Writer, director and performer Ben Rimalower knows a thing or two about high belting. No, he’s not a singer per say, but he does appreciate the finer belts in life — including those of Broadway icon Patti LuPone. As the writer and performer of his acclaimed and award-winning one-man show, Patti Issues, Rimalower has turned… Read More Don’t cry for him: Ben Rimalower is taking his hit one-man show on a rainbow tour
Sometimes you wake up to discover that the world has bestowed a rare gift to you. Something that gives you hope for the world at large. In this case, it’s a YouTube documentary series on one of my favorite actors, Patti LuPone. In this series, we follow her through her travels as she, a working… Read More New documentary series offers a rare backstage glimpse of working actor, Patti LuPone
Excuse me while I theatre-queen it out for a few moments. People often think that “star quality” is intangible. Oh, no. I’m here to tell you, it’s a very real, observable thing. Take for example Patti LuPone’s legendary, Tony-winning performance in Evita. Specifically, her grab-em-by-the-balls rendition of of “Rainbow High”: Now, let’s compare it to… Read More (Just a little touch-a) star qualitee: A scientific analysis
There are some people out there (you know who you are) who refer to me as “Ravinia Bob.” Over time, this nickname was been truncated to “RivB,” and eventually “Riv2theB.” Why? Because I’ve made some lifelong friends over the years attending many events at the Highland Park concert venue — particularly during the summer of… Read More Ravinia Bob returns: LuPone, Callaway and more planned for Ravinia 2012
Remember this classic scene from “Life Goes On”? No? Well, take a moment and watch the clip below, if not only to witness LuPone (as Libby Tatcher) give one kick-ass audition, but to see LuPone stop mid-performance to yell at an audience member — one of her favorite pastimes. Only, this time the audience member is the… Read More Patti LuPone gives a true audition
And now for something completely unrelated to Chicago theatre. After much speculation, gossip and conjecture, they’ve announced the star of the new Bartlett Sher-helmed production of Funny Girl, set to open on Broadway in spring 2012. And it’s some TV actress I don’t know. Oh, well. (Hey, anyone but Lea Michele, right?) Obviously they didn’t… Read More Bway’s Funny Girl announced (sorry, LuPone)
A few friends and I drove up and over to icky Rosemont yesterday to see the filmed NYPhil concert of Company starring Neil Patrick Harris, Stephen Colbert, Patti LuPone, Martha Plimpton and more. Here are a few of my thoughts: Neil Patrick Harris was very fine in the book scenes. He’s a charmer and, yet,… Read More Some thoughts after watching Sondheim’s ‘Company’ in the movie theatre
Check out this wonderful 20-second vid of the legendary Elaine Stritch dropping in for a surprise visit with the incomparable Patti LuPone backstage at the New York Philharmonic’s concert production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s Company: Stritch, as I’m sure we all know, originated the role of Joanne — the acerbic, urban housewife who’ll… Read More When two Joanne’s meet: Patti and Stritchie (plus, a poll!)
I downloaded, via iTunes, two wonderful new theatre-related albums yesterday: the Broadway cast recording of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and Lisa Howard’s new solo album, “Songs of Innocence and Experience.” So impressed was I by both (yay awkwardly structured sentences!), I wanted to rave about them here. Women on the Verge… Read More Two new theatre albums: “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” cast recording and Lisa Howard’s solo album
Ah, Patti LuPone — always one with a colorful quote. To add to this list, here’s what the Broadway diva had to say in a recent Q&A about Streisand starring in an on-again/off-again movie adaptation of Gypsy, a show for which LuPone won the 2008 Best Actress in a Musical Tony Award: Any thoughts on… Read More Patti LuPone on Barbara Streisand in ‘Gypsy’
Yesterday, Broadway diva Patti LuPone was honored by The Drama League for, basically, being Patti LuPone. Fancy Broadway types, socialites (and the lovely SarahB, who volunteered at the event and blogged about it here) came together to honor the bawdy belter. New York magazine recently asked some of the attendees to share their favorite “meeting… Read More Patti LuPone will get you sh*tfaced
Note: I had a glass (or three) of wine last night and watched the “Sondheim! The Birthday Concert” dvd from start to finish, allowing myself one documented thought per performance. A word of warning: I guess I was a touch grumpy. And it might help to have seen the DVD to know what I’m referring… Read More My (somewhat grumpy) thoughts on ‘Sondheim! The Birthday Concert’
To say I’m a fan of Patti LuPone’s would be an understatement. Sixteen years ago, I happened upon a record (the vinyl kind) of the 1987 cast recording of Anything Goes where she starred as the sassy Reno Sweeney. I quickly wore that record out, and this thin, dorky high schooler was hooked. I’ve since… Read More Things I learned reading Patti LuPone’s memoir: a fan’s perspective
Review to come. (And, oh boy, I can’t wait to write it.) Get your copy > “Fasten your seatbelts; it’s going to be a bumpy night.”
I’m in love with this Out.com interview with LuPone by Mickey Rapkin. It’s ripe with gems: For a second LuPone is quiet. “It’s show business,” she says. “Sometimes it fucking sucks.” “I’m Sicilian. It’s not water off a duck’s back. It sits there and it festers. For years.” And so she briefly explains that she… Read More It’s a Patti LuPone fest around here
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