Your thoughts on something Patti said at the stage door...?

[haddaddy3]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 12:58am

So I was at GYPSY Tuesday and it was great. Afterwards I didn't know if I wanted to stage door and set myself up for disappointment, but I did anyway. Though many stars like Rosie O'Donnell, Christine Ebersole, Jonathan Groff, Beth Leavel, and even Tony Yazbeck and Leigh Ann Larkin at GYPSY agreed to let me take photos with them, I could tell by Patti's mood that I shouldn't even ask. I had been warned on here that she doesn't pose for photos, so I wasn't surprised, but something she said to a young man after she finsihed signing my Playbill did surprise me.

Unlike me, this guy, who was probably in his 20's, planned what he was going to say to her as she walked by. He said, "I really want to get into show business and you're my inspiration." She looked him in they eye, something I wish I could say she did to me, and said, "Honey, it ain't pretty."

Then he starts crying after she leaves in her SUV. Now, I can't figure out if he was happy because she looked him in the eye and spoke to him or sad because she crushed his dreams, but it makes ME sad that she would say something like that to someone who obviously adores her. She had a huge revival of a show that was just done on Broadway mounted for her, she won the Tony, and she's currently in the role of a lifetime, yet she says show business "ain't pretty".

Thoughts?

Updated On: 8/17/08 at 12:58 AM

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 1:04am

Speaking as a professional actor, she said it because it's true. And if he can't deal with that truth, then he should change his major. Granted she was probably reacting after a long day but why not be blunt with that kid, beating around the bush will only set him up for failure. Especially if he cried after that.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 1:04am

She told the truth, as simple as that.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 1:07am

LOL.

[esparza 333]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 1:08am

I have probably done over 45 auditions in professional theatre. I have only got 2. It really is not a pretty business like she said. It is hard and she was just telling him the truth so he did not get his hopes up, You have a very small chance of getting to Patti's level in the industry. So that is why she said it.

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 1:08am

I'm wondering why he started crying. Show business not being "pretty" is something that every actor/actress, no matter how famous, knows.

[Steve2]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 1:09am

I think the young man was overly sensitive. He should know it's a tough business.

[skb2010]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 1:15am

If she is his inspiration, he should know how hard she has worked to get to where she is.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 1:21am

It's not like she's making it up.

Patti of all people right now would know that it's no walk in the park.

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 1:22am

He's way overly sensitive, but Patti is a b*tch. I know she is a diva, and she was telling the truth, but that was a too blunt and harsh way to say it. Simple as that.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 1:35am

ANYONE who is told "You are my inspiration," should say, "Thank you" and demonstrate at least a modicum of humility...even if the second they step into their SUV they have completely forgotten all about it.

Following "Thank you" with "It ain't pretty" or following "It ain't pretty" with "But thank you" works, too.

[bobby_luvs_bway]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 1:37am

He said, "I really want to get into show business and your my inspiration." She looked him in they eye, something I wish I could say she did to me, and said, "Honey, it ain't pretty." - Something tells me that he cried because he's young, she's his inspiration, and she looked him right in the eye and spoke directly to him. I'll bet he didn't even comprehend what she said, so much as she said to him.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 1:38am

I'm sure he said, "you're," actually.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 1:39am

I agree that "Thank you, it aint pretty" would have been better.

He might have just been star struck. I know I got teary eyed after meeting Chita Rivera, and actually having a conversation with her.

[je veux te voir2]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 1:48am

I wanted to say that it all depends on how she said "honey, it aint pretty." But really...it doesn't. It really was a jarring thing to say. Clearly, the entertainment business is difficult. And everyone knows whether it be theatre, tv, popular music, classical music....the entertainment business is like a shark pool. lol. But when a fan praises you for one quick second, you don't spend the 3 seconds you have to say something to him to shut his dreams down. And to those that say she was just telling the truth, that he was going to get his hopes crushed in the end...thats bull****. There are tons of performers who say all the time that it was when so and so told me to never give up, that i knew i would make it someday. When you are an icon, you are supposed to encourage youth. I'm training to be a pro clarinetist and when I studied with Charles Neidich (the number one solo clarinetist in the world) once and I told him "I want to be like you someday," he told me "You have what it takes and never give up no matter what." Obviously I know the music business is difficult and the chances of getting jobs are equivalent to the chances of becoming a professional basketball player yet he encouraged me powerfully. Idols are supposed to encourage, not discourage.

I love Patti Lupone as a performer...but she's always had her "be-yotch" moments off the stage.

[Broadway Baby 2]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 1:52am

Exactly what Carl said. As a performer I can say it is a hard life. If you dont have grease paint in your veins you wont last long and if you do there is no other life. Patti is a realist she does not sugar coat. I realy dont think many theatre people do. I am sure she did not mean to hurt his feelings. I hope that he realizes she only wanted to be honest with him.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 2:07am

Still, she could have said "Thank you." I mean, it has as many syllables as "Honey," which she could have omitted.

This isn't about "Patti" or any other "celebrity," it's about being a grown-up and graciously accepting a compliment. You can be a "realist" and still say "Thank you."

[ragg_ballad]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 2:46am

there's no one way to be a grown-up. maybe Patti isn't like every other grown-up and takes "compliments" differently, instead of saying thank you, she speaks her mind. Different people, different personalities, ways of doing certain things, etc. Just accept that she can say stuff like that...Just cause she's Patti LuPone doesn't mean she won't say things that may make some people cry.

[rgaywrites]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 5:09am

It sounds like she was offering a small kindness. After a few years in the business he will look back on that night and marvel.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 5:18am

If an honest observation from his idol on a stage door, makes him cry, than he is DEFINITELY not cut out for this job, so Patti did him a favor !

[Friendofethelm]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 5:44am

I won't express an opinion on what she said because I wasn't there to hear her exact words or the tone of her voice or to see whether she was smiling or not. What I will say is this: the fact that, nowadays, an off-hand remark made by a Broadway star can be posted anonymously on the internet and made part of the public record for anyone to read and comment on, kinda proves her point - don't ya think?

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 7:36am

GreekMusicalFan: I agree with you. Miss Patti was merely being honest. She is a living example of a Broadway legend with enormous success. But she has had to endure many disappointments along the way as well. I hope the gentleman at the stage door tries to develop nerves of steel if he wants to be involved in the entertainment industry. He's going to need it. from RC in Austin, Texas

Posted: 8/17/08 at 7:39am

Wait-was she looking into his eyes, seeing her own reflection and reacting to seeing herself with "honey it ain't pretty?"

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 7:48am

It's true of course but also kinda bitchy.

Why couldn't she just say thank you and something like it's hard work but and then some words of inspiration.

I just love that if someone like Idina Menzel or a cast member from SPRING AWAKENING said this everyone would be attacking them and calling them rude but because it's Patti, it's ok. Granted they have less experience in the business but still. Whatever...

Anyway, I think it was a bit rude.

[dramarama2]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 8:17am

LOL, ppc1979