LuPone on McDonald- Page 26

[FolliesCabaret]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 4:13pm

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. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 4:14pm

Jan Maxwell had it in the bag.

[FolliesCabaret]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 4:17pm

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

[binau]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 4:31pm

My recollection was Jan Maxwell was very hyped but many thought because Follies had closed well before the Tonys that Audra could also easily take it. 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 4:34pm

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]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 4:40pm

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. 

If I recall, the real surprise was Danny Burstein losing to Steve Kazee. 

Updated On: 5/30/25 at 04:40 PM

[binau]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 4:44pm

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. 

[SeanD2]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 4:47pm

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "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."

Assuming you're referencing me here. No, it's not elitist to call out the fact that this letter purports to be "From the Broadway Theater Community" and many of the signatories have never worked on Broadway. You're right, one credit does make them a member of the community, but if they don't have any they aren't. Maybe they should have addressed this as from the "NY Theater Community" or even "Theater Community" but they chose to use the Broadway descriptor that is not applicable to all signatories. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 4:54pm

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "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, adjustingyour 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 youjust 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."


There will always be loud assholes. Look at our president. But our free speech is protected. If you don’t like something someone says, ignore it. Don’t give them your money.

 

To be blunt: get over it.

 

I think this hysterical mob is way, way over the top compared to the flippant and bitchy remarks Patti made.

[veronicamae]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 4:59pm

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

[FolliesCabaret]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 5:01pm

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.

[Mickey3309]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 5:02pm

There are people who don’t have the attitude of “oh, silly Patti!” but who are aware of the fact that a lot of signatures on open letters like this particular one are hollow and get hollow, fear-based responses if they get responses at all. Patti LuPone’s actions have been decried by those who will decry them and those who want to bar her from things will. Also, to be clear, I don’t think that people who sign the letter are doing anything “wrong” or “ill-intended.” Perhaps I’ll be proven wrong as this picks up more traction, but I think people who expect tons and tons of major industry folks to sign this may be disappointed. Not necessarily because they have a “Patti being Patti” attitude or because they’re too scared to stand up to something or unwilling to speak out when something deeply unjust happens… but because people are starting to realize the ways that demands like this don’t actually convey a message of strength and empowerment. I don’t think anyone who signs it is ill-intended. At worst I think it’s hollow. And some I do believe are signing with passion. I know I’ll probably get a good amount of backlash for this, but the hard truth is, I think many people don’t trust the genuineness - in this case - of the level of “unsafe” feeling that is being proclaimed to be genuinely felt as a result of/in the presence of Patti LuPone. Not to say that this is always the case. 

[Mellony]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 5:06pm

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?

[soxboy22]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 5:17pm

Mellony said: "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?"

I don’t know of any, but it’s great if true.

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 5:19pm

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

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 5:22pm

We need Patti as Matron Mama Morton.

 

Pepper her ragu! 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 5:25pm

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

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 5:27pm

So what is the solution? Run her out of town?

 

She’s allowed to say whatever she wants and she does. You’re allowed to think she’s a total asshole for doing so. But I don’t get what people want to happen now.

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 5:28pm

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

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 5:31pm

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



She’s allowed to say whatever she wants and she does. You’re allowed to think she’s a total asshole for doing so. But I don’t get what people want to happen now."

According to the Google Doc attached to the petition, it seems that what people want to happen now is Patti to be arrested.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 5:31pm

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

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 5:33pm

In a week no one will care anymore.

[MB124]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 5:34pm

LMK if Keisha or Audra endorse/sign this document which I am sure neither of them even ASKED FOR. 

I’ll wait. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 5:35pm

TotallyEffed said: "In a week no one will care anymore."

Oh I’m sure the Broadway community will come together in a week to remind everyone, by gathering in Times Square holding hands singing “We Are the World” while a steamroller destroys copies of the OBC of “Evita”.

[TasteOfHoney]

Posted: 5/30/25 at 5:51pm

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