think I can say I just saw it for the first time. Devastating, delusional, intermittently fun, tragically turning to the compulsive dream of theater for meaning. Women and history in America between the wars; the constant war. Not having a self until she breaks apart, every buttress crumbled, she stands for the first time towards a future unknown. Reborn? I’ve loved it before, but it’s like I never saw this show. If you haven’t seen, do! Thank you Audra McDonald.”

I really hope we don't see Darren Criss and Cole Escola go home multiple Tony winners on Sunday. I hope they spread the love around a little bit.

[Quote] I really hope we don't see Darren Criss and Cole Escola go home multiple Tony winners on Sunday. I hope they spread the love around a little bit.

It was yet another dismal Bway year artistically. This is why Criss and Escola are frontrunners

Escola is no Charles Ludlam.

No, she sure isn't, R569. She's not even Charles Busch.

You two make the old days sound so grand.

R570, he's not even Charles Nelson Reilly!

So per the Wiki page, Thom Schumacher was NOT dismissed from Disney:

[quote]He associates it only with the Blacks, to be sure.

Oh! So much of your phony virtue is tied up in this non-observation!

That Wiki article on Schumacher is peculiar in that it mentions in great detail the severe sexual harassment allegations that were brought against him at Disney yet never goes into the outcome.

I guess they were dismissed if he's still working at Disney (albeit in the LA offices, I think)??

Mia connection: Patti's dancer brother, Robert, played Andre Previn in "Love and Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story."

If you want to do a deep dive into his life, this is a tribute held at Julliard a few months after he died. Very interesting and inspiring. "He had absolutely no filter!" ... there must be a LuPone gene for that. I think he was straight; his wife (who he was with for 34 years) says, "Bob's interpretive dancing got us kicked out of a lot of parties." DL fave Judith Light says he helped her return to the theater after 22 years away. There's a good clip reel, with a scene from "All My Children" where he plays Zach the low-rent gigolo and a scene from "The Chorus Line" where he plays Zach the taut-assed director.

“Taut-Ass: The Michael Berresse Story!” I’d pay to watch that film!

r534 and r536 there was no TIE . All of the acting awards at Drama Desk have multiple winners except solo performance. The categories are non-gendered and there are more nominees so there are 2 winners minimum per category. Look at the other acting categories. there is no TIE.

I'd like to see the 50th anniversary of ACL go on with Patti stepping in for her late brother. She'll bring down the house... literatlly...

Disney's HERCULES opens in London this summer, and they are workshopping GREATEST SHOWMAN to open in London, and then to eventually replace Aladdin in the New Amsterdam.

I saw Hercules at the Papermill—there were good moments but overall it was underwhelming. The climax, especially ended too quickly. There were too many unnecessary songs and moments. I hope they overhaul the heck out of it before London

Patti in a Chorus Line would be a waste of a voice as Zach doesn’t sing much. But I think she would play the barking asshole well!

Why is Disney opening everything in London first? I guess it's because it's cheaper to produce there. But Walt would not have been happy about that.

She’s always been a certain way

The climax, especially ended too quickly.

…as is often the case.

[quote]All of the acting awards at Drama Desk have multiple winners except solo performance. The categories are non-gendered and there are more nominees so there are 2 winners minimum per category. Look at the other acting categories. there is no TIE.

That's not quite correct. Voters may vote for TWO people in each of the acting categories, and the idea is that two winners will be named in each category -- obviously, the two with the highest number of votes, regardless of their gender. So you're correct that a tie is not necessary for there to be two winners, but in one of the categories this year, there were THREE winners, so there must have been some kind of a tie in that case.

I wonder why an apology is suddenly supposed to make this all go away.

Does that mean anyone can just berate colleagues and call them bitches—and it all goes away if you just say sorry?

Interesting that Nicole S’s chances of winning the Tony are quickly fading. It seems to be between Audra and Jasmine

[quote]I wonder why an apology is suddenly supposed to make this all go away.

What do you mean by "supposed to?" What a weird post. As if we've never before read a public apology by a celebrity, and seen how it played out.

[quote]Interesting that Nicole S’s chances of winning the Tony are quickly fading.

You may be right, but what is your comment based on? If it's only based on what you're hearing from talking to other people, which I assume is the case, then of course it depends greatly on whom you happen to be talking to.

[quote] I wonder why an apology is suddenly supposed to make this all go away.

[quote]Does that mean anyone can just berate colleagues and call them bitches—and it all goes away if you just say sorry?

"Supposed to"--who are you claiming is doing the supposing? Who said this would make this all go way?

You are putting words in people's mouths, which is the mark of an asshole.

Robert LuPone could dance. Patti, on the other hand, fell on her ass on the opening night of Evita in LA, and she never got any better.

As public apologies go, LuPone’s was one of the better ones

R593 except she left out one very important name in the apology

The Escola haters here show their age. I wasn't lucky enough to see Ludlam, so I can't compare, but Cole is certainly a whole fuck of a lot more original inspired than Charles Busch's derivative drivel.

There was nothing original about Oh, Mary. Vaudeville did it better. … the biggest laugh comes from a sight gag about blowjobs.

Oh, please, R596 -- I'm guessing that Busch is among Escola's inspirations, as Charles Ludlam was among Busch's.

I didn't love OH, MARY! Off-B'way, in part because of the intensity of the shrieking all around me. I kept thinking, "Yes, this is very entertaining, but all this carrying on as if it's the Second Coming seems a bit much." I went back when Tituss Burgess went in, and with him and the new Abe the play clicked much more for me.

The groundbreaking part to me is that Escola's made a step closer to mainstream success than even Busch managed with ALLERGIST'S WIFE (and Busch of course wasn't in that). Love the play or not, it's a real achievement in that regard.

Seniorgay here who did see the brilliant Charles Ludlam’s Ridiculous Theater and I agree with R595 — I too saw Ludlam in Cole Escola’s “Oh,Mary!” —it’s a wonderfully funny and smart Vaudeville pastiche and the fiendish gleam on Escola’s eye is very Ludlam.

And even after just one play I’m prepared to say I think Escola is WAY smarter and more talented than Charles Busch.

R598, your last sentence was completely gratuitous, unnecessarily insulting, and just plain weird. For shame.

[quote]Interesting that Nicole S’s chances of winning the Tony are quickly fading.

Her chances faded when she thought it was a good idea to like pro-MAGA posts on Instagram. She bit the hand that fed her.

Groundbreaking?

Thanks, Jan😵‍💫

I wonder how often the costumes were changed in the original A CHORUS LIKE. I don't mean the leotards and tights, which would be easy to replace, but the shirts and pants, etc.

Like, say, Robert Lupone's costume: how many times can you wash a shirt and pair of pants that are danced in every night before they fade and lose their shape? And how similar is the replacement going to be? Did Theoni V. Aldredge buy multiples of stuff as backup when originally putting the show together?

I have never thought of this before and now I'm curious. I wouldn't think anything was built for the show secifically, except the finale tuxes. So, how do they find identical replacements? And when?