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"?
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
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).
Patti is simply the best.
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.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/21
I am having a difficult time trying to understand her reasons for quitting AE.
Angela Lansbury passed and it set off the Broadway multiverse. More strange things are gonna happen.
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.
We lose things and we choose things. And there are Ethels and there are Marys.
Well, Ethel. And Mary.
And Patti. :)
Broadway Star Joined: 6/14/22
So Twitter's fun again.
https://twitter.com/akakarenwilson/status/1582037246122741760
Stand-by Joined: 10/24/20
Patti is a Rorschach test: people look at her and see whatever they want to see.
Swing Joined: 12/30/11
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.
Good riddance! Bye evil Patti, don't come back.
Broadway Star Joined: 6/14/22
muscle23ftl said: "Good riddance! Bye evil Patti, don't come back."
Agreed. Ask any member of Company that spent 2 days of cultural appropriation with her. Not good!
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/3/05
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.
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/3/05
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.
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.
Swing Joined: 5/10/22
I thought she said War Paint was "her last original musical," which holds true.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/21
Patti LuPone Gives Up Gristedes Frequent Shopper Card
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.
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.' "
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/21
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.
Patti explains more in this interview.
https://youtu.be/qtA48WIVQi8
Videos