Gypsy with Patti Lupone- Page 3

[Steven]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 12:01pm

Sam Mendes wanted to do Gypsy at the Donmar for the longest time and his original choice was LuPone Laurents who had been wanting to do a Broadway production with Bernadette told him that he wouldn’t give permission for LuPone to do it but would if Mendes went with his choice of Peters. They were supposed to open with Peters at the Donmar in London but then dropped those plans to go right to Broadway instead. After the how opened that’s when the stories about Patti being Sam Mendes first choice (Theater Mania did an article about how she would be perfect in the role and they wished that if Laurents wouldn’t have let her open in the show then maybe he would at least let her replace Peters.)

[stanton]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 5:55pm

Patti Lupone would blow everybody away! Ms. Peters is a great talent but Patti would sell tickets for YEARS. Isn't that what producers want anyway??

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 6:03pm

On what planet is Patti LuPone a bigger box office name than Bernadette Peters? Quite frankly, neither could sell out a show for years. Hell, SWEENEY TODD hasn't had more than a couple sold out shows since it opened.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 6:24pm

I think LuPone is about an equal box office name as Peters GYPSY didn't sell that great with Peters.

I think with Patti it could've sold more, because it's more of a typical LuPone role. All the Theatre queens have been dying to hear her belt out those tunes.


Updated On: 3/10/06 at 06:24 PM

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 6:44pm

Patti LuPone needs to play this role. Now.

[stanton]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 7:06pm

Patti has a much more loyal following than Peters.

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 7:11pm

I would fight a Holy War for Patti LuPone's honor.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 7:31pm

Yes, but all the theater queens were dying to hear Peters belt those songs as well. When Bernadette Peters did "Some People" at her Carnegie Hall concert the audience went crazy, so I think the production would have done the same with LuPone. Not to start the who is better LuPone or Peters battle though, I think they both will provide their own craft and technique to Rose.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 7:36pm

Maybe so Stanton, but Peters is a more recognizable name to the general American public, which is why the Weisslers chose her over LuPone for ANNIE.

I'd say they both have a loyal fan base, but in the end that doesn't really matter. "Loyal fans" would collectively sell out about 5 shows in a Broadway theatre. Neither LuPone or Peters' names on the marquis can guarantee hit status of any show.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 7:47pm

I know non-theatre people who knew LuPone from LIFE GOES ON, and ofcourse from EVITA. My parents said you didn't have to be a Broadway freak to know about Patti LuPone and Evita, it was huge.

But it's stupid to compare who's more famous.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 7:59pm

As such, I think her acting is good, if perhaps a bit too Auntie Mame-esque.

I couldn't agree more. They way she said her lines were way too much like Mame. I think I'm gonna watch that tonight! Thanks Margo!

[stanton]

Posted: 3/10/06 at 11:05pm

Patti Lupone would bring down the house as Rose. Trust me! She is born to play Rose just like Yul B was born to play the "King"

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/29/13 at 10:12pm

Bumped for gossipguy215

[lovebwy]

Posted: 5/29/13 at 11:33pm

The finest performance I've ever seen by any actress in any medium anywhere.

I'll never forget it.

[Wishing Only Wounds]

Posted: 5/30/13 at 12:29am

Wow; I didn't know any of this! I'm shocked this wasn't bumped when the Lupone revival was first announced....I'll ask, what made Laurents change his mind?

[gossipguy215]

Posted: 5/30/13 at 12:39am

As explained in Patti's book, she called Arther and he offered her the role as he decided (as his partner's dying wish) to direct the 2008 version (not for Patti, but so he would continue to be creative and do theatre). They were able to re-explore the book of "Gypsy" and revise some of it (changing a few lines, cutting Small World (Reprise), ect). It was, for LuPone, the "best company [she] ever worked with."

[Wishing Only Wounds]

Posted: 5/30/13 at 1:10am

Thanks so much, gossipguy! You know, after all the threads that have been bumped up today, I really have a new interest in Gypsy. I saw the LuPone revival, but it never really dawned on me how lucky I was until right now.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/30/13 at 1:42am

It was unbelievably exciting when Laurents finally lifted the LuPone ban. it was such a great time to be a theatergoer. The buzz on the boards was palpable. From Ravinia, to Encores (when the ban was finally lifted) to Broadway. It was like seeing something that you were told that you would never see. Such special memories. I regret that I only got to see the production 3x ( including once at Encores!.)
If I were older and more independent during that revival, I likely would have been there many, many times. Updated On: 5/30/13 at 01:42 AM