Status
Available
Publication
Crown Archetype (2010), Edition: First Edition, 336 pages
Description
Patti LuPone, one of the theatre's leading ladies, writes an insightful retrospective of her career, with details about the life of a working actor, from inspired costars and demanding directors to her perspective on how she developed and honed her award-winning performances.
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User reviews
LibraryThing member silversurfer
This is such a wonderful book. Reading it is like sitting down with an old friend and having a chat. A chat filled with honesty, truimphs and huge disappointments. Ms LuPone chronicles her rise to stardom from a young girl's dream of performing on broadway, to her landing the much sought after role
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of EVITA to her Closing night in GYPSY. It's all here, her vocal struggles, learning to train her voice to sing a demanding role such as EVITA 8 times a week, her friendships and backstage stories,heer batlle with breast cancer and what really happenned behind her being fired from SUNSET BOULEVARD. She writes with honesty and emotion and give her all here, much lilke how she performs on stage. Full Throttle, no stopping and pulling no punches. She has truly earned the title of Broadway Legend. Show Less
LibraryThing member StoutHearted
In Patti LuPone's long show biz career, she's built up quite a reputation for being no-nonsense and -- dare I say it? -- bitchy. This book, her account of her rise to fame up to her last performance in Gypsy, certainly brings on the bitchiness. But in every account, she's earned the right to be.
Patt's humor electrifies the tone like a chat with a good pal. And, unlike the last show biz memoir I just read by Kristen Chenoweth, it's not afraid to call out by name those who made her ascent to stardom hell. We read how she was used and abused by Andrew Lloyd Webber and his Really Useful production company (or, "Really Useless" as she called it.) There was the actor who played her husband on the TV series "Life Goes On" who was so insufferable that even the sweet Kelly Martin told him off. Or the much-revered Topol, who turned his role in "The Baker's Wife" into a joke and behaved with blatent unprofessionalism. But Patti also gives credit where credit is due and lavishes praise on the deserving as well. And she doesn't let her own foibles escape notice, such as when she missed her curtain call after playing Fantine in "Les Miserables" because she forgot to come back on stage after her death scene!
There are a lot of names packed into this memoir, which will delight Broadway afficionadoes, but may be tedious to others. But, then again, if you don't already adore Patti and show biz, why are you considering reading this book? In short, fans of Ms. LuPone will not be disappointed.
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And even when she's in the wrong, she makes no bones about revealing her mistakes or breakdowns. Besides being an account of one star's life, it's a great look into the inner workings of show business and the struggle to make it while not get screwed over.Patt's humor electrifies the tone like a chat with a good pal. And, unlike the last show biz memoir I just read by Kristen Chenoweth, it's not afraid to call out by name those who made her ascent to stardom hell. We read how she was used and abused by Andrew Lloyd Webber and his Really Useful production company (or, "Really Useless" as she called it.) There was the actor who played her husband on the TV series "Life Goes On" who was so insufferable that even the sweet Kelly Martin told him off. Or the much-revered Topol, who turned his role in "The Baker's Wife" into a joke and behaved with blatent unprofessionalism. But Patti also gives credit where credit is due and lavishes praise on the deserving as well. And she doesn't let her own foibles escape notice, such as when she missed her curtain call after playing Fantine in "Les Miserables" because she forgot to come back on stage after her death scene!
There are a lot of names packed into this memoir, which will delight Broadway afficionadoes, but may be tedious to others. But, then again, if you don't already adore Patti and show biz, why are you considering reading this book? In short, fans of Ms. LuPone will not be disappointed.
Show Less
LibraryThing member KatieANYC
The co-writer could have done more to enliven the prose with Patti's inherent charisma, but this is a great memoir of some of the biggest theatrical milestones of the last 30 years. Patti isn't afraid to tell it like it is, so those looking for Broadway gossip won't be disappointed.
LibraryThing member GaltJ
Listened to CD. She is quite a diva! Going to see her in March.
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
336 p.; 6.62 inches
ISBN
0307460738 / 9780307460738