Curious if they've ever met. Two titans of their craft. I did notice Patti gave Bette a standing ovation after she won Best Actress. A very classy gesture coming from someone who was equally as deserving.
If Patti were to ever get the chance to take on the role, she'd lack Bette's warmth but slay that score.
I saw them perform together a few years ago at the LGBT center in Los Angeles. The performance was " A evening with Marc Shaiman and surprise guests". It was part of a added event for Outfest. Bette, Patti, and Jennifer Lewis were the surprise guests. They chatted with the audience after. They seemed to be very chummy. They had all gone to see Patti Lupone the night before at the Hollywood Bowl .
You know what, in the unlikely event someone ever decided Mame needed to be done live for TV, and they made no changes, Bette and Patti would make a great Mame and Vera.
Patti has a beautiful voice but I find her annoying as a performer. She is all about herself. Her standing ovation at the Tony Awards was not a tribute to Bette but a way to bring focus on herself.
Willy Loman2 said: "Patti has a beautiful voice but I find her annoying as a performer. She is all about herself. Her standing ovation at the Tony Awards was not a tribute to Bette but a way to bring focus on herself.
And you would know this, how? Patti was not the only one standing and leading her own ovation. I just rewatched the clip, and she's not even the first one to stand up. By the time Bette reaches the stage, as far as we can see on television, the entire orchestra section of Radio City is standing. You can just barely see Patti in the back of the shot; certainly there is no focus on her.
So...I'm not sure how you could reach that conclusion.
BrodyFosse123 said: "The Tony Award for HELLO, DOLLY! is NOT Bette's first Tony Award. She won one back in 1974.
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True, it was not her first Tony, but typically the honorary awards don't count as winning an award. In that case she was given an award, but certainly did not win it. She really won for her portrayal as Dolly.
Bette came to see Patti's one-woman show "Patti LuPone on Broadway" at the Walter Kerr in 1995. They visited backstage afterwards. Both women are good friends with Marc Shaiman.
And Patti can sing and perform with heartbreaking warmth... take a listen to her Matters of the Heart album...