Renowned actress Patti LuPone snatched a cell phone out of an audience member’s hands as she was openly texting during last night’s performance of LuPone’s current off-Broadway hit, “Shows for Days,” according to Theater Mania. The incident took place at Manhattan’s Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center during a scene in the second act where LuPone interacts with theatergoers and shakes their hands.
Now, the Tony winner has released a statement defending her actions.
“We work hard on stage to create a world that is being totally destroyed by a few, rude, self-absorbed and inconsiderate audience members who are controlled by their phones. They cannot put them down,” said LuPone. “When a phone goes off or when a LED screen can be seen in the dark, it ruins the experience for everyone else—the majority of the audience at that performance and the actors on stage. I am so defeated by this issue that I seriously question whether I want to work onstage anymore. Now I’m putting battle gear on over my costume to marshal the audience as well as perform.”
A spokesman for the theater told Gothamist about its strict phone policy. Audiences should “turn off their electronic devices before the performance begins,” he said. “The theater staffs diligently enforce that policy as best they can.” Gothamist also said that the individual who offended LuPone received her phone back after the completion of the show.
Twitter users in attendance at last night’s performance shared their experience on the social media site:
THAT TIME YOU STAY FOR THE 2ND ACT & WATCH PATTI LUPONE TAKE A TEXTING WOMAN'S CELLPHONE FROM THE AUDIENCE & WALK OFF STAGE WITH IT IN HAND.
— It's about time. (@_its_about_time) July 9, 2015
#showsfordays Patti Lupone stole a phone that some girl was texting on. As of curtain call, not sure it was returned. #legendary — stephanie tipon catu (@HeyCatu) July 9, 2015
That moment when you see #pattilupone walk off with a girl's cell during the beginning of Act II cuz she was texting. #badass #showsfordays
— Sarah Oravetz (@moonstone1520) July 9, 2015
I saw Patti LuPone deliver her scene exit line tonight at Lincoln Center & SNATCH A CELL PHONE OUT OF AN AUDIENCE MEMBER'S HAND. #theatre — CatsPolitics (@CatsPolitics) July 9, 2015
This is not the first time that LuPone has been angered by a rude audience member during one of her live performances—she stopped a 2009 performance of “Gypsy” mid-show to yell at a person who was photographing her. “Stop taking pictures right now,” she screamed. “How dare you! Who do you think you are?” That person was quickly escorted out of the theater.
