The two-time Tony and Grammy Award-winner on her career and advice for those trying to make it on stage. –Lynn Norusis
Recently, she’s played herself on “Girls,” giving an interview to Lena Dunham’s Hannah for a GQ advertorial, and in “American Horror Story: Coven” as Joan Ramsey, a Christian mother protecting her son from wickedness. But Patti LuPone is most known for her Broadway acting (“Evita,” “The Cradle Will Rock,” “Gypsy,” “Sweeney Todd”).
On September 27, the two-time Tony and Grammy Award-winner is headlining George Mason University’s Center for the Arts ARTS by George! celebrating the arts and raising funds for student scholarships.
At the gala you’ll perform “Coulda Shoulda Woulda.” What can audience members expect?
It’s a chronological history of my life in musical theater and roles that I coulda played, woulda played, shoulda played and did play.
In your career you’ve played many roles: performing on Broadway in casts, in solo shows and also on television. Does one hold a higher place for you as to how you perform?
They act on their own. There are different techniques for each medium but the medium that really belongs to the actor is stage because they pretty much are in control. The minute the house lights go down and the stage lights come up the actor controls it. Nobody calls cut. There’s no editor shaping their performance. They are shaping their own. I like it all and I’m lucky I get to do it all.
Is there anything specific that you look for in a character?
I have to relate to the material. It has to be something I feel is important to say and exciting to try to interpret. As far as the solo concerts are concerned though, that’s a whole different ball game. A lot of people are doing solo concerts because we have to generate our own work. They are a lot of fun because the performer is in charge of the material. We become the playwright and the director and the producer. For stage productions, I will accept a role if it is an interesting director and an interesting project.
What advice would you give to those trying to break into acting?
Studying is the key for longevity in a career. A lot of people want to just become stars. Acting is a craft. Singing is a craft. And it requires training. If I didn’t have the training that I’ve had at Julliard School in drama and the singing lessons I’ve taken throughout my career, I don’t think I would have had as long a career that I’ve had. Success is longevity.
What advice did you give your son, Joshua Johnston, when he entered acting?
He has to study. He graduated Ithica College. He spent a year with The Acting Company, but it’s a muscle and it needs to be constantly worked. I encourage him, as he looks for new work, to continue studying. I keep learning, and that is one of the cool things about our profession, as is the case in most professions if you are open to it, to keep learning about it. I keep making discoveries every time I practice. It is a very difficult profession now because there are so many reality stars. But it’s a noble profession and it needs to be respected. And it needs to be learned; there is a history here. I’d encourage [students] to study and learn the history and learn the craft and to respect it.
Do you feel the field is opening up with the smaller cities having their own theater scenes?
Oh yes, I don’t think theater exists solely in New York City and Chicago. Regional theater is thriving across the country. I would think if someone wanted to become an actor they would be able to explore other avenues. And New York isn’t the be all and end all. It really isn’t. There is great work being done in Chicago, Minneapolis, Louisville and Virginia.
ARTS by George!
Sept. 27
George Mason University’s Center for the Arts
(September 2014)
