Miscellaneous
Reminiscing with LuPone
Stage icon’s cabaret act, here Saturday, inspires wide-ranging stories and memories
Patti LuPone says her gay friend Scott Wittman, who directs her cabaret act, is a personal and professional friend. (Photo courtesy UMD)
It’s a little tough coming up with questions for Broadway icon Patti LuPone. Her startlingly candid 2010 eponymous memoir is so unabashed at first it seems she left no obvious career stone unturned.
Some called it pessimistic and lacking in joy. Others reveled in its no-bullshit tone that, some said, was uncanny in its ability to make readers feel they were sitting on a barstool with LuPone over several rounds of no-holds-barred career anecdotes. That’s how it feels interviewing her. During a nearly hour-long phone conversation from her South Carolina beach home the weekend of Hurricane Irene, LuPone is loquacious and chatty. She balks at no question and riffs and rants much as one imagines she does with her friends. She can be merciless and lacerating with the gauche and ill-prepared — this is a woman who does not suffer fools gladly — but today she’s quick to laugh, happy to go anywhere the questions lead with the same degree of candor she incorporated in “Patti LuPone: a Memoir.”
LuPone, 62, says her outspokenness is “just how I’ve always been.” It didn’t particularly come with time.
“I’ve always been very candid and yes, it’s always gotten me in trouble to some degree. I just always think it’s important to tell one’s truth. It is what it is. It’s a difficult business and it’s a difficult business especially for a woman.”
Might her career have unfolded differently had she the unfailing politeness of, say, a Debbie Reynolds?
“I don’t think anything would be different,” LuPone says. “Because then I wouldn’t be me. It’s who I am. It’s the way I was brought up.”
This leads to a little philosophy. She rolls with it.
Do you think about “what if?” Isn’t a bit of that implied in the cabaret act, dubbed “Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda” that she’ll perform Saturday night at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at University of Maryland? (claricesmithcenter.umd.edu or 301-405-ARTS)
“It’s a futile way of thinking,” she says. “It’s just not who I am. It’s like [playwright] David Mamet says, it is as it is. The universe is unfolding. Why regret anything?”
LuPone admits she’s of the “everything-happens-for-a-reason” mindset.
The career slights have gotten easier the more she’s able to look back and trace the “pattern of my career.” The one constant has been surprise, she says. She long ago gave up trying to control it or determine its course. Almost for every disappointment there has been serendipity.
An example? She cites her chance to do “Sweeney Todd” in 2000, which started a chain of events that not only led to the 2005 Broadway revival of that show, but her chance to do several classic Sondheim roles with the Ravinia Festival over a six-year period that included Fosca in “Passion,” “Cora in “Anyone Can Whistle,” two roles in “Sunday in the Park with George” and, of course, Rose in “Gypsy,” for which she won her second Tony in 2009.
“I never thought in a million years, I would get to do that,” she says. “It never entered my mind. I hadn’t done Stephen Sondheim and had, by that time, kind of written it off and just figured that’s the way it goes. That led to the rest of my Sondheim roles and … by the end, I finally had my Sondheim canon. … That’s why I believe in destiny. If it’s to be, it will be.”
LuPone says the regret-tinged name of her act, which she’s been performing off and on for about four years, is meant to be taken whimsically, not as any big treatise on regret. The format is loose enough she and accompanist Joseph Thalken, can rotate material in and out as they wish.
“The beginning of my career, beginning with my childhood, that part doesn’t change, but the other songs we rotate a lot.” She calls director Scott Wittman, who’s gay, her “very, very dear friend” and says she’s “lucky to have him in my life both artistically and personally.”
With the business at hand — this weekend’s concert — duly addressed, LuPone is up for anything. She tackles a dizzying array of topics in our remaining moments.
She calls same-sex marriage in her beloved New York “loooooong overdue.”
“I’m thrilled to death and I’m sure I’ll be attending a lot of weddings,” she says. “This country is so insane sometimes, so tilted. I wish it would come back to its senses.”
That theater is so ephemeral and fleeting by nature doesn’t particularly bother her, she says. Despite last year’s book, she’s not particularly inclined to look back.
“I have all the cast recordings but I never put them on,” she says. “I have an archive and scrapbooks — that’s one of the things that made the book so much easier to do — … but I don’t even have a theater room really. I don’t go back and look. It’s a memory, a treasured memory, when I finish something. Besides, I can’t really look at myself. I’m not a big fan of me.”
She says having work-life balance, even in the arts, is important: “You have nothing to bring to the boards if you’re only living for the boards,” she says.
But does she care about her legacy since her greatest hits, so to speak, have been on the stage?
“Of course you care, but there’s plenty of stuff on YouTube. Besides, the memory of it is always better than the actual footage. You can’t really film a theatrical production adequately. Seeing them on camera just doesn’t do them justice.”
She admits she’s “had a beef for years” with big-name movie stars swooping onto Broadway for brief runs and special treatment that sometimes even wins them Tonys.
LuPone says for actors like her, who’ve made their career largely on stage, it’s highly frustrating.
“[The producers] will say, ‘Forget you, I can get so and so,’” she says. “But to do it well, you really have to have the chops for it, the years of training.”
It must be maddening too, when movie stars of dubious talent land film adaptations much more talented, but lesser known, stage stars originated, right?
LuPone says yes and no. She admits there are film “treasures” that can be “equally good, but other times the casting is really ridiculous.” It’s not just money, though. LuPone says some actors have talent that merely translates better to either the stage or screen as the case may be. The difference, largely, is projection, she says.
“If they have no talent and they’re in the movie musical, then yeah, of course I’m pissed off. But on stage you have to hit the balcony. The delivery is so much larger. Film is a much stiller medium. … People tell me I have a stage face. It’s too big for the camera, whatever that means.”
As soon as the words are out of her mouth, though, LuPone starts thinking of exceptions. She mentions international stars like Irene Papas and Anna Magnani who did well in film.
“You look at somebody like Irene and there’s no censure. We have a certain type in this country that just seems to be designated for film. It’s almost like the raw emotional power of a European actor is feared by Hollywood casting producers.”
As one would imagine, LuPone writes at length in her book about her experience on stage with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Evita,” for which she won her first Tony. Curiously missing, though, is any mention of the 1996 film version with Madonna.
Yes, it’s true she was offered a cameo as Evita’s mother — LuPone laughs heartily recalling it — but it was for a previous incarnation of the film years before the Madonna version got off the ground. She claims not to have seen the Madonna version.
“I saw a little of it on the treadmill once,” she says. “It looked like a bore. There was no reason to see it.”
Broadway, she says, has suffered the same shortsightedness that also ails the recording industry and TV. Talent that doesn’t hit big right out of the gate nowadays is dead in the water.
“In the past there were producers who supported and nurtured young composers and lyricists, who developed them and stuck with them. I was able to grow with a lot of these young playwrights and the audience was able to grow too. Now Times Square looks like a tawdry Las Vegas and people don’t know what they’re looking for other than a chance to make a lot of money. … It’s the same thing with TV. I turn the TV on and just scream at my husband. It’s the most boring piece of shit and there’s more commercial time than there is dramatic time. Don’t even get me started on reality TV. It’s a bunch of coddling of stupid, ignorant people.”
While it doesn’t take much to get LuPone ranting and lamenting, neither is it hard to induce warmth and delight.
She’s thrilled to reunite with her “Evita” costar, Broadway legend Mandy Patinkin, for a joint show on Broadway this fall.
“It’s great,” she says. “Very rarely do you get to work with someone again. For the most part it doesn’t ever happen, at least for me. But with Mandy, are you kidding? I adore him. Hopefully we’ll sell.”
Miscellaneous
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Five easy tips to help you avoid common risks
Your home is more than just a place to eat and sleep; it’s your safe haven. As much as you might cherish your home, you should probably also recognize the potential hazards within its familiar walls. Accidents can happen in an instant, yet with a little foresight and some simple adjustments, you can transform your house into a safer haven.
Accidents can happen anywhere, and with a few simple tweaks, you can lower risks in your space. Below you’ll find five tips for each room in your home to help prevent injuries, falls, and other mishaps. In short, home safety.
This article was inspired by a shower in a rental we managed that began leaking through the kitchen ceiling below. If only the landlord had installed grab bars, right!? Below, we’ll guide you through the steps to fortify your bathroom, making it a place of relaxation without the fear of slips and falls. Then, we’ll venture into the room where the magic happens, where proper planning can ensure great nights and peaceful mornings. We’ll show you how to prevent accidents while you experiment becoming the next Gordon Ramsey. And we’ll include a few surprising solutions for those other rooms that hold their own unique hazards, offering solutions to safeguard against unexpected mishaps.
Bathroom Safety
Install Grab Bars: Adding grab bars near the shower and toilet can provide essential support for family members of all ages. Not only can they help with getting in and out, but they can help provide stability when washing. Make sure they are securely anchored to the wall.
Non-Slip Mats: Place non-slip mats inside the shower and bathtub to prevent slips. They’re a small investment that can save you from falls and head injuries.
Adjust Water Temperature: Ensure your hot water is set to a safe temperature to avoid scalding. The hot water heater should be set to around 120°F (49°C)l, the middle setting on many water heater settings.
Medicine Cabinet Locks: If you have young children, use childproof locks on your medicine cabinet to keep harmful substances out of reach.
Proper Lighting: Ensure there’s adequate lighting in the bathroom to avoid trips and falls during nighttime visits. Nightlights can be a simple and effective solution.
Bedroom Safety
Clear Pathways: Keep pathways in the bedroom clutter free to prevent tripping. Ensure there’s enough space to move around comfortably, particularly getting around the bed. Be aware where all furniture is when walking around to avoid stubbed toes, particularly at night.
Secure Rugs: If you have throw rugs, use rug grippers or double-sided tape to keep them from slipping. Loose rugs are a common trip hazard.
Bed Rails: For anyone at risk of falling out of bed, consider installing bed rails to provide extra support and prevent falls.
Nightstands with Drawers: Opt for nightstands with drawers to keep essential items. This reduces the need to get out of bed at night, minimizing the risk of falls, as you race to grab what you need and not lose a moment’s rest.
Fire Safety: Install battery-operated smoke detectors in the bedrooms if there are none. Make sure to install them 36 inches away from an air vent or the edge of a ceiling fan. Also six inches away from the joint between the wall and ceiling. And test smoke detectors regularly.
Kitchen Safety
Non-Slip Flooring: Choose slip-resistant rugs in the kitchen, especially in areas where spills are common. Mats near the sink and stove can also help and you can often buy them fairly cheaply at Costco.
Childproof Cabinets: If you have little ones, use childproof latches on cabinets and drawers to prevent them from accessing potentially hazardous items.
Anti-tip brackets: Install an anti-tip bracket behind the range. These are often used when children are in the home. Although they are less likely to open the oven door and use it as a step stool to get to the stove-top, adults can also benefit from installing these.
Adequate Lighting: Proper lighting is crucial in the kitchen to avoid accidents. Under-cabinet lighting can illuminate work areas effectively.
Secure Heavy Items: Ensure heavy pots and pans are stored at waist level to prevent straining or dropping them from high shelves.
Sharp Object Storage: Keep knives and other sharp objects in a secure drawer or block. And handle all sharp items with extreme care, even when washing and drying. These steps reduce the risk of accidental cuts.
Other Safety Tips
Furniture Anchors: Secure heavy furniture, like bookshelves and dressers, to the wall to prevent tip-overs, especially if you have young children.
Adequate Outlets: Check for damaged outlets and replace them promptly. Avoid overloading circuits with too many devices. Install placeholder plugs in outlets to prevent young curious fingers (or tongues?) from going inside an electrical outlet.
Stair Gates: If your home has stairs, install safety gates at the top and bottom to prevent falls, especially if you have toddlers or pets to keep them off of the stairs when you cannot monitor them.
Emergency Escape Plan: Develop and practice an emergency escape plan with your family, including a designated meeting place outside.
Carbon Monoxide Detector: If your home burns any fossil fuels for heating or appliances, install carbon monoxide detectors in common areas of your home to detect this odorless gas. The D.C. building codes require this if you use a fireplace or if you have an attached garage. In essence, if there is any potential source of carbon monoxide in the home, be sure to install these detectors.
Remember, a safer home not only prevents accidents but also provides peace of mind for you and your family. Implement these simple tips to create a secure environment in every room of your house.
With these practical tips and a few adjustments, you can significantly reduce the risk of injuries and falls in your home. Enjoy peace of mind in your now much safer haven.
Scott Bloom is owner and senior property manager of Columbia Property Management.
When Lizzo sings “If I’m shinin,’ everybody gonna shine,” in her hit song, “Juice,” she means it. Proof of that came this week on Instagram when the LGBTQ ally announced the first winner of her annual Juneteenth Giveback Campaign is the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, a national nonprofit based in Richmond, Calif., dedicated to the protection and defense of Black transgender people.
And she did so in song: “On the first day of Juneteenth, Lizzo gave to me,” she sang in her video, posted Tuesday, as she revealed her $50,000 gift to MPJI.
“That’s right, we know who Marsha P. Johnson is. We know what Marsha P. Johnson has done for the LGBTQ, emphasis on that ‘T,’ Q community,” said Lizzo to her 13.5 million followers. “Thank you so much to the people at the Marsha P. Johnson Institute. You deserve this, and I hope this helps you so much as you help protect our Black trans family.”
“What the Marsha P. Johnson Institute does is protects and defends the rights of Black transgender people. They do this by organizing community, advocating for the people, and creating an intentional healing community, developing transformative leadership and promoting collective power,” she said.
“We are overjoyed for the shoutout from Lizzo today, the generosity of her sharing her platform and the recognition of MPJI and its work,” said Elle Moxley, MPJI’s executive director. “The resources from this campaign will ensure the protection and defense of Black transgender people continue at a time where it is so vitally needed. We are so grateful for the support of Lizzo and her fans.”
As one of Time Magazine’s Persons of the Year for 2019 and a 2023 Grammy winner, Lizzo is more than a pop star but an inspiration to millions of fans for her body-positive attitude, her self-confidence on stage and in her videos, her empowering music and her activism. She’s also the founder of her own clothing line, Yitty. In 2021, she made headlines when she publicly corrected a paparazzo for using “she/her” pronouns and misgendering Demi Levato.
As part of her campaign, now in its 4th year, Lizzo recognizes Black-led grassroots organizations and businesses and encourages her fans to join her in supporting each of the five organizations she highlights this week. Fans who take action by donating are entered into a drawing for an all-expenses paid trip to see her perform at Fuji Rock in Japan later this year.
This week’s other nonprofits receiving gifts are: Black Girls Smile, Sphinx Music, the University of Houston and Save Our Sisters United.
Find out more about Lizzo’s 4th annual Juneteenth Giveback Campaign by clicking here.
Celebrity News
Anne Heche dies after removal from life support
Actress dated Ellen DeGeneres in late 1990s
Actress Anne Heche died after she was removed from life support on Sunday, nearly two weeks after her Mini-Cooper crashed through a two-story house in Los Angeles’ Mar Vista neighborhood. Investigators with the Los Angeles Police Department believe she was intoxicated at the time.
She sustained a severe anoxic brain injury along with severe burns and was being treated at the Grossman Burn Center at West Hills Hospital, near Chatsworth in the San Fernando Valley.
The 53-year-old actress who was a star of films like “Donnie Brasco,” the political satire “Wag the Dog” and the 1998 remake of “Psycho,” had been declared legally dead under California law on Friday, however, her family kept her alive long enough to be an organ donor.
In a statement Friday, the LAPD announced that: “As of today, there will be no further investigative efforts made in this case. Any information or records that have been requested prior to this turn of events will still be collected as they arrive as a matter of formalities and included in the overall case. When a person suspected of a crime expires, we do not present for filing consideration.” LAPD detectives had previously made public that investigators into the crash found narcotics in a blood sample taken from Heche.
The actress’s family released a statement on Friday:
“Today we lost a bright light, a kind and most joyful soul, a loving mother, and a loyal friend. Anne will be deeply missed but she lives on through her beautiful sons, her iconic body of work, and her passionate advocacy. Her bravery for always standing in her truth, spreading her message of love and acceptance, will continue to have a lasting impact,” the statement added.
Heche was married to camera operator Coleman Laffoon from 2001 to 2009. The two had a son, Homer, together. She had another son, named Atlas, during a relationship with actor James Tupper, her co-star on the TV series “Men In Trees.”
Laffoon left a moving tribute on an Instagram reel in which he also gave an update on how their 20-year-old son Homer Laffoon is coping with the loss of his mother.
“I loved her and I miss her, and I’m always going to,” he said adding: “Homer is okay. He’s grieving, of course, and it’s rough. It’s really rough, as probably anybody can imagine. But he’s surrounded by family and he’s strong, and he’s gonna be okay.”
“Rest In Peace, Mom, I love you, Homer,” the actor’s 20-year-old son, Homer, said in a statement after Heche was declared legally dead on Friday.“ My brother Atlas and I lost our Mom,” read the statement. “After six days of almost unbelievable emotional swings, I am left with a deep, wordless sadness. Hopefully, my mom is free from pain and beginning to explore what I like to imagine as her eternal freedom. Over those six days, thousands of friends, family, and fans made their hearts known to me. I am grateful for their love, as I am for the support of my Dad, Coley, and my stepmom Alexi who continue to be my rock during this time. Rest In Peace Mom, I love you, Homer.”
Tupper, a Canadian actor who starred alongside Heche in “Men in Trees,” had a 13-year-old son, Atlas, with her. “Love you forever,” Tupper, 57, wrote on his Instagram post’s caption with a broken heart emoji, which shared an image of the actress from Men in Trees.
Between 1997 and 2000, Heche was also in a relationship with talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.
“This is a sad day,” DeGeneres posted on Twitter. “I’m sending Anne’s children, family and friends all of my love.” The year after her break-up with the comedian, in September 2001, Heche recounted in her memoir “Call Me Crazy,” about her lifelong struggles with mental health and a childhood of abuse.
KTLA’s entertainment reporter Sam Rubin noted that over the past two decades, Heche’s career pivoted several times. In 2017, she hosted a weekly radio show on SiriusXM with Jason Ellis called “Love and Heche.”
In 2020, Heche made her way into the podcast world. She launched “Better Together” which she cohosted alongside Heather Duffy Boylston. The show was described as a way to celebrate friendship.
She also worked in smaller films, on Broadway, and on TV shows. She recently had recurring roles on the network series “Chicago P.D.,” and “All Rise” and was a contestant on “Dancing with the Stars.”
People magazine reported that several of Heche’s acting projects are expected to be released posthumously.
These include “Girl in Room 13,” expected to be released on Lifetime in September, “What Remains,” scheduled to be released in 2023, and HBO Max TV series “The Idol,” created by Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson.
In her Instagram post from earlier this year Heche stands between her sons Atlas, 13 and Homer, 20.
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