Latest news with #theatercommunity
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Broadway Community Condemns Patti LuPone's 'Bullying' of Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis in Scathing Open Letter
An open letter signed by over 500 members of the New York theater community is calling out Patti LuPone The actress had made disparaging remarks about fellow Broadway stars Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis in a New Yorker profile The letter asks the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing to disinvite LuPone from the Tony Awards and similar eventsPatti LuPone's recent comments disparaging her fellow Broadway actresses continue to make waves throughout the New York theater community. An open letter reprimanding the Tony winner, 76, over her quotes about Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis in a recent New Yorker interview has been signed by over 500 artists, Playbill reports. Wendell Pierce, Courtney Love and James Monroe Iglehart are among the signatures. The letter pinpoints what it called LuPone's 'deeply inappropriate and unacceptable public comments about two of Broadway's most respected and beloved artists,' McDonald, 54, and Lewis, 59, who are both Black. 'This language is not only degrading and misogynistic — it is a blatant act of racialized disrespect,' reads the letter. 'It constitutes bullying. It constitutes harassment. It is emblematic of the microaggressions and abuse that people in this industry have endured for far too long, too often without consequence,' it continues. While starring in Broadway play The Roommate at the Booth Theatre, LuPone made viral comments about Hell's Kitchen performing next door at the Shubert Theatre, calling it 'too loud.' Lewis, who leads the Alicia Keys musical in her Tony-winning lead role, posted a video last November calling LuPone's words "racially microaggressive," "rude" and "rooted in privilege." Speaking with The New Yorker, LuPone responded, "She calls herself a veteran? Let's find out how many Broadway shows Kecia Lewis has done, because she doesn't know what the f--- she's talking about… Don't call yourself a vet, bitch!" Asked about McDonald's apparent support via emojis on Lewis' Instagram post, the Agatha All Along star made it clear the record-breaking Tony Award winner is "not a friend," pointedly refusing to answer a question about McDonald's current Tony-nominated run in the Majestic Theatre's Gypsy, a musical LuPone previously starred in. "We write not to shame or isolate, but to speak with honesty, clarity, and care," the open letter states. "To publicly attack a woman who has contributed to this art form with such excellence, leadership, and grace — and to discredit the legacy of Audra McDonald, the most nominated and awarded performer in Tony Award history — is not simply a personal offense. It is a public affront to the values of collaboration, equity, and mutual respect that our theater community claims to uphold." The letter, addressed to the theater community as well as Tony producers the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, calls for those organizations to disinvite LuPone, and anyone using 'their platform to publicly demean, harass, or disparage fellow artists,' from 'industry events, including the Tony Awards, fundraisers, and public programs.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In a CBS Sunday Morning interview with Gayle King, set to air in full next week, McDonald responded to LuPone's remarks, saying, "If there's a rift between us, I don't know what it is." "That's something you'd have to ask Patti about," she continued. "You know, I haven't seen her in about 11 years just because we've been busy just with life. So I don't know what rift she's talking about, but you'd have to ask her." In her New Yorker interview, LuPone also took aim at her ex Kevin Kline, as well as Glenn Close, Ron Duguay and Sarah Palin. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Patti LuPone apologizes for remarks about Kecia Lewis, Audra Macdonald
May 31 (UPI) -- Patti LuPone has apologized for her recent remarks about her fellow Broadway stars Kecia Lewis and Audra Mcdonald after hundreds of members of the New York theater community attempted to get LuPone disinvited to the Tony Awards. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Patti LuPone (@pattilupone) "For as long as I have worked in the theatre, I have spoken my mind and never apologized. That is changing today," LuPone said in an Instagram post Saturday. "I am deeply sorry for the words I used during The New Yorker interview, particularly about Kecia Lewis, which were demeaning and disrespectful," she added, referring to comments that appeared at the end of a wide-ranging article published online May 26. "I regret my flippant and emotional responses during this interview, which were inappropriate, and I am devastated that my behavior has offended others and has run counter to what we hold dear in this community. I hope to have a chance to speak to Audra [McDonald] and Kecia personally to offer my sincere apologies." Variety said an open letter -- signed by about 500 people connected to the New York theater community -- made the rounds Friday, condemning LuPone's remarks and asking the organizers of the Tony Awards to ban her from Broadway's biggest night.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Patti LuPone accused of 'bullying' by the Broadway community in scathing letter after Audra McDonald feud
Broadway star Patti LuPone's controversial remarks about fellow actresses Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis have now officially been denounced by her peers. Over 500 people have signed an open letter from Broadway's theater community condemning the slights Lupone made about McDonald and Lewis during her now infamous interview with the New Yorker. LuPone, 76, called Lewis, 59, a 'b***h' and said McDonald, 54, was 'not a friend' during her headline-making interview. The letter, which is addressed to the American Theatre Wing, The Broadway League, and 'the greater theater community', claims the comments LuPone made about McDonald and Kecia was degrading, misogynistic, and a 'blatant act of racialized disrespect.' has reached out to representatives for LuPone, McDonald, and Lewis for comment but did not immediately receive a response. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Among those signing the letter is rock star Courtney Love. 'This is a call for accountability, justice, and respect — rooted in love for the art form and for the people who make it possible. We believe our community can do better. We believe it must do better — especially when harm is done to those who have given so much to this industry,' the letter said. While the letter insists they do not intend to 'shame', 'isolate', or 'punish' LuPone, they have recommended that she and others who have used 'their platform to publicly demean, harass, or disparage fellow artists' be excluded from future industry events such as the Tony Awards. The letter described LuPone's comments as 'deeply inappropriate and unacceptable' a form of 'bullying', 'harassment', and 'is emblematic of the microaggressions and abuse that people in this industry have endured for far too long, too often without consequence.' 'To publicly attack a woman who has contributed to this art form with such excellence, leadership, and grace—and to discredit the legacy of Audra McDonald, the most nominated and awarded performer in Tony Award history—is not simply a personal offense,' the letter said. 'It is a public affront to the values of collaboration, equity, and mutual respect that our theater community claims to uphold. Let us be clear: this is about more than one person. It is about a culture. A pattern. A persistent failure to hold people accountable for violent, disrespectful, or harmful behavior—especially when they are powerful or well-known. 'This is not about differing opinions. It is about public actions that demean, intimidate, or perpetuate violence against fellow artists. It is about the normalization of harm in an industry that too often protects prestige over people.' They called her remarks a violation of the American Theatre Wing's core values, which consist of 'champion creative expression', 'support growth and create connections' and to 'make excellence known and inspire artistic greatness'. The letter insists they are not calling on 'cancelling' Lupone nor intend to signal her out, but over concern for their industry. 'This is not about 'canceling' anyone or condemning them — it is about care. Care for our artists, our values, and the future of our shared craft. We write because we want this community to thrive — not just in box office numbers or critical acclaim, but in integrity, safety, and mutual respect,' the letter says. 'We envision a theater industry where all artists — including Black women — are protected, valued, and celebrated. Where excellence is met with recognition, not hostility. Where harm is addressed, not ignored. Where no one is forced to choose between their artistry and their dignity.' They did recommend several repercussions - which included excluding LuPone from future events such as the Tony Awards. 'Individuals, including Patti Lupone, who use their platform to publicly demean, harass, or disparage fellow artists— particularly with racial, gendered, or otherwise violent language—should not be welcomed at industry events, including the Tony Awards, fundraisers, and public programs,' it said. The individual can return back into the community following completion of 'comprehensive anti-bias or restorative justice programs.' 'Participation, recognition, and attendance at high-profile events must be contingent on conduct that reflects community values. This includes completion of comprehensive anti-bias or restorative justice programs before re-entry into publicfacing spaces,' they wrote. 'Theater institutions must adopt and enforce clear, transparent policies for addressing harmful behavior—regardless of an individual's fame or tenure in the industry,' it also suggested. 'This would not be tolerated in other industries. In 2021, the NFL fined the Washington Commanders $10 million and removed Dan Snyder from day-to-day operations after a toxic workplace culture came to light. Will Smith was banned from the Oscars for ten years after slapping a fellow artist during a live broadcast. These organizations acted swiftly to preserve their values and the integrity of their communities. Why should Broadway hold itself to a lower standard?' it continued. They also offered support to Lewis and McDonald, whom were on the receiving end of LuPone's barbs. 'To the Kecias and the Audras of our past, present, and future: You are the soul of this community. We honor your brilliance, your resilience, and your impact. You deserve more than applause. You deserve protection. You deserve respect,' the letter says. 'We are calling for action — not to punish, but to protect. Not to divide, but to strengthen. A stronger, healthier, more equitable Broadway is possible — one where all artists are treated with dignity, safety, and respect,' the letter also states. LuPone has been making headlines ever since she made various swipes against McDonald and Lewis in an interview with the New Yorker. While addressing comments Tony-award winning Kecia Lewis made last year, LuPone called her a 'b***h'. (LuPone had complained about the noise levels of Lewis' show Hell's Kitchen, which neighbored LuPone's own show, and the fallout led to Lewis making a video statement accusing her neighbor of being a bully and making 'racially microaggressive' comments). 'Oh, my God,' LuPone said when the conflict Lewis was mentioned. 'Here's the problem. She calls herself a veteran? Let's find out how many Broadway shows Kecia Lewis has done, because she doesn't know what the f**k she's talking about.' 'She's done seven. I've done thirty-one. Don't call yourself a vet, b***h,' she said. (The publication noted that Lewis has done 10 and LuPone 28.) The publication noted that McDonald showed her support for Lewis' video by dropping several supportive emojis in the comments of the post, which LuPone also took issue with. 'Exactly,' she told the New Yorker when the emojis were raised. 'And I thought, You should know better. That's typical of Audra. She's not a friend,' she said, with the publication noting she emphasized friend with a 'hard "D."' Patti also seemed to deliberately avoid answering a question about McDonald's performance in Gypsy, a show she also starred in. Michael Schulman of the publication wrote: 'When I asked what she had thought of McDonald's current production of 'Gypsy,' she stared at me, in silence, for fifteen seconds. Then she turned to the window and sighed, 'What a beautiful day.'' McDonald was asked about Lupone's comments during a CBS Mornings interview with Gayle King, which is set to air in full next week. A sneak peek of the interview showed McDonald insisting she was unaware of any issues between her and Lupone when the New Yorker interview was raised. 'If there's a rift between us, I don't know what it is,' she replied. 'That's something that you'd have to ask Patti about. 'You know, I haven't seen her in about 11 years, just because we've been busy just with life and stuff. So I don't know what rift she's talking about, but you'd have to ask her.'
CBS News
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Boston's Elliot Norton Awards highlight the best of theater on stage and behind the scenes
For more than four decades, the Elliot Norton Awards have honored the best of the best on stage in Greater Boston. Former WBZ-TV arts and entertainment anchor Joyce Kulhawik reported on the awards for years. Now, as president of the Boston Theater Critics Association, she hosts the show known as "Boston's Tony Awards." "This is a night when we say 'we see you, we hear you, you lift us up, we for this one night want to celebrate all the intangibles that you bring to Greater Boston,'" said Kulhawik. 140 nominations across Greater Boston This year, there are more than 140 Elliot Norton Award nominations in nearly two dozen categories. They recognize those both on stage and behind the scenes. "Every single night, our theater artists bring to the stage realities that we may not be familiar with," said Kulhawik. "They encourage understanding, connection, empathy by showing us who we are. They shed light on the human condition, if you will. And they also entertain us and lift us up and make us feel connected." Now in their 42nd year, the awards are named for Elliot Norton, who worked as a theater critic in Boston for nearly half a century. "It's a legacy we carry on in his name and appreciating his standards of excellence," said Kulhawik. "We acknowledge the entire theater community. There were 120 productions onstage this past season." From pre-Broadway runs like "The Queen of Versailles" starring Kristin Chenoweth, to national tours with big-name performers and smaller, black box theaters, Kulhawik said every production is a credit to the Boston theater scene. "We are a place where creative work originates," said Kulhawik. "We have Pulitzer Prize winners, Tony Award winners. We have amazing talent in this town." Among this year's nominees are several plays in the Ufot Family Cycle. The two-year city-wide festival features a series of nine plays about a Nigerian-American family over the generations. "The writing has been extraordinary. The performance's remarkable and it's reflected in a lot of our nominations this season," said Kulhawik. "It has been a really amazing thing for Boston to embrace work like this and to be a breeding ground for work like this." Theater at any budget And you don't have to break your budget to experience it. "These are affordable places to see theater and there are even places where you can see great theater for a pay-what-you-can. Doors open, anybody come in, just immerse yourself," said Kulhawik. "It's very hard to pull off phenomenal theater and allow you to suspend disbelief. But when you do that, when the caliber of the acting is phenomenal and it all comes together and it's more than the sum of its parts, there is almost no more gratifying, uplifting experience." When WBZ-TV spoke with Norton in 2000, at the age of 97, he knew his legacy was secure. "Some of the work I've done has paid off. These people have come to love the theater. And I love the theater. I'm grateful to them," Norton said at the time. At the awards, which will be held on June 2 at the Huntington Theater, the Boston Theater Critics Association will also award a theater arts education grant to support the next generation.
