Interview of Patti LuPone

Interview of Patti LuPone.

[@Hairsprayxoxoful]

Some people in these comments seem to be wondering why it was such a big deal that she got fired and why didn't she just move on, etc. Well those people should know that Patti did the original workshop of Sunset and ALW promised her that she would open the show both in London and New York. She actually signed a CONTRACT stating that she would open in London and then in New York. All the while, ALW's company, Really Useful Group, spread rumors about Meryl Streep taking the part, which caused an unnecessary Meryl/Patti debate. Then, they announced an LA production to open about a year after London which would star Glenn Close. Once again, Really Useful Group spread gossip and rumors and created another debate: Glenn/Patti. Patti was upset by this, but believed that she did not need to worry about it because she had signed a contract to open in the West End and on Broadway as Norma Desmond. Then, one day, it was printed in the paper that Glenn Close would definitely open on Broadway as Norma Desmond. Patti had no idea about this because, once again, she had signed a contract. She got fired in the newspaper before being fired in person. That is not easy. There is a whole lot more to the story (read her memoir). She was dragged through the freaking mud with Sunset Boulevard and suffered at the hands of ALW.

[@carwyncymru]

I read miss Lupones memoir and what she went through was horrific!! But it shows what a true professional she was and fought the big production company. I saw her last matine and yes she Did come on stage and sing while they sorted out the technical problem. Miss lupone was an incredible Norma Desmond and seeing her in the role will live with me forever!! Alw you made a massive mistake!!

[@paris400]

Thank you for posting!! I finally got to meet Patti at Sweeney Todd and she called me "Daaawlll".

[@mackenzierichard4474]

So classy...You go girl!

[@traod8]

Yes, the 1993 "World Premiere Recording" is the original cast album and features LuPone as Norma Desmond. It was remastered in 2007 and is still easily available.

[@saramorsey]

and it is phenomenal

[@smurf902]

Patti is roughly 47 here looking mid 30s at most. Beautiful

[@robertjackson5645]

Can you believe ALW now describes Sunset as a real, grown up musical! It is pretty dire, with some great moments. At worst deeply boring. ALW will never write a "grown up" musical while everyone sings everything, he needs a good book writer. Basically, Patti gave the them the performance they wanted, then in Los Angeles they completely changed the vision of the show and Norma became a monster, rather than the very damaged person Patti was playing. Anyone who knows and respects Patti's work knows she could easily have played her as monster if she had been directed that way. She is a tiger of the theatre! Anyway, this was years ago, the bloody show lost about 20 million for its investors and ALW made about 8 million...who's the monster?! And I need to stop wasting my life on youtube!

[@dohaperson1]

Evita is a grown up musical.

[@MrQbenDanny]

ANDREW is a frustrated old queen with customary whimsical and destructive actions. Patti Lupone was robbed, sabotaged, smeared, attacked, belittled, you can add yours... In the end no-one won. You can't repair cruelty. Weber is easy to dislike because that's his nature, Patti made Evita great. His success is having ONE hit song per musical. Cats is a bore, but Buckley made it big with Memory. She was also THE best of the Normas, at least vocally. CLOSE was good and acted what she couldn't sing. Show business.

[@dreamboatamy84]

Talk about class. You go honey! I'll be your buoy any day. Not that she really needs one now ...

[@emlodik]

Even though I loved Glenn Close as Norma, I must admit that what Andrew Lloyd Webber did to Patti Lupone was obscene, tacky, unforgivable, cruel and completely unprofessional. I mean, sure, Faye Dunaway's a sadistic psycho bitch, but Patti Lupone is a talented proffesional. There MUST have been a better (and more tasteful way) of settling the casting dilemma.

[@Cc-is3is]

I bet alw regrets because every interview they ask her about ssb and she ancer them honestly he made a big mistake firing Patti she is so wonderful and amazingly talented Glen close is to but the role wasn't hers

[@CitzenVain714]

And Glenn Close STILL hasn't called her to apologize!

[@charlesfranklinlambeth3944]

Why should Glenn Close apologize to her? She was merely working. ALW is the one who should apologize.

[@KaraokeKid22]

her name is PATTI, there is no E guys.

[@megahappy2bemeIntheStarz]

I doubt Glenn Close could match Patti's pipes ! Viva LuPone !

[@dohaperson1]

You doubt? Not a chance!

[@joeferguson2606]

man!....

[@celestialsam]

I love Patti LuPone :D Why would Weber do such a thing! :(

[@SilverQueen]

Poor Patti. I love this interview, though. But the blonde hair... Eeeeeh.

[@DavidLloydDSL]

Patti says something that sounds like "Boo-eed me" or "Bullied" me but I can't work out what it is she says...funny I can understand every word she sings but not on simple word in this interview?

[@smurf902]

buoyed - past tense of buoy, a device on the water that floats

[@DavidLloydDSL]

@@smurf902 Ah - I can never get used to that pronunciation of "buoy" :)

[@fountainchain126]

I don't understand. What is so bad about getting fired. Why didnt she just move on? Why is it soooo fucking big with her?? Someone explain why it was so horrendous / tragedy??

[@seandorazio6793]

If you were stabbed in the back, do you think it would be easy to move on?

[@s.c.paulson6797]

Because it was a major stab in the back and a betrayal. It wasn't some small thing.

[@Chriswren9]

Well it is the business of show it is NASTY out there.