Patti LuPone Chats About FAR AWAY PLACES, Cell Phone Use in Theatre's and More

Patti LuPone sat down to chat with the Asbury Park Press leading into her Tom's Cabin performance this Saturday October 1st.

LuPone spoke to her versatility as an actress. In a phone interview with app.com she says, "I don't have a favorite anything. It limits you. If this is your favorite, then everything sort of leans in that direction and you don't get to experience all the other interesting things out there. Sometimes I wonder whether I should have stuck with one thing, but that's not who I am. I'm extremely curious, and my training also dictated a love for the versatile. To me, the most interesting thing about my career is the variety in it, and the surprise."

LuPone also spoke about her recent run in the Chicago production of "War Paint." The show received rave reviews across the board. She spoke very highly of the production saying, "The creative staff is so talented. Christine Ebersole was just brilliant as Elizabeth Arden and we have a really, really phenomenal company of actors. It was beautiful. Every element of the creative staff is so impressive. Costumes, set design and our composer, our lyricist, our bookwriter, our director, choreographer, all of it." The show is expected to move to Broadway.

Anyone who loves LuPone will know about her qualms with cell phones in theaters. She discusses cell phone use saying, "I'm concerned about (phones) when I go back on Broadway," She continues saying, "Everybody is in agreement. Nobody in the theater wants this to happen, nobody. There's not an actor out there who says 'yeah, yeah, let the cellphones go off.' I think if I get so frustrated, I'll just pack up my dressing room and go home."

She speaks to the constant distraction of cell phones in the theaters. LuPone says, "Respect, courtesy, consideration for the person next to you is gone, if people think they bought a ticket and they can do what they want, especially when an announcement is made. Then what is their excuse when they hear the announcement that it is illegal, it is forbidden? How can they then say 'I can do what I want?' Is that how they live their lives? Are they anarchists? ... But if that's the way you think as just a human being, whoa. Is that what you do in church? Is that what you do in the library? Is that what do you when your partner is talking to you? Is that what you do when you interact all the time? I think that society has become so isolated because of all the electronics we have."

In the interview, LuPone also says that house staff needs to be vigilente when dealing with the audience members. Cell phones should not be seen. period. LuPone says she will do what needs to be done. "Stop the show - stop the show. I think if the audience gets scared of being humiliated, and shows will be stopped and they will be thrown out, I think people will think better of it."

While LuPone has recently enjoyed success on TV and Film, she says the theater will always be her home. She says, "I think for the actor, the stage is their medium. If you're on television or film, there's a lot more people in control of your performance. You might give a certain performance, and then the editor and the director will determine what they think is better for you and it. When I'm on stage, that doesn't happen at all. The curtain goes up, it's between the actor and the audience. That's it."

For the full interview with app.com click here

Patti LuPone will be performing her cabaret show "Far Away Places" this Saturday, October 1st, at 8pm at Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts, College Drive, Toms River. For tickets and more info visit 732-255-0500 or visit grunincenter.org/