Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Morning Edition Patti

Patti LuPone has published her memoirs:  Patti LuPone: A Memoir.   Catchy title, Patti. 

This morning, Patti talked to NPR's Susan Stamberg on Morning Edition.  Patti has the tendency to complain and point fingers, but as usual, Susan finds the positive, including recounting a fabulous story about the power Patti can have over her audience:  "A friend of mine, radio producer Neva Grant, took her 12-year-old daughter to see LuPone. You know, at 12 or 13, you don't want to be anywhere near your own mother — don't want to touch your mother and don't want her to touch you. But then LuPone began to sing "Rose's Turn." At the absolute climax of the song, this happens: 'And suddenly, just instinctively, my daughter reaches out and she just grabs my hand as if we're on a roller coaster," Grant says. "She's grabbing my wrist like, 'Oh, my God!' '"    That, my friends, is the Power of Patti.   She'll do it to you every time.




5 comments:

designmatters said...

Hi Sarah

What a treat to hear the interview with Patti LuPone. She held a competition on her site for the book's title, though it is a rather bland choice, given its subject matter - the antithesis of bland!

At the risk of telling you the bleeding obvious, I see that Amazon has Stephen Sondheim's book, Finishing the Hat, available on pre-order: http://www.amazon.com/Finishing-Hat-Collected-1954-1981-Principles/dp/0679439072

I have really enjoyed the latest posts, coming almost every day, with great photos.

All the best
Jennifer

Sarah B. Roberts said...

Hi Jennifer! Thanks for your kind comments. I have definitely pre-ordered Sondheim's book. I'm not running to read Patti's, but I feel like Sondheim's is a must not miss. When I heard what Patti chose as her title - definitely bland - I had to laugh - that's so Patti - ask for suggestions and then just go w/ her own title anyway. Gotta love that woman no matter what.

designmatters said...

Hi Sarah

Thanks for responding; she referred to it as an 'elegant' choice but missed the opportunity for the quirky, highly individual title. Someone did submit a great one - from memory it was a play on a line from her speech at the Tony's - a little brash, but on the money. Sorry… I can't recall it at present. But like you, I'm plumping for the Sondheim book.

Could I ask - 'cos you will know - do you think there might be a new Broadway cast album of ALNM with Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch? I realise that this might be an unusual thing to do, but given reviews of a real gear change in the overall interpretation it seems feasible. I read that Sondheim had attended rehearsals, giving quasi masterclasses with the new interpreters and cast. Hence an interpretation worth archiving.

All the best
Jennifer

Sarah B. Roberts said...

In the past, "highlight" albums have been released when a star replaces another star. In this case, for ALNM, I have heard both sides - yes, a highlights will be done specifically for Bernadette and no, it will not happen. I hope it does, but realize the cost involved.

Andrea said...

*sigh* I love me some Patti. Thanks for posting it!