Patti Lupone Quotes

Powerful Patti Lupone for Daily Growth

About Patti Lupone

**Patti LuPone**, born Patricia Ruth LuPone on April 21, 1949, in North Jackston, New Jersey, is an acclaimed American actress, singer, and author, renowned for her powerful voice and captivating stage presence. Raised in a musical family, LuPone's love for performing began at a young age. She attended Northwestern University, but her career took off when she moved to New York City in the late 1960s. Her Broadway debut came in 1979 with "Evita," followed by her iconic role as Eva Perón in the original production of the musical. LuPone's career is marked by a series of remarkable performances, including her Tony Award-winning roles in "Gypsy" (1989) and "Anything Goes" (2011), and her Olivier Award-winning performance in "Mrs. Henderson Presents" (2005). She has been nominated for a total of seven Tony Awards, winning twice. In addition to her stage work, LuPone is also an accomplished recording artist. Her albums include "Patti LuPone at Les Mouches" (1986), "Live! From Royal Albert Hall" (2003), and "Don't Cry for Me: Patti LuPone Sings Sondheim" (2004). In 2010, she published her memoir, "Patti LuPone: A Memoir," which provides an intimate look into her life and career. The book offers insights into her struggles with mental health issues, substance abuse, and the challenges of maintaining a successful career in the performing arts. LuPone continues to captivate audiences with her talent and passion for the stage, serving as a powerful symbol of resilience and artistic excellence. Her work has left an indelible mark on the world of theater and music.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I'd rather be really good at one thing than OK at a million things."

This quote emphasizes the value of specialization over generalization, suggesting that it is better to excel in a single area compared to being mediocre or average in many. By focusing on mastering one skill or craft, an individual can achieve greater depth and proficiency, potentially leading to more significant success and personal satisfaction than if they were scattered across multiple fields. It's a call to prioritize expertise over breadth, encouraging individuals to find their unique talents and dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to honing those abilities for maximum impact.


"The harder you work for something, the greater you'll feel when you achieve it."

This quote emphasizes the connection between effort and satisfaction in achieving goals. The more energy, time, and resources one invests in striving towards a goal, the more profoundly they will feel accomplished upon reaching it. By working hard, individuals deepen their sense of fulfillment and pride, as the achieved success is not only the result of ambition but also a testament to their determination and perseverance.


"Every time I sing, I am reminded of what I can do and who I am."

This quote suggests that singing is a powerful tool for self-discovery and personal validation for Patti LuPone. When she sings, she reaffirms her abilities and identity. The act of singing allows her to tap into her innate talents, which in turn reminds her of her unique qualities and potential. Essentially, each time she sings, she is reminded of who she truly is - a talented artist.


"I don't think that we have to let go of our dreams, but we have to adjust them as we get older."

This quote by Patti LuPone emphasizes the importance of maintaining our aspirations and ambitions throughout life, while acknowledging the need for adaptability and flexibility as we grow older. As time passes, circumstances change and so must our approach to achieving our dreams. However, the essence and spirit of our dreams can remain constant, merely requiring adjustments in strategy, expectations, or priorities to make them attainable within the context of our evolving lives.


"Art is not a hobby. It's not a luxury. Art is a vital, essential part of what makes us human."

This quote by Patti LuPone underscores the fundamental role art plays in human existence. Rather than being a leisure activity or an optional aspect of life (hobby), or a non-essential element (luxury), art is considered as crucial to our identity and humanity as basic needs like food, shelter, or love. It serves as a means for humans to express emotions, communicate ideas, document history, and explore creativity, thereby defining and elevating our human experience.


I'll tell you what I think in general about people who want to make their Broadway debut that are not trained stage actors. Don't they know, Broadway ain't for sissies? It is a tough gig. You are responsible, physically, mentally, emotionally, for eight shows a week, at the top of your game. It's not easy.

- Patti LuPone

Game, I Think, Sissies, Gig

Smile at a stranger. See what happens.

- Patti LuPone

Smile, See, Happens, Stranger

The theater is a tough place. It's not cushioned the way it is in film and television.

- Patti LuPone

Television, Place, Theater, Cushioned

I played the tuba in high school. I wanted to be a member of the marching band. I thought, what can I play that has the most effect? What can I play to get people to laugh?

- Patti LuPone

Thought, Play, Marching Band, Marching

What's the difference in opening from scratch in Philly or opening from scratch in New York? The old out-of-town tryout circuit - taking the show pre-Broadway to cities like Boston, New Haven, Philadelphia, Washington - has sort of been replaced with the amount of workshops we do.

- Patti LuPone

Boston, Been, Circuit, Philly

My favorite composers are the ones that tell the story. I love Wagner. I love Mahler. Prokofiev. The programmatic music. I listen more to classic rock because I don't like the contemporary music very much.

- Patti LuPone

Love, Very, Composers, Classic Rock

I wish I could have a recurring role on 'Modern Family'. I think 'Modern Family' is the best comedy on television. It's extremely well written, extremely well acted and directed.

- Patti LuPone

Think, I Think, Directed, Recurring

To be nominated was enough, but when I won I the Tony I just felt relief.

- Patti LuPone

Won, Tony, Felt, Relief

The word diva to me means doing something supernatural with something natural.

- Patti LuPone

Doing, Natural, Means, Diva

I'm totally Italian, but I'm not a diva. If you could see the way I'm dressed in daily life, that's not a diva. Appearances are so not important to me.

- Patti LuPone

Daily Life, Could, Italian, Diva

New York seems to be thriving, which I'm grateful for. But I would hope that they would figure out how to negotiate the traffic and limit the pedicabs, because it seems to me that it's becoming a more chaotic city.

- Patti LuPone

City, Becoming, Thriving, Chaotic

It's not easy being an actor, and having said that, everybody's an actor. Do you know what I mean? Paris Hilton's an actor, which is kind of scary. But if you want to honor your craft and yourself, strive for the nobler instincts.

- Patti LuPone

Honor, Craft, Everybody, Instincts

I am in musical theatre, but it isn't necessarily what I listen to in my leisure time, do you know what I mean?

- Patti LuPone

Musical, Leisure Time, Am, Do You Know

I learned a long time ago from David Mamet to wipe your feet at the door, get it out on stage and then go about your life.

- Patti LuPone

Feet, Door, Learned, Wipe

I think that Stevie Nicks is one of the greats. Steve Nicks and Grace Slick and Janis Joplin have the real rock voices, to me.

- Patti LuPone

Think, I Think, Stevie, None

The only thing we are as actors are messengers. That's all we are. Correct? We are delivering the playwright's intention through the concept of the director. And I come on stage; if I feel confident in the role, then I give it away.

- Patti LuPone

Through, Role, Away, Playwright

I love what I do, and I love the audience, and I love the fact that I get to do it, and I love, I love our craft very, very, much, and it's a noble craft. We have a responsibility to it, and to the audience, and to the playwright, and to the message. I won't ever care less.

- Patti LuPone

Love, Audience, Very, Playwright

The book 'A Reliable Wife' is a slice of American history. It takes a part of American history and tells a story about the purchase of a wife by a Wisconsin businessman. The research of that would have been really interesting.

- Patti LuPone

Wife, Wisconsin, Been, American History

All my career, I've said this: Critics and producers think audiences want actors that only present the silhouette and hit the points in the silhouette. What I do is too dangerous.

- Patti LuPone

Career, Think, Want, Producers

I don't listen to the contemporary pop artists. They all sound alike, anyway.

- Patti LuPone

Alike, Artists, Pop, Contemporary

A well-rounded performer will listen to all kinds of music. I like classical, Middle Eastern, and rock a lot.

- Patti LuPone

Eastern, Middle Eastern, Well-Rounded

Let me say I was trained at Juilliard. I have a very high standard. I expect everybody around me to work equally as hard because people pay a lot of money for tickets. They demand the best that we have.

- Patti LuPone

Everybody, Standard, Very, Juilliard

A show is exhausting when it stinks. It's exhausting when you have to work overtime to make something work.

- Patti LuPone

Work, Show, Make, Overtime

In America, it stands out, because it's raw, it's big, it's emotional. My face is raw, big and emotional. It didn't work for the longest time.

- Patti LuPone

Work, Big, Longest, Raw

I knew when I was a kid that I had a Broadway voice. I wanted to be a rocker, because I grew up in that era of transistor radios at the beach.

- Patti LuPone

Voice, Broadway, Rocker, Era

Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we're all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.

- Patti LuPone

Think, Audience, I Think, Misfits

I think Madonna is a wonderful performer.

- Patti LuPone

Think, Performer, I Think, Madonna

I know what it means to have a leading part, and I know what it means to have a featured part.

- Patti LuPone

Part, Leading, Means, Featured

I'm sure there are actors out there who work with other actors on a consistent basis - I am not one of them.

- Patti LuPone

Work, Other, Sure, Consistent

I just love chickens.

- Patti LuPone

Love, Just, Chickens

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