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Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Patti LuPone controversy, explained: The comments, the backlash, the apology and what's next
Patti LuPone, the legendary and often outspoken three-time Tony Award winner, has found herself at the center of a major controversy following remarks made in a The New Yorker interview published on May 26. Her unfiltered criticism of two fellow Tony winners — Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald — ignited widespread backlash across the Broadway community, sparking conversations about race, privilege, and respect within the theater world. Below is a breakdown of what happened and what's next. The controversy stems from a sound bleed issue between LuPone's production of The Roommate with Mia Farrow and the neighboring theater hosting the Alicia Keys musical Hell's Kitchen. According to LuPone, noise from Hell's Kitchen could be heard from her show. On her stage manager's advice, she reached out to Robert Wankel, head of the Shubert Organization, to resolve the issue. The problem was quickly addressed, and LuPone sent flowers to the Hell's Kitchen crew as a goodwill gesture. More from GoldDerby How 'The Day of the Jackal' producers unlocked their contemporary adaptation of the spy thriller Jacob Elordi reveals personal reason for joining 'The Narrow Road to the Deep North': 'It was something important to me' 'Adolescence' soars past 'Stranger Things' to become Netflix's new No. 2 original show (behind only 'Wednesday') However, that gesture did not land as intended. Lewis took to Instagram at the time to criticize LuPone's actions. In a video post, she described LuPone's approach as 'bullying,' 'racially microaggressive,' and 'rooted in privilege,' pointing out that LuPone had essentially labeled 'a Black show loud.' When asked about Lewis's remarks during the New Yorker interview, LuPone fired back with unfiltered disdain. 'Oh, my God. Here's the problem. She calls herself a veteran? Let's find out how many Broadway shows Kecia Lewis has done, because she doesn't know what the f* she's talking about.' After a quick online search, LuPone said, 'She's done seven. I've done thirty-one. Don't call yourself a vet, bitch.' (Note: The New Yorker clarified that Lewis has ten Broadway credits, while LuPone has twenty-eight.) The exchange escalated when the interviewer noted that Broadway icon McDonald had reacted to Lewis's video with supportive emojis. LuPone didn't hold back: 'Exactly,' she said. 'And I thought, You should know better. That's typical of Audra. She's not a friend.' While she hinted at a past falling out with McDonald, she declined to elaborate. When asked by The New Yorker's By Michael Schulman her opinion of McDonald's recent performance in Gypsy, LuPone paused for fifteen seconds before turning to the window and simply saying, 'What a beautiful day.'Four days after the interview was published, the Broadway community responded with a powerful open letter, signed by more than 500 theater professionals. 'Recently, Patti LuPone made deeply inappropriate and unacceptable public comments about two of Broadway's most respected and beloved artists: Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald. In a published interview with The New Yorker, she referred to Kecia Lewis—a Black woman and a 40-year veteran of the American stage—as a 'b***.' This language is not only degrading and misogynistic—it is a blatant act of racialized disrespect. It constitutes bullying. It constitutes harassment…' The letter went on to call for accountability, not just from LuPone, but from the institutions that support artists in the theater community. It demanded that: Public figures who engage in harassment or use racially or gendered harmful language should not be welcomed at high-profile industry events, including the Tony Awards. Participation in such events should be contingent on accountability measures, including restorative justice and anti-bias training. Institutions must adopt clear policies for addressing harmful behavior, regardless of an individual's responded swiftly. The day after the open letter went public, she issued an apology on social media — a notable moment for a performer known for standing by her words. 'For as long as I have worked in theatre, I have spoken my mind and never apologized. That is changing today," her note began. "I am deeply sorry for the words I used during The New Yorker interview, particularly about Kecia Lewis, which were demeaning and disrespectful. I regret my flippant and emotional responses during this interview, which were inappropriate, and I am devastated that my behavior has offended others and has run counter to what we hold dear in this community. I hope to have the chance to speak to Audra and Kecia personally to offer my sincere apologies.' She went on to express her support for the open letter: 'I wholeheartedly agree with everything that was written in the open letter shared yesterday. From middle school drama clubs to professional stages, theatre has always been about lifting each other up and welcoming those who feel they don't belong anywhere else. I made a mistake, I take full responsibility for it, and I am committed to making this right. Our entire theatre community deserves better.' While LuPone's apology has been acknowledged by some, others question whether it goes far enough — or whether the industry will take concrete steps toward fostering a more inclusive and accountable environment. For now, the controversy remains a flashpoint — not just about one actor's remarks, but about long-standing issues of privilege, race, and respect on Broadway's most prominent stages. All eyes now turn to the Tony Awards this Sunday, a night that honors Broadway's finest but also serves as a reflection of the industry's values. LuPone is not nominated this year, but her presence — or absence — will be closely scrutinized. The open letter explicitly called for individuals who engage in racially harmful behavior to be excluded from high-profile events like the Tonys. Whether LuPone attends — and if the industry responds at the event — could send a strong signal about how seriously these demands are being taken. Beyond the theater world, LuPone has a high-profile role in the Disney+ series Agatha All Along, where she portrays Lilia Calderu, a centuries-old witch and member of Agatha Harkness's coven. The show is a possible Emmy's contender. However, the controversy may complicate LuPone's awards trajectory if backlash continues, it could overshadow her work. That being said, the "Evita" star remains a formidable performer with a loyal fan base. Only time will tell how she navigates her return in the wake of this controversy. Best of GoldDerby 'Maybe Happy Ending' star Darren Criss on his Tony nomination for playing a robot: 'Getting to do this is the true win' Who Needs a Tony to Reach EGOT? Sadie Sink on her character's 'emotional rage' in 'John Proctor Is the Villain' and her reaction to 'Stranger Things: The First Shadow' Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Patti LuPone Says Audra McDonald Is ‘Not a Friend' After a Falling Out Years Ago, Stares in Silence When Asked About McDonald's ‘Gypsy' Revival
Patti LuPone is not one to mince words, which is why her latest profile in The New Yorker is stirring up buzz among Broadway fans for the revelation that she is no longer friends with fellow stage icon Audra McDonald. 'She's not a friend,' LuPone said when McDonald's name was brought up by interviewer Michael Schulman. McDonald is a Tony nominee this year for playing Rose in 'Gypsy,' a role that previously won LuPone a Tony. LuPone revealed to The New Yorker that she had a falling out with McDonald some years ago, although she declined to go into further detail. The revelation came to be after Schulman brought up a scandal that LuPone found herself in last fall while on Broadway opposite Mia Farrow in 'The Roommate.' The play shared a wall with the Alicia Keys musical 'Hell's Kitchen,' loud noises from which could be heard next door. LuPone filed a noise complaint to Robert Wankel, the head of the Shubert Organization, and sent flowers to the cast and crew of 'Hell's Kitchen' when the noise problem was fixed. But she was later criticized by some of the musical's cast members. More from Variety Pharrell Williams and Audra McDonald on Putting Dandyism on Display at the Met Gala: 'It's About Time' Jake Gyllenhaal and Audra McDonald on Playing Broadway Villains, Stage Fright and Cellphones Disrupting Broadway Shows: 'I Snapped!' George Clooney and Patti LuPone Get Honest About Broadway Pay, Surviving the Trump Era and Elon Musk: 'Isn't He Destroying the Government?' Kecia Lewis, whose role in 'Hell's Kitchen' won her the Tony for best featured actress in a musical, posted a video on Instagram slamming LuPone's behavior as 'bullying' and 'racially microaggressive.' Lewis added that LuPone was 'rooted in privilege' and called out LuPone for labeling 'a Black show loud.' McDonald liked Lewis' video. 'Exactly,' LuPone told The New Yorker. 'And I thought, 'You should know better.' That's typical of Audra. She's not a friend.' When Schulman then asked LuPone for her thoughts on McDonald's production of 'Gypsy,' LuPone stared back at him 'in silence for fifteen seconds' and proceeded to look out the window and say: 'What a beautiful day.' As noted by People magazine, LuPone and McDonald's history of working together in the past includes the 2007 Los Angeles Opera's production of 'Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny' and the New York Philharmonic's 2000 concert version of 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,' in which LuPone played Mrs. Lovett and McDonald starred as the Beggar Woman. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
New York Times
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Lea Michele Resuscitated ‘Funny Girl.' Her Next Move Is ‘Chess.'
The 1980s musical 'Chess,' about a love triangle set in the geopolitically charged world of top-level chess tournaments at the height of the Cold War, will be revived on Broadway for the first time this fall, with Lea Michele playing one of the three starring roles. Michele was last on Broadway in 2023 in 'Funny Girl,' whose fortunes she revived after stepping in as a replacement when the initial lead wasn't working out. Best known for portraying an ambitious musical theater actress on the television series 'Glee,' Michele will star in 'Chess' alongside Aaron Tveit (a Tony winner for 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical') and Nicholas Christopher (a 'Hamilton' alumnus who recently thrilled critics in an Encores! production of 'Jelly's Last Jam'). The show is the brainchild and passion project of Tim Rice, the Tony-winning lyricist of 'Evita' and 'Aida.' Rice collaborated with Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus of Abba on the music and lyrics. The revival was announced Wednesday, but the announcement did not include specific dates or the exact theater — only that it would be staged in the fall at a theater operated by the Shubert Organization. The lead producers will be Tom Hulce, Robert Ahrens and the Shubert Organization. 'Chess,' set primarily in Bangkok and Budapest, tells a fictional story about two grandmasters, one American (Tveit) and one Soviet (Christopher), facing off at a chess tournament, joined by a woman (Michele) whom both of them, at various points, love. The musical, first staged in London in 1986 and then heavily revised for a Broadway production in 1988, has an ardent fan base, but the Broadway production was a flop, and the show has been reworked for subsequent stagings around the world. This fall's production features another new book, by the screenwriter Danny Strong. The show will be directed by Michael Mayer, who directed Michele both in her breakout Broadway role, in 'Spring Awakening,' and in 'Funny Girl.' Mayer and Strong, working with Rice, have been rethinking 'Chess' for some time — they collaborated on a 2018 concert presentation of the musical at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington.
New York Times
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
The Patti LuPone Drama With Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis, Explained
Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald are two of the biggest Broadway stars of recent decades. So when LuPone pointedly referred to McDonald as 'not a friend' in a new interview with The New Yorker, it caused quite a stir. LuPone made the comment when she was asked about some supportive emojis McDonald added last November to a social media post by another Broadway star, Kecia Lewis. Lewis had accused LuPone of being 'racially microaggressive' after she objected to the sound levels at her Broadway show. Here's what we know. It began with a Broadway noise dispute. When LuPone was on Broadway last year, starring with Mia Farrow in a play called 'The Roommate,' she grew concerned about sounds audible from the Alicia Keys musical playing next door, 'Hell's Kitchen.' Noise is a frequent phenomenon on Broadway, and is especially noticeable at plays, where the sound levels tend to be lower than at musicals. LuPone said that she asked for help from the Shubert Organization, which operates the theaters, and that it was taken care of. Kecia Lewis, who won a Tony Award for playing a piano teacher in 'Hell's Kitchen,' posted an Instagram video in November criticizing LuPone's actions. In what she called an 'open letter' about LuPone's complaints about the musical's noise levels, she said, 'These actions, in my opinion, are bullying, they're offensive, they are racially microaggressive, they're rude, they're rooted in privilege.' She added: 'Referring to a predominantly Black Broadway show as loud can unintentionally reinforce harmful stereotypes.' What does that have to do with McDonald? McDonald, a founding member of Black Theater United, a coalition formed to combat racism in the theater world, added supportive emojis to Lewis's Instagram post. While comments on the post appear to have been removed, People magazine reported at the time that McDonald 'simply commented with a series of emojis, writing: '❤️❤️👏🏾👏🏾'. ' What did LuPone say about it? The writer of The New Yorker profile, Michael Schulman, asked LuPone about McDonald posting 'supportive emojis' on the video. LuPone said: 'Exactly. And I thought, You should know better. That's typical of Audra. She's not a friend.' The article says that LuPone mentioned having had a rift with McDonald, but said that she declined to describe it. Then Schulman asked LuPone what she thought about the current revival of 'Gypsy,' starring McDonald as Momma Rose, a role that LuPone once played. He wrote: 'She stared at me, in silence, for fifteen seconds. Then she turned to the window and sighed, 'What a beautiful day.'' What did LuPone say about Lewis? In her Instagram post, Lewis had addressed LuPone as a fellow theater veteran. LuPone took issue with that characterization. 'She calls herself a veteran?' she asked The New Yorker. Then, saying, 'Let's find out how many Broadway shows Kecia Lewis has done,' she went on to disparage her. 'She's done seven. I've done thirty-one. Don't call yourself a vet, bitch.' (The New Yorker pointed out that LuPone undercounted Lewis's credits and overstated her own.) What do we know about LuPone's supposed rift with McDonald? Nothing. The two have never done a Broadway show together, but they have performed together many times over the years, usually at benefits or concerts. LuPone has praised McDonald in the past. At one point she referred to her as 'brilliant' on her blog. And in a 2011 memoir, LuPone wrote of McDonald, 'The two of us became friends, and have performed together many times.' Are these comments out of character for LuPone? Not really. She's famous for her cutting remarks, which some view as refreshing candor, and others view as rude. McDonald has a different public persona — steely, careful, diplomatic. Both women are much-honored performers. McDonald, with six Tony Awards, has won more competitive Tony Awards than any other performer in Broadway history. She is a Tony nominee again this year for 'Gypsy.' LuPone has won three Tony Awards. How are people reacting to LuPone's comments? Not well. Multiple performers posted comments on social media expressing solidarity with Lewis and McDonald. The Tony winner Alex Newell posted, 'To me what it all boils down to is the erasure of legacy,' and asking, 'Y'all don't think calling a fellow actress a bitch in major print isn't like, crazy?' And the Tony winner Adrienne Warren expressed support for Lewis and McDonald, posting, 'So many of us wouldn't have dared to try if it weren't for you.'
CBS News
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Here are the Broadway shows coming to Philadelphia for 2025-26
Ensemble Arts and the Shubert Organization have announced the 2025-26 shows and schedule for the Broadway season in Philadelphia. The schedule includes Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," "SIX," "The Sound of Music" and more. The new season features 13 shows with a combined 27 Tony awards. It all kicks off in July with "Beetlejuice" at the Academy of Music. Here's the full list:
