Jim Parsons Heckles Late Audience Member with Patti LuPone Joke

Maybe Jim Parsons really is God, after all.

According to the New York Post, AN ACT OF GOD's Heavenly Father caught a late theatergoer heading to her seat in the orchestra 15 minutes after the matinee began on July 8.

"A little late, aren't you?" he asked her, after which the audience burst out laughing and he continued teasing the woman. Parsons concluded: "You're lucky I'm God and not Patti LuPone!"

The actor's prescient comment supposedly came just before LuPone's infamous SHOWS FOR DAYS incident that very evening, during which she grabbed a cellphone from a texting audience member and walked away.

Despite its omniscient impression, Parsons' jest was probably inspired by LuPone's mid-show rant back on January 10, 2009 during the song "Rose's Turn" from the Broadway revival of GYPSY, when she admonished a photographer for inappropriately snapping pictures.

This isn't the first time Parsons has tried out a timely new joke in the show, but this one landed light as a cloud. The audience loved it, especially in light of recent events on Broadway (see Nick Silvestri's HAND TO GOD fiasco and Madonna's rudeness at HAMILTON).

The new Broadway comedy An Act of God, starring Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Jim Parsons, began performances on May 7, and officially opens on Thursday, May 28, 2015 at Studio 54 (254 West 54th Street). Joining Parsons are two-time Tony Award nominee Christopher Fitzgerald (Finian's Rainbow, Young Frankenstein) as "Michael" and Tim Kazurinsky ("SNL", Police Academy) as "Gabriel". An Act of God is written by God, transcribed by 13-time Emmy Award winner David Javerbaum and directed by Tony Award winner Joe Mantello.

An Act of God features scenic design by Tony Award winner Scott Pask (The Book of Mormon), costume design by Tony Award nominee David Zinn (Fun Home), lighting design by Hugh Vanstone(Matilda) sound design by Drama Desk Award winner Fitz Patton (It's Only A Play) and projection design by Drama Desk Award winner Peter Nigrini(Here Lies Love).

The King of the Universe is tackling His greatest challenge yet: Broadway. This spring, God takes the form of four-time Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Jim Parsons in An Act of God, a 90-minute comedy where the Almighty and His devoted Angels answer some of the deepest questions that have plagued mankind since Creation. He's finally arrived to set the record straight... and He's not holding back!

Photo Credit: Jeremy Daniel