First, this is just another in a long line of manifestations of her attention addiction syndrome.
Second, she could have learned a thing or two from the tributes to a true legend, Angela Lansbury but she didn't.
Third, is it actually possible to "give up" your Equity card? There are things you can do to "lose" your Equity card but most of those things could also land you in jail. I haven't studied the office directory at Equity to make sure I am right about this but is there a sign on some some office door that says "Returns"?
Yes, membership is not permanent. There are several options if people want to leave the union. There are temporary withdrawal and inactive statuses that a member can apply for, and yes, a full withdrawal as well.
Temporary Withdrawal and Inactive status would protect the person’s name from being snatched up by another member (though in Patti’s case I doubt that Equity would approve another member using that name for quite some time no matter what status she is actually taking). The fee to be reinstated is also much lower than if someone completely leaves the union. During a temporary withdrawal that member is still not supposed to be taking non-union work, and respecting the work rules of the other 4As unions as well.
If a person fully leaves the union and then goes and does a bunch of non-Equity work then it is possible that should they later choose to rejoin that their application for membership would be denied, or have some stipulations attached (see Barry Williams working to help organize a non-Equity company a few years after very publicly dropping his membership to do that non-Equity tour of The Sound of Music back in the early 2000s, as well as paying a decent fine).
I like that she can still get the old queens on here riled up about her antics. There's a reason she's a Broadway legend: she's not a cookie-cutter Abercrombie model like every wannabe actor Carnegie and Northwestern keep churning out.
Patti is Patti and she will never be surpassed.
"Sticks and stones, sister. Here, have a Valium." - Patti LuPone, a Memoir
I am having a difficult time trying to understand her reasons for quitting AE.
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
She didn't like that she was being compared to the recent Lilias scenario. It's Patti's way of throwing a tantrum and getting attention back on herself. She is passing the buck and putting the blame on the union. Yes, she is a musical theatre icon but she has always been divisive. You can be a broadway diva without all the negative stereotypes that come with the word. We just lost one of, if not the best of, the broadway divas...Dame Angela. She was grace and class and respected the art form. Among the living we have Bernadette and Audra to name a few, neither of which have ever been caught up in any type of ridiculous drama. Patti seems to be the type that enjoys stirring the pot and causing a commotion.
So Lupone is only a union member when she's active on Broadway? Thats a common and selfish approach to membership. I admire her performing skills but there is ALWAYS an element of grievance about her. Since forever.
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
HogansHero said: "First, this is just another in a long line of manifestations of her attention addiction syndrome.
Second, she could have learned a thing or two from the tributes to a true legend, Angela Lansbury but she didn't.
Third, is it actually possible to "give up" your Equity card? There are things you can do to "lose" your Equity card but most of those things could also land you in jail. I haven't studied the office directory at Equity to make sure I am right about this but is there a sign on some some office door that says "Returns"?"
Having personally done it, yes. I went to an Equity office, turned in some paperwork, and it was done.
"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife
Patti LuPone FANatic said: "I am having a difficult time trying to understand her reasons for quitting AE."
Why would you pay dues if you don't plan on working anymore? I don't know why she would stay in the union if she doesn't plan on working on Broadway again.
"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife
yonexguy said: "So Lupone is only a union member when she's active on Broadway? Thats a common and selfish approach to membership. I admire her performing skills but there is ALWAYS an element of grievance about her. Since forever."
… I think it’s safe to say that Patti has more than paid her dues, literally and figuratively.
I'm not a fan of Patti's shenanigans with audience members and tirades to Bank of America, but after reading her interview with People, I understand and support this decision. AEA really showed it a#* during the pandemic. They weren't there for the members. She has the resources and the power to speak out against them where others don't. I applaud her.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
I mean, on the below from the people article, there is a point where if you're probably in the top 3 Broadway stars currently alive it should mean something without coming across as a diva or anything like that. 'We're going to have to approve you'? REALLY? Equity you need Patti more than she needs you right now.
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"They accepted my resignation and told me that if I ever wanted to rejoin, I'd have to be approved," says the three-time Tony Award winner, who most recently finished a run the revival of Stephen Sondheim's Company.
"And it's the perfect reason I withdrew from Equity. Fifty years to this year ... I've been a card-carrying member of Equity, and they don't know who I am basically," LuPone continues. "They just said, 'Fine, but if you want to rejoin, we're going to have to approve you.' "
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Isn't this probably a response to rule changes regarding the removal of a union dues/fees cap? Used to be there was a cap for what the union could take from high earning members. Something like after earning $300,000 the union couldn't take any further percentages. I'm not knowledgeable enough but I've seen it mentioned a few times about this stunt
Of course she would have to be re-approved ... as would anyone else. Unions and professional associations are governed by processes, not Patti's personal preferences otherwise individuals could assert favoritism. No doubt it involves little more than filling out a form and having it reviewed and approved.