I was 15 at the time the original Broadway production of EVITA made its American debut so I remember all the fanfare going on at the time. Coming from Argentinean heritage, I knew about EVITA since its 1976 British concept album so I was already EVITA savvy by the time the London production came to be. For all the obvious reasons, I was excited for the American/Broadway production so I became aware of this Patti LuPone actress simply by her association to EVITA. Yeah she was around way before EVITA but unless you followed all aspects of NY theater, she was unknown to the world, especially me.
Once EVITA arrived on Broadway (after its mini-out-of-town tryout tour), the buzz was insane on the show, thus LuPone had a spotlight on her simply due to the fact she was headlining EVITA. Who is to say this same spotlight wouldn't have also been shone on any actress starring in this new show? For LuPone it was simply perfect timing: starring in a huge hit show that was being talked about everywhere so she was everywhere: talk shows, etc. I think its safe to compare the EVITA buzz at the same level of HAMILTON in that it was EVERYWHERE! Everyone knew the show and this LuPone actress.
All in all, had there not been EVITA for Patti LuPone, she most definitely would not have become the pop culture reference she became. Heck, to this day if you ask any older person who Patti LuPone is they automatically say EVITA on Broadway. She's so linked to that show by the general public that regardless of everything else she has done, unless you follow Broadway, you would be completely unaware she ever did anything else.
Original 1980 TV Commercial for EVITA: https://youtu.be/2IQOTEdLg_o
