Broadway icon Patti LuPone returns to Mercyhurst with ‘A Life in Notes’
Tony, Grammy, and Olivier Award winner Patti LuPone returns to Mercyhurst University’s Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center on Thursday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m. with her latest critically acclaimed concert, “Patti LuPone: A Life in Notes.” Known for her powerhouse voice and magnetic stage presence, LuPone brings audiences on a deeply personal musical journey through the songs that have shaped her life and career.
In “Patti LuPone: A Life in Notes,” she performs an array of songs that are touchstones and reflections on her life growing up in America—from a young girl during the burgeoning rock and roll scene of the fifties, to coming of age in the politically and socially turbulent sixties, to eventually achieving success with both career and family.
Conceived and directed by Scott Wittman and written by Jeffrey Richman, “Patti LuPone: A Life in Notes” features LuPone's longtime music director Joseph Thalken and string soloist Brad Phillips.
LuPone is a three-time Tony Award winner for her performances as Joanne in Marianne Elliott’s award-winning production of the Stephen Sondheim-George Furth musical “Company,” Madame Rose in the Broadway revival of the Jule Styne-Stephen Sondheim-Arthur Laurents classic “Gypsy,” and the title role in the original Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s “Evita.”
In addition to “Company,” her recent New York stage appearances include Jen Sliverman’s comedy “The Roommate;” the Scott Frankel-Michael Korie-Douglas Wright musical “War Paint” (Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations for Best Actress in a Musical); Douglas Carter Beane’s new play, “Shows For Days,” at Lincoln Center Theater; her debut with the New York City Ballet as Anna 1 in their new production of “The Seven Deadly Sins;” Joanne in the New York Philharmonic’s production of “Company;” David Mamet’s “The Anarchist;” and Lincoln Center Theater’s production of the David Yazbeck-Jeffrey Lane musical, “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown,” for which she was nominated for Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards.
Her other stage credits include appearances with the Los Angeles Opera in their new production of John Corigliano’s “The Ghosts of Versailles” and Weill-Brecht’s “Mahagonny” (debut); the world premiere of Jake Heggie’s opera “To Hell and Back” with San Francisco’s Baroque Philharmonia Orchestra; Mrs. Lovett in John Doyle’s production of “Sweeney Todd” (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle nominations; Drama League Award for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre); the title role in Marc Blitzstein’s “Regina,” a musical version of Lillian Hellman’s “The Little Foxes,” at the Kennedy Center; Fosca in a concert version of “Passion,” which was also broadcast on PBS’ Live From Lincoln Center; a multi-city tour of her theatrical concert “Matters of the Heart;” the City Center Encores! productions of “Can-Can” and “Pal Joey;” the NY Philharmonic’s productions of “Candide” and “Sweeney Todd” (NY Phil debut); and performances on Broadway in Michael Frayn’s “Noises Off,” David Mamet’s “The Old Neighborhood,” Terrence McNally's “Master Class,” and in her own concert, “Patti LuPone On Broadway.”
Beginning in 2000, she appeared regularly at the Ravinia Festival. First in its Sondheim series, when she starred as Mrs. Lovett in “Sweeney Todd,” Desiree in “A Little Night Music,” Fosca in “Passion,” Cora Hooper in “Anyone Can Whistle,” Madame Rose in “Gypsy,” and in two different roles in “Sunday in the Park with George.” Her subsequent appearances there include a reprise of her performance in Heggie’s “To Hell and Back,” a concert performance of Weill’s “The Seven Deadly Sins,” and starring in the title role in a concert production of “Annie Get Your Gun."
A graduate of the first class of the Drama Division of New York’s Juilliard School and a founding member of John Houseman's The Acting Company, in which she toured the country for four years, her subsequent New York credits include Dario Fo's “Accidental Death of An Anarchist;” David Mamet's “The Water Engine,” “Edmond,” and “The Woods;” Israel Horovitz' “Stage Directions;” and performances in the musicals “Pal Joey” for City Center Encores!, “Anything Goes” (Tony Award nomination, Drama Desk Award), “The Cradle Will Rock,” “Oliver!,” “Working,” and “The Robber Bridegroom.”
In London, where she most recently won her second Olivier Award for her performance as Joanne in “Company,” she recreated her Broadway performance of Maria Callas in “Master Class,” created the role of Norma Desmond in “Sunset Boulevard” (Olivier Award nomination), and won her first Olivier Award for her performances as Fantine in the original production of “Les Miserables” and in the Acting Company production of “The Cradle Will Rock.”
Film: Ari Aster’s “Beau Is Afraid,” opposite Joaquin Phoenix; “The School for Good and Evil” (Netflix); “Last Christmas;” “The Comedian;” “Union Square;” “Parker;” “City by the Sea;” David Mamet’s “Heist and State and Main;” “Just Looking;” “Summer of Sam;” “The 24 Hour Woman;” “Family Prayers;” “Driving Miss Daisy;” and “Witness.”
Television/Streaming: Marvel’s “Agatha All Along;” the Netflix limited series “Hollywood;” “Pose;” “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend;” “Penny Dreadful” (Critics Choice nomination); “Girls;” “American Horror Story: Coven;” “Law & Order: SVU;” “Glee;” “30 Rock;” PBS Great Performances “The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny” (Grammy Award for the broadcast’s recording); “Ugly Betty;” “Will & Grace” (as herself); PBS Great Performances’ “Candide;” “Oz;” the TNT film “Monday Night Mayhem;” PBS’ “Evening At The Pops” with John Williams and Yo Yo Ma; “Falcone;” “Bonanno: A Godfather’s Story;” “Frasier” (1998 Emmy nomination); “Law & Order;” “An Evening with Patti LuPone” (PBS); the NBC movie “Her Last Chance,” Showtime's ACE Award and Emmy nominated “The Song Spinner” (Daytime Emmy nomination, Best Actress); “The Water Engine;” “L.B.J.;” AMC's “Remember WENN;” and ABC's “Life Goes On.”
Recordings include: “A Life in Notes,” “Don’t Monkey with Broadway,” “Far Away Places,” “Patti LuPone at Les Mouches,” “The Lady with the Torch,” and many original cast recordings including, most recently: the West End production of “Company,” “War Paint,” “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown,” “Gypsy,” and “Sweeney Todd” (both the 2006 Broadway revival cast recording and 2000 live performance recording on NY Philharmonic’s Special Editions Label).
She is the author of the New York Times best-selling memoir “Patti LuPone: A Memoir.”
Tickets, priced $40-$65, can be purchased online at miac.universitytickets.com, over the phone at 814-824-3000, or in person at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center box office (Tues.-Thurs., noon-5 p.m.). Each order is subject to a $4 per ticket processing fee, regardless of purchase or payment method.
This performance is made possible through the generous support of Humes Chrysler Jeep Dodge & Ram and Knox Law, and the 2024-2025 MIAC Live season is sponsored by Alan & Patti Schaal and VNET, with additional support from the Greater Erie Alliance for Equality and the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority.
LuPone photo credit: Douglas Friedman