LuPone on McDonald — Page 26

bdn223 said: "he was saying it was a nailbiter between Jan Maxwell and Aurda, similar to how its seemingly a nail biter between Nicole and Audra this year..."

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it more of a nail biter between Audra and Cristin Milioti for the Leading Actress/Musical Tony in 2012? I could be totally incorrect (LOVED the videos I've seen and cast album of Miss Maxwell's performance, for what it's worth) but I've always heard it described as McDonald vs Milioti.

That doesn't surprise me. Again, didn't see it live (hadn't moved here yet) but she was just stunning in that role.

LuPone very publicly & disrespectfully ****s up, everyone’s on the same page with that, an open letter is drafted calling for accountability and care in regards to situations as these in our community, and now everyone who has signed the letter is misguided or have ill intent?

I’m fully aware that we find our country in quite the pressure cooker right now…but it seems like you all just want something to be irritated by or look down at, adjusting your sails as needed.

Ok, so you think an open letter is an abuse of privilege, insane, lost the plot, missing the point - then what is your suggestion to the problem? We got it, you don’t agree with it. Revolutionary. So what’, do you just want to throw your hands up and go, “oh silly Patti, go sit down somewhere” and let this behavior slide for someone else to throw out, or…?

It’s a ****show, but it needs to be addressed or it’s just going to happen again with the next talented loud asshole. There should be some sort of unity as a community, with proper support as asked for this letter, to make it known that her words and behavior are not supported, nor do they reflect how the community should be publicly engaging with each other.

PS - it doesn’t matter if someone only has one Broadway credit, they’re still a performer in the community. That elitist comment sounds just like Patti talking about Kecia - but we’ve moved on from disagreeing with her, apparently.

Kad said: "With the benefit of hindsight, I think Follies was hyped up by some but never really had a chance of major awards wins. It was a short-lived production of a show that is likely always going to be more of a cult hit than one that wins over crowds."

Exactly. Actually I remember now because they mounted it in LA around the time of the Tonys there was also thought this might help its chances but just wanted meant to be.

Thank you TotallyEffed, Kad, and binau for indulging my question!! Funnily enough, after reading your answers, I thought about why it was that I thought it was between Audra and Cristin, and remembered it was literally because of a Patti LuPone interview from 2015. I remember being obsessed with it because she speaks highly about Annaleigh Ashford, but she goes on to say,

"I thought Cristin Milioti was robbed of a Tony [for Once]. She either should’ve shared it with Audra [McDonald], or she should’ve won it. She’s unbelievable. She drove that musical, and she had a characterization within it."

An interesting piece to the puzzle indeed.

This is an unsubstantiated rumor, but I heard that someone involved with Hell’s Kitchen said that Kecia and Patti are talking with each other. Is there any veracity to this that anyone knows of?

veronicamae said: "In Playbill's article with the Open Letter, they linked to a live, unlocked Google Doc "for any artist who wishes to add their name,and it's just a free-for-all. At a glance, I saw Glee's Rachel Berry and our Civil War President, Abe Lincoln, have also signed the letter.

Seems that could have been moderated a bit better. lolz"

There are also a bunch of ridiculous, emotionally-charged hashtags on that Google doc (including a call to ARREST Patti LuPone).

Along with a bunch of Bart Simpson-esque fake names.

Updated On: 5/30/25 at 05:19 PM

The best way to address things head on is to not address them at all. Got it.

I mean, it clearly worked with the presidential election (and now our current administration). Why not just look the other way at everything? Why try to instill positive change and help redirect the community to what its core values are when you can just be a bystander?

Turn the other cheek and the issue magically solves itself and never happens again. Ta-Da! Just like with Rudin. :)

Updated On: 5/30/25 at 05:25 PM

Would love it if Audra, Keicia , and Patti made an entrance on the Tony stage hand in hand .

TotallyEffed said: "So what is the solution? Run her out of town?"

An open letter asking for the industry to hold her accountable for her words is “running her out of town”?

You’re being intentionally obtuse about this with a bad faith response. There is no campaign to run her out of town, and you know that.

This open letter is not the Scarlett letter you are all making it out to be. The requests in the letter are not overblown or ridiculous, but the idea that ignoring the problem will do anything sure is.

Updated On: 5/30/25 at 05:31 PM

So let me get this right , it is racist to call a show loud if black people are in the show- this is mental illness , what is a micro aggression? This must be some newspeak Orwell talked about ? I would have been angry too if someone called me racist because I thought something was too loud!! This is mental illness- repeat after me- Mental illness