LuPone Issues Response To Showstopping Vegas 'Texting' Incident

[BWIDB Charlie]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 10:58am

Click here to read LuPone Issues Response To Showstopping Vegas 'Texting' Incident

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 11:00am

Way to go, Patti!

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 11:02am

Ok, I guess I agree with her, this time...


"Ask the actor in "Hair" who recently grabbed a camera out of an audience member's hand and threw it across the stage."

Wait, what happened at Hair?

[JenNYferTheatrical]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 11:08am

I haven't heard anything about an incident at Hair, but she's totally right. You rock Patti!

[Just_John]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 11:09am

LOVE HER!

[singtopher]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 11:10am

^I've nearly done the same myself.


edit: This refers to Wishing's post.

Updated On: 6/23/09 at 11:10 AM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 11:11am

She sure loves milking this, but who wouldn't?
I'm more interested about the MARY STUART incident, I love those two women.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 11:15am

what I've read about the Mary Stuart incident is right before *SPOILER WARNING TO NOT RUIN HISTORY!* Mary is to be executed, a cell phone rang. Janet McTeer didn't say anything until the stage door, but obviously a very powerful moment of theater was ruined by that cell phone.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 11:16am

Yeah, anybody know what happened at Mary Stuart?

[pc1145N2]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 11:19am

I find it sad that she even has to do this.

It's a sorry state in the theatre today.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 11:23am

Lol.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 11:34am

Wait, what happened at Hair?

Apparently an actor recently grabbed a camera out of an audience member's hand and threw it across the stage.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 11:44am

Well, I got that. Although, as wrong as the audience member might have been if the camera broke the performer could get in trouble.

[theatregeek2]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 11:49am

here's the article about audience misbehaving in shows: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124424873407590721.html#mod=todays_us_page_one

i've got to admit those were atrocious! i'm on her side

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 11:56am

Phyllis, where's your source? link? (only Phyllis makes me lol with every post).

[Eris0303]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 12:08pm

During a Saturday matinee of the Holocaust drama "Irena's Vow," a man walked in late and called up to actress Tovah Feldshuh to halt her monologue until he got settled. "He shouted, 'Can you please wait a second?' and then continued on toward his seat

Holy crap!

[rwlevin]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 12:11pm

I don't understand why people are so rude during shows. I was at Into the Woods when I heard a guy's phone go off. And then to add insult to injury, the guy answered the phone during the performance. My cousin has admitted her phone went off while she was in the on the stage seating of Spring Awakening. And during Rock of Ages just last month, a guy was on speaker phone or walkie-talkie during the show and people started yelling at him to shut up. Then there's my favorite story of Phoebe Cates texting next to me during the entire performance of the Pillowman. I wonder if Patti LuPone would have threatened her and I still wonder why Kevin Kline, the impeccable stage actor that he is, didn't tell her to stop.

If I'm paying anywhere from $25-$125 a ticket, I don't want a show to get ruined by people who can't be separated from their electronics. I'm paying to escape the real world for a little while I don't want your insensitivity to ruin that fantasy, thank you very much. And if you want a picture of the actors, wait till the stage door and many actors are happy to oblige.

[sally1112]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 12:11pm

As always, Miss LuPone is correct and right on the money!

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 12:13pm

But this guy wasn't doing any of those ridiculously disruptive things. He was texting. Yes, texting is annoying, but she's acting like the guy was doing a lot, lot worse.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 12:18pm

Then there's my favorite story of Phoebe Cates texting next to me during the entire performance of the Pillowman. I wonder if Patti LuPone would have threatened her and I still wonder why Kevin Kline, the impeccable stage actor that he is, didn't tell her to stop.

oh, Phoebe. really?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 12:20pm

I sat behind two couples the last time I saw 9 TO 5 who were texting and talking throughout the entire show. Why do people fork over so much money to sit in a Broadway theater and NOT watch the show? I just don't get it...

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 12:21pm

I guess I don't see the need for calibrating just how disruptive stupid behavior like this is.

To me, it's pretty simple: If you're at a performance, face the stage and sit quietly. End of discussion.

[singtopher]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 12:24pm

I agree rocks.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 12:27pm

Oh, if only that man at Irena's Vow had done that to Patti. Can you imagine the LuPwning he would have received?

As an usher, I will happily join Patti's campaign. I love putting rude audience members in their place while on the job. My mother calls me "the Usher Police" because I still do it when I'm an audience member myself.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 12:28pm

While attending Sondheim's evening up here in Boston, a young couple in front of me BOTH had their phones out texting the ENTIRE time. Why? If you didn't want to be there...why did you come????

At Shrek...a man across the aisle from me had his cell phone out the entire act, which I might not have cared about had I been "involved with the show. However, I found it entirely distracting. At intermission, I asked an usher to remedy the situation. I saw her walk IMMEDIATELY over to the man (with children--what a lovely role model.) The phone didn't appear once during Act II.

And while I agree its a horrid problem, may I say it is also NOT just a problem at the theater. At movies, at dinner, at WORK, in classes, in rehearsals, while with friends.....we have bought into the idea that we are the most important thing and all else is secondary. I have a cell phone. I use it. but when I am with friends or family, or at the theater, I promptly turn it off.