Patti LuPone yells at patrons for wearing masks improperly
Patti LuPone called out two audience members for not wearing their masks over their noses during a post-show talkback. Credit: Cindy Ord
"Company" star Patti LuPone, who stops the show with "The Ladies Who Lunch," on Tuesday laced into a couple of theatergoers with some very unladylike language for wearing their masks improperly. The incident took place shortly before filming of a post-show conversation with the cast hosted by The American Theatre Wing.
"I just want to address one thing — put your masks over your noses," the Northport native politely requested of two theatergoers at the start of a Twitter post featuring audio of the occurrence that has racked up more than 296,000 views since it went up shortly after 11 p.m. Tuesday.
When they refused to mask up properly, LuPone, 73, got angry. "Put your mask over your nose. That's why you're in the theater. That is the rule. If you don't want to follow the rule, then get ... [expletive] out! Who do you think you are, that you do not respect the people sitting around you?"
LuPone's remarks were followed by cheers and applause from the other audience members.
After LuPone again implored the audience members to place their masks over their noses, responses of "Thank you, Patti" could be heard from the crowd.
People reported that the two patrons were removed from the theater.
Although the Broadway League — the national trade association for the theater industry — stopped requiring patrons to provide proof of vaccination status as of May 1, they are still required to wear their masks inside theaters through May 31 to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Many Broadway shows have had to cancel performances this year due to a surge in positive cases of the coronavirus among cast and crew members. LuPone missed 10 performances of "Company" in February and March after contracting the virus.
“Over the course of her storied career, Patti has always had an unshakable bond with the audience, and she takes their role as seriously as her own. She is also a fierce advocate for the entire theatrical workforce," producer Chris Harper said in a statement. "We stand with Patti and support her efforts to keep our entire community — from patrons to ushers, cast to stage crew — safe and healthy so we can keep Broadway open.”
LuPone has declined to comment on the incident.
This is not the first time LuPone has called out an audience member for their behavior. In 2009 while appearing in "Gypsy," she asked to have a theatergoer removed for taking pictures during the performance. In 2015, she famously snatched a cellphone from an audience member who was texting during her performance of "Shows for Days" at Lincoln Center.