theatre
Has there ever been something that passed you by that you wished you would have done, or could have done
or should have done? We all have. Well that is the basis behind Patti LuPone’s newest tour, “Coulda, Woulda,
Shoulda” coming to the Orange County Performing Arts Center, October 8 through October 10 as she sings
about things she wishes she coulda done, as well as the award-winning songs we all know and love .
Of course not all of us have won Tony Awards or have played the lead in legendary performances such as
Evita or Gypsy. What regrets and challenges could someone as great and such an accomplished legend as Patti
LuPone possibly have had? We had the opportunity to speak with LuPone and find out for ourselves. LuPone
started the conversation with saying, “At 4 years old, I knew exactly what I wanted to do and never looked
back!” Coming from a small fishing village on Long Island, New York, LuPone was
trained with the first class of the Drama Division of New York’s Juilliard School
and began her career as a founding member of John Houseman’s The Acting
Company. Patti explains, “They had a phonemically strong music department
and I think to this day, the high school music band is considered one of the best
on Long Island. I find it a real tragedy that music and art has been the first thing to
be cut from school systems today.”
In one of LuPone most successful roles she played Nellie Lovett in John Doyle’s
award-winning Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim’s, Sweeney Todd and
found it to be the most challenging role of her career. Patti explains, “I couldn’t
sing, ‘More Hot Pies’ in ‘God, That’s Good!’ correctly. There’s a duet or counterpart
between Sweeney and Nellie, that I just couldn’t get right in rehearsal and when
push comes to shove in the performance, I always said (Oh man! I missed that
note!) (laughs) It just kills me! I’ve tried and tried and tried… and I’ve only gotten it
right once or twice. Steve actually yelled at me once about what he called ‘swoop-
ing’ and not hitting the notes straight on. He said, ‘You’re not doing your cabaret
show!’ It’s about not having the confidence to hit the notes straight on, a bad
vocal habit and a fear I’ve had. It became a phenomenal lesson and he taught me
incredible things. Just in the talents of his work and what he has to say about how
he wants it delivered.” LuPone goes on to mention Welz Kauffman of the Ravinia
Festival as her true muse. “He presents more incredible roles and experiences for
me than anybody else in my career, except maybe The Acting Company. Welz
trusts my talent and has me do all these things that are just wonderful.”
Lupone has also worked with David Mamet. She said, “I’ve known David since
1976. I’m very fond of him and his beautiful wife and I look forward to working
with him again. I’m going to force him to write a play for me. (laughs) He said he
would so I’m going to hold him to it.”
Recently Patti has started working on a series of memoirs. She explains, “At first
I thought, do I really want to tell everyone my life story? I don’t really want to go
back, I want to move forward! But in fact, in writing it, I’ve had some very interest-
ing experiences…” We asked Patti what it is that she looks forward to most. “More
challenges, yeah, however they manifest themselves. But I don’t know how many
more challenges I can take! You know what I mean? (laughs) I’m getting a little
over the big ol’ challenge! But I guess it’s what keeps the blood boiling… I was
asked by Jake Heggie, who is a very successful, young American opera composer
to originate a role in To Hell and Back. It was some of the most difficult music I
Patti LuPone
had ever had to learn but that was what led me to the next very difficult piece of
music, which was Weill-Brecht’s Mahagonny. It was way too high of a vocal pitch
for me. Audra McDonald was in it, who is a confident musician and she got to do the melody! (laughs) She gets
the easiest part, and I get the… (Hums the tune) and I’m going holy shit! I’m a Broadway musical singer; I’m not
an opera singer! There are better people suited for this! But I thought what the hell? What am I going to do?
Walk off the stage? Because of Mahagonny, Weill had me do the Seven Deadly Sins. That was not as difficult and
ended up to be one of the most wonderful nights of this past summer. I think that you’re faced with challenges
so you can go to the next challenge. You have to be able to surmount them and rise to the occasion. So what IS
next? Who knows? I just hope I’m not bored! (laughs).”
More information on Patti LuPone can be found by visiting
pattilupone.net. To buy tickets visit
ocpac.org or call 714.556.2787.
10 RAGE monthly | OctOber 2009
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