Two-time Tony winner and current Broadway Company star Patti LuPone dropped by The View March 17 to talk about the Sondheim revival, but also had some pointers for the flower-throwing audience member that recently pelted LuPone in the head with roses during curtain call.
The event, which quickly went viral on social media via bootleg cell phone videos, reportedly happened the night LuPone returned to the show following a bout with COVID-19. See that footage and LuPone's response in her appearance on The View above.
"First of all, that is a huge compliment, when roses are thrown on the stage, so I appreciate it very much," says LuPone. "However, one should throw underhanded, not overhanded, and one should aim for the feet, not the head. And would you take the thorns out of the roses? But I wish the person that did it would come forward so I could thank them, and they should get credit for making a lot of publicity!"
Director Marianne Elliott’s gender-swapped version of Company opened at Broadway's Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre December 9. LuPone stars alongside fellow Tony winner Katrina Lenk, who takes on the central role of bachelorette Bobbie (in the original, bachelor Bobby). They are joined by Matt Doyle as Jamie, Tony nominee Christopher Fitzgerald as David, Tony nominee Christopher Sieber as Harry, Jennifer Simard as Sarah, Terence Archie as Larry, Etai Benson as Paul, Nikki Renée Daniels as Jenny, Claybourne Elder as Andy, Greg Hildreth as Peter, Rashidra Scott as Susan, Bobby Conte as P.J., and Manu Narayan as Theo.
Rounding out the company are Kathryn Allison, Britney Coleman, Jacob Dickey, Javier Ignacio, Anisha Nagarajan, Nicholas Rodriguez, Heath Saunders, Tally Sessions, and Matt Wall.
The production also features choreography by Liam Steel, sets and costumes by Bunny Christie, lighting by Neil Austin, sound design by Ian Dickinson of Autograph, and illusions by Chris Fisher. Joel Fram serves as music supervisor and director, with orchestrations by David Cullen and dance arrangements by Sam Davis. Casting is by Cindy Tolan.
