She is the author of "Patti LuPone: A Memoir."
Early life
LuPone is of Italian (Sicilian [1]) descent. [2] She is a graduate of Northport High School. LuPone was part of the first graduating class of Juilliard’s Drama Division.
Theatre
In 1972 John Houseman took his beloved class and formed The Acting Company, making them America’s foremost nationally touring repertory theater company. Her stint with the Acting Company lasted from 1972 to 1976, and she was featured in such works as The School for Scandal, Women Beware Women, The Beggar’s Opera, The Time of Your Life, The Lower Depths, The Hostage, Next Time I’ll Sing to You, Measure for Measure, Scapin, Edward II, The Orchestra, Love’s Labours Lost, Arms and the Man, The Way of the World, and The Robber Bridegroom, for which she received a Tony Award nomination. In 1986, alumni members of The Acting Company joined forces for a West End revival of The Cradle Will Rock in which LuPone played Moll, and for which she received an Olivier Award. Ms. LuPone is an important player in contemporary American musical theater. She made her Broadway debut in the play Three Sisters Her first leading role in a musical was The Baker’s Wife, which did not make it to NYC. She has performed on Broadway in works by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephen Sondheim and others. She won a Tony Award for Evita in 1980.
In 1987, LuPone landed the role of Reno Sweeney in the Broadway revival of Anything Goes, for which she won the Drama Desk Award for Best Actress in a Musical. LuPone’s return to Broadway was supposed to be with the musical Sunset Boulevard, however Andrew Lloyd Webber breached LuPone’s contract by recasting her role for the New York production. LuPone subsequently sued Webber, but the two settled the dispute out of court with a hefty settlement in favor of LuPone. After this LuPone was so disappointed, it took her a year to return to the stage. In 1996, LuPone returned to Broadway in a triumphant fashion in a concert style celebration of her career called Patti LuPone on Broadway for which she received an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Solo Performance. Also in 1996 LuPone was asked to replace Zoe Caldwell in the Terrance McNally play, Master Class for which she received rave reviews and later performed in the West End. In 2001 she starred along side Peter Gallagher in the Broadway revival of Noises Off. Other Broadway credits include Working (1978), Oliver! (1984), and Accidental Death of an Anarchist (1982).
LuPone has worked with David Mamet since 1977, acting in his plays, including The Woods (1977), All Men Are Whores (1977), The Blue Hour (1978) The Water Engine (1978), Edmund (1982), and The Old Neighborhood (1997)
Ms. LuPone has been a part of many semi-staged concerts of musicals in New York such as the Encores! production of Pal Joey (1994) opposite Peter Gallagher and Bebe Neuwirth; Sweeney Todd (2000) opposite George Hearn and Audra McDonald; Can-Can (2004) opposite Michael Nouri; Candide opposite Kristin Chenoweth; and Passion (2005) opposite Michael Cerveris and Audra McDonald.
LuPone’s triumphs in the opera world extend to Kennedy Center’s production of Regina, The world premier of Jake Heggie's To Hell and Back, and the Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny opposite long time friend Audra McDonald and directed by John Doyle with the Los Angeles Opera.
She has three one-woman shows that she performs across the country: Matters of the Heart, Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda, and The Lady With the Torch, which sold out Carnegie Hall.
She originated the role of Fantine in the Royal Shakespeare production of the musical Les Misérables, becoming the first American actress to win the Olivier Award. LuPone returned to the London to portray Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard in the West End.
LuPone recently starred on Broadway as Mrs. Lovett in John Doyle’s new staging of Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Ms. LuPone was nominated for a Tony Award for this role.
A regular star at the Ravinia Festival’s annual Sondheim concerts in Highland Park, IL, Ms. LuPone has had starring turns in Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd (2001), A Little Night Music (2002), Passion (2003), Sunday in the Park with George (2004), Anyone Can Whistle (2005), and Gypsy (2006).
With her unanimously rave reviews from the Ravinia production of Gypsy, LuPone was offered the opportunity to star in a new production of Gypsy, directed by Arthur Laurents, who had directed Tyne Daly and Angela Lansbury in previous Broadway revivals. This production launched a new Broadway performance series, Encores! Summer Stars, a spin-off of the popular Encores! series. The Encores! Summer Stars production of Gypsy is scheduled to open July 9, 2007.
Film
Among LuPone’s film credits are Witness, Just Looking, The Victim, Summer of Sam, Driving Miss Daisy, King of Gypsies, 1941, 'Wise Guys, 24 Hour Woman, Family Prayers, Bad Faith, and City By The Sea. She has also worked with legendary playwright David Mamet on several movies including , (The Water Engine, the critically acclaimed State and Main, and Heist).
Television
LuPone played Libby Thatcher on the television drama Life Goes On, which ran on ABC from 1989 to 1993. She has twice been nominated for an Emmy Award for the TV movie The Song Spinner, and her guest appearance on Frasier. LuPone’s further TV career includes a recurring spot on the last season of HBO’s hit series Oz. She had a cameo as herself in the episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by Kelsey Grammer in 1998. She also played herself in an episode of Will and Grace entitled "BullyWoolley" 2005. She also appeared on the series "Ugly Betty" in 2007 as Mrs. Jean Wiener, the mother of Wilhelmina's secretary, Mark.
Known for her range and versatility, she once played Lady Bird Johnson opposite Randy Quaid’s Lyndon B. Johnson in the television movie, LBJ.
Recordings
LuPone recorded a duet with Seth MacFarlane (in character as Glenn Quagmire) on the 2005 album Family Guy: Live In Vegas.
LuPone released a new CD in 2006, of one of her shows The Lady with the Torch, on Sh-k-Boom Records. In December she released bonus tracks for that CD only on iTunes.
Selected recordings include:
The Baker’s Wife (Original cast recording)
Evita (Original Broadway cast recording)
The Cradle Will Rock (The Acting Company recording)
Les Miserables (Royal Shakespeare Company recording)
Anything Goes (Lincoln Center Theater recording)
Heat Wave (John Mauceri conducting the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra)
Patti LuPone Live (Solo Album)
Sunset Boulevard (World premiere/original London cast recording)
Matters of the Heart (Solo Album)
Sweeney Todd (New York Philharmonic recording)
Sweeney Todd (2005 Broadway Cast recording)
The Lady with the Torch (Solo Album)
The Lady With the Torch...Still Burning (Solo Album)
To Hell and Back (Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra World Premier recording)
Personal life
Her first name, Patti, is not short for “Patricia”; it is her mother’s maiden name. LuPone’s great-grand-aunt was the celebrated 19th-century opera singer Adelina Patti. Her brother is actor, dancer, and director Robert LuPone, and her other brother William is a teacher. When they were young they performed on Long Island as the LuPone Trio.
She had a long-term relationship with fellow Juilliard classmate Kevin Kline.
She married Matthew Johnston in 1988 on the Vivian Beaumont Stage at Lincoln Center after filming the TV movie LBJ, they had one child on 21 November 1990, Joshua Luke Johnston.
She currently resides with her family in upstate Connecticut.
Source: Wikipedia
Anything Goes
Patti LuPone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we've ofter rewound the clock
Since the puritans got a shock
When they landed on Plymouth rock
If today any shock they might try to stem
'stead of landing of Plymouth rock
Plymouth rock would land on them.
Was looked on as something shocking
But now God knows
Anything goes
Good authors to
Who once knew better words
Now only use four letter words
Writing prose
Anything goes
If driving fast cars you like
If low bars you like
If old hymns you like
If bare limbs you like
If Mae West you like
Or me undressed you like
Why nobody will oppose
When every night
The set that's smart
Is intruding on nudist parties
In studios
Anything goes
When Mrs. Ned McClean God bless her
Can get Russian reds to yes her
Than I suppose
Anything goes
When Rockefeller still can hoard
Enough money to let Max Gordon
Produce his shows
Anything goes
The world has gone mad today
And good's bad today
And black's white today
And days night today
And that gent today
You gave a cent today
Once owned several chateaux
When folks
Who still can ride in Jitney's
Find out Vanderbilts and Whitney's
Lack baby clo'es
Anything goes
When Sam Goldwyn
Can with great conviction
Instruct Anna Sten in diction
Than Anna shows
Anything goes
When you hear that
Lady Mendl standing up
Now turns a handspring landing up-
On her toes
Anything goes
Just think of those shocks you've got
And those knocks you've got
And those blues you've got
From those news you've got
And those pains you've got
(if any brains you've got)
From those little radios
So Mrs. R.
With all her trimmin's
Can broadcast a bed from Simmon's
Cause Franklin knows
Anything goes
Patti LuPone's song "Anything Goes" is an ode to the idea that in contemporary society, anything is possible and permissible. The unconventional lyrics start by referencing the Pilgrims' landing at Plymouth Rock, where they experienced a shock. Then they posit that, hypothetically, if the Puritans tried to do the same today, Plymouth Rock would land on them. The lyrics then continue with a reference to a time when a glimpse of a stocking was shocking, but now anything goes.
The song then mentions the decline in the use of proper language in literature, with authors now relying on four-letter words. The song also highlights diverse personal preferences, such as liking fast cars or Mae West, which no one will oppose. The lyrics also mention the intrusion of "smart" people on nudist parties in studios.
The song highlights the absurdities of contemporary life, such as Mrs. Ned McClean can get Russian reds to say yes to her. Anything seems to go in this world, even if people who ride in Jitneys find out that Vanderbilts and Whitneys lack baby clothes. Patti LuPone's "Anything Goes" is an interesting commentary on the current societal norms.
Line by Line Meaning
Times have changed,
The world has changed significantly since the olden days
And we've ofter rewound the clock
We often revisit the old times or ways of life
Since the puritans got a shock
Since the puritans were shocked by the new ways of life
When they landed on Plymouth rock
When they first landed on the shores of America
If today any shock they might try to stem
If anyone tried to prevent a shock from happening today
'stead of landing of Plymouth rock
The shock would be so great that it would 'land' on them instead
Plymouth rock would land on them.
They would be unable to cope with the change and would be shocked.
In olden days a glimpse of stocking
In the olden days, even a hint of showing one's leg was considered vulgar
Was looked on as something shocking
It was seen as scandalous or disgraceful
But now God knows
But now times have changed and society has a different perspective
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable or permissible now
Good authors to
Once-great writers
Who once knew better words
Who used to use sophisticated or complex vocabulary
Now only use four letter words
Now only use simpler or crude language
Writing prose
When writing their works
Anything goes
They use whatever language they want
If driving fast cars you like
If you enjoy driving fast cars
If low bars you like
If you enjoy going to bars that are not of high quality
If old hymns you like
If you enjoy listening to old religious songs
If bare limbs you like
If you enjoy looking at exposed body parts
If Mae West you like
If you have a preference for the actress Mae West
Or me undressed you like
If you enjoy seeing me without clothing
Why nobody will oppose
No one will object to your preference
When every night
On a regular basis
The set that's smart
The fashionable and sophisticated people
Is intruding on nudist parties
Are attending parties where people are nude
In studios
In the movie studios where these parties are hosted
Anything goes
These people partake in anything that is considered fashionable or popular
When Mrs. Ned McClean God bless her
When Mrs. Ned McClean, who is a socialite and philanthropist
Can get Russian reds to yes her
Can convince the Russian people to support her causes
Than I suppose
Then I guess anything is possible
Anything goes
Anything is achievable
When Rockefeller still can hoard
Even though Rockefeller has a lot of money
Enough money to let Max Gordon
Enough money to finance the productions of Max Gordon
Produce his shows
Produce the shows he wants
Anything goes
Anything is possible if you have enough money
The world has gone mad today
The world we live in is crazy and chaotic
And good's bad today
Decent moral standards have deteriorated over time
And black's white today
Things that were once socially unacceptable are now widely accepted
And days night today
The world is upside down, and the opposite of what we expect is now true
And that gent today
And even the supposedly respectable and wealthy people
You gave a cent today
You donated money to
Once owned several chateaux
Once owned several extravagant properties
When folks
When people
Who still can ride in Jitney's
Who can still afford to ride public transport like jitneys
Find out Vanderbilts and Whitney's
Realize that even the richest and most famous people, like the Vanderbilts and Whitneys
Lack baby clo'es
Can't even afford to buy clothes for their babies
Anything goes
Nothing is certain in this world
When Sam Goldwyn
When Sam Goldwyn, a highly successful filmmaker
Can with great conviction
Can confidently and persuasively
Instruct Anna Sten in diction
Instruct Anna Sten, a movie actress, on how to properly speak
Than Anna shows
Then Anna shows that she can learn and improve
Anything goes
Anything is possible, and anyone can improve and achieve their goals
When you hear that
When you find out that
Lady Mendl standing up
Lady Mendl, a high society figure and social hostess, standing up at an event
Now turns a handspring landing up-
Now does acrobatics, including handsprings, when she is introduced
On her toes
On the balls of her feet
Anything goes
Anything can be seen as entertainment or fashionable
Just think of those shocks you've got
Think about the things that have surprised you in life
And those knocks you've got
Think about the setbacks and difficulties you've experienced
And those blues you've got
Think about the depression and sadness you've felt
From those news you've got
From the news events that have affected you
And those pains you've got
From the physical or emotional pain you've experienced
(if any brains you've got)
(if you have any sense)
From those little radios
From the information you've received from the radio
So Mrs. R.
Mrs. R., a wealthy socialite
With all her trimmin's
With all her companions or luxuries
Can broadcast a bed from Simmon's
Can advertise a bed from a specific brand
Cause Franklin knows
Because even the president, Franklin Roosevelt, knows that anything is possible
Anything goes
Objectively, there are no limits to what can be achieved or accepted
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind