I don't sing well. But I do sing with enthusiasm. And I owe it all to lessons with Patti LuPone.
OK. Not really lessons. But I sang "Evita" a lot in my car -- and I was learning from a master.
FAQ
‘Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda’
With Patti LuPone
WHEN — 7:30 p.m. Saturday
WHERE — ArcBest Corporation Performing Arts Center in the Fort Smith Convention Center
COST — $42-$45
INFO — 788-7300 or uafs.universitytick…
LuPone's most recent Broadway appearances include David Mamet's "The Anarchist" and Lincoln Center Theater's production of the new musical "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown," for which she was nominated for Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards. And even though I know her best from Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical about Eva Peron, she's been in just about every Broadway show worth doing.
So here's the point:
Grammy, Tony and Olivier Award winner Patti LuPone will perform in Fort Smith Saturday as part of the university's Season of Entertainment 35. "Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda" will feature songs from roles LuPone could have played, would've played and should have played, as well as roles she has played and will play in the future.
The UAFS Chorale will assist LuPone on five numbers for the concert: "Blow, Gabriel, Blow" and "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" from Cole Porter's musical "Anything Goes," "Some Other Time," "Sleepy Man" and "Trouble" from "The Music Man."
A very busy LuPone answered five questions for What's Up!
Q. Do you remember the moment you were inspired to make music -- a song, a play, a movie? What was it? And why? Or did a passion for acting come first?
A. I was inspired to perform by the audience. I was tap dancing in a recital at 4 years old, and I thought everyone was looking at me. I loved them for that. I've never looked back. My first memory of a voice was Kate Smith. I was 3 or 4 years old, and my mother would perch me in front of the TV to watch "The Kate Smith Hour." She mesmerized me.
Q. What did you think you'd actually grow up to do?
A. I was bitten by show business at age 4, and I instinctively knew I was on my one and only path. I grew up in it, and it's the only thing I know how to do. The question is what do I do when I can't do this anymore.
Q. To me, your iconic role was Evita. But do you have a favorite role -- or a least favorite?
A. All the roles, straight and sung roll around in my head. No one favorite.
Q. What role do you still long to play?
A. I actually love the surprise in the variety of the roles that have been offered to me. So, I don't actually long for one. I wait to see what comes my way
Q. What are the joys and challenges of this tour?
A. The challenges are the airports and the flights. The joys are the audiences.
-- Becca Martin-Brown
NAN What's Up on 04/29/2016