She's also not really famous. If anyone recognizes her it's from "Life Goes On."

I was just thinking when I posted to this how much Paris and Patti have in common. At least on this board.

Their names both begin with P!

Prince Charles as well!

That is SO freaky!

And yet I'd still rather invite Patti to my birthday party. I'd get her to belt Happy Birthday to me, and then we could act out a scene from Yentl together.

Actually, that is such a good idea. So sending a letter to Patti to invite her to my 21st.

Patti says: Don't be hatin' on me B*****S!

bobbybubby, i'll explain sho bean. she has an amzing range of notes, and sounds in her voice, amazing riffs, and a stage presence exceeded by few in MUSICAL theatre today, especially with the expectations she had to live up to

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"Maybe not in the words Bobby used, but with the contemporary Broadway being as it is, her voice is NOT what people are used to, unfortunately. It reminds me of another singer I didn't like for a small period of time and then I hit myself on the head and was like "wait, THIS is real singing"[...]But then I see all of the people that love her, or love... Stephanie J. Block... or... *thinks* Carollee Carmello, maybe, and I feel a bit better. There's a place for pop and it shouldn't be Broadway, and it upsets me that the big people on Broadway are doing so much poppy stuff because they feel they need to appeal to the masses."

THANK YOU. Steph's is one of the names that popped to mind when you said this; I really do think that the people who like her tend to like Patti, and vice versa (I'm not saying there's a 1 to 1 correspondence, just that there are some similarities).

"Anyway, Patti LuPone...
You need to see some sort of video of Sweeney, honey, because you're really not getting it."

YESSS. Ditto PASSION (I DID like her Fosca) or EVITA. "A New Argentina" and "Rainbow High" in particular give me chills every time. She truly inhabits every role she plays.

That said, I think we're going to have to accept that pop musicals are here to stay, and that they represent a new genre. Good news? Maybe the pop musicals will serve as a "gateway" that leads to the hardcore stuff! And, honestly...it's not the people who love Idina who bother me; that's a matter of taste. It's the people who say "Idina is great and Stephanie sux" or "Bernadette rocks; Patti is hideous"...OR "Newbie, you're an idiot because you only know WICKED."

Can we all at least agree that it's still better than reality TV?

Updated On: 9/6/06 at 01:47 PM

Wow, now she REALLY polarizes us, doesn't she?

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the pizza store story is the best thing i've ever heard.

and not only is she a fabulous diva, she makes me even prouder to be italian.

Patti LuPone was Madonna before there was Madonna.

Short, fierce, italian, sexual, gifted, glamourous BOMBSHELL.

(who could really really sing)

Updated On: 9/6/06 at 07:37 PM

NOBODY can EXPLAIN her . . . she is a unique and fascinating performer. Her live album is one of my favorites ever.

The range she's shown from Working to The Woods to Anything Goes to Evita to Gypsy, Passion, Sunday in the Park with George, Sunset Boulevard and Sweeney Todd is astonishing. Not that I thought every performance definitive, but they were all more than creditable. And until just now I hadn't really realized just how long I've been watching her and how many times I've been lucky enough and at the right place at the right time to have seen her live.

She managed a long run on television playing a credible and loving character.

She's also memorable in an Academy Award winning Best Picture and gave a great performance (or was it two?) as Lady Bird Johnson in that TV movie or mini-series or whatever it was.

Okay, I didn't care for the Will & Grace episode.

She's just got the stuff, pure and simple. Well, maybe not ever simple.

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