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
What's the Use of Feeling ?
Patti LuPone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A-ha-ha-ha, ha-ha-ha
Ah-ha-ha, ah-ha-ha
Ah-ha-ha-ha, ha-ha-ha, ha-ha
Why would you want to be here?
What do you ever see here?
That doesn't make you feel worse than you do?
Why would you want to employ her
Subjects that destroyed her?
Why keep up her silly zoo?
Oh, tell me
What's the use of feeling, Blue?
An army has a use
They can go and fight a war
A Sapphire has a use
She can tell you what it's for
An Agate terrifies
A Lapis terraforms
Where's their diamond
When they need her, Blue?
You've got to be a leader, Blue
Yes, of course, we still love her
And we're always thinking of her
But now there's nothing we can do
So tell me
What's the use of feeling?
What's the use of feeling?
What's the use of feeling, Blue?
Oh, how can you stand to be here with it all? (Here with it all)
Drowning in all this regret?
Wouldn't you rather forget her? Oh
Won't it be grand to get rid of it all? (Rid of it all)
Let's make a plan of attack
Start looking forward and stop looking back, oh
Yes, of course, we still love her
And we're always thinking of her
Don't you know I miss her too?
But tell me
What's the use of feeling?
What's the use of feeling?
What's the use of feeling
Mm-hmm-hmm, mm-hmm-hmm
Mm-hmm-hmm, hmm-hmm-hmm
Hmm-hmm-mmm
The song "What's the Use of Feeling?" from the animated television show "Steven Universe" is a powerful exploration of grief, loss, and the struggle to find purpose in painful emotions. The lyrics convey a conversation between two characters, Patti LuPone and Deedee Magno Hall, both voicing the same character, Blue Diamond. Blue Diamond laments the presence of sorrow and questions its purpose.
The first verse asks why anyone would choose to be in a place that constantly reminds them of their pain and makes them feel worse. Blue Diamond questions the usefulness of feeling blue, suggesting that it brings no positive outcome. She then questions why she engages in activities that remind her of her past, referring to her "silly zoo" as a metaphor for her nostalgic and melancholic tendencies.
The second verse acknowledges the usefulness of other emotions and roles. An army has a purpose in fighting wars, a Sapphire can foretell the future, and an Agate and Lapis Lazuli have their own unique abilities. But where is their Diamond, their leader, when they need her? The absence of a guiding force adds to the sense of despair and purposelessness.
The chorus poses the central question, asking what is the point of feeling blue. It acknowledges the ongoing love for the absent character and their constant remembrance but expresses a feeling of helplessness, as if there is nothing else that can be done. Blue Diamond continues to struggle with the grief and wonders if it serves any purpose at all.
In the bridge, the lyrics shift focus to the listener's perspective, questioning how they can bear to be in the presence of so much pain and regret. The suggestion of forgetting and moving forward is presented as an alternative, a plan of attack to escape the overwhelming emotions. The chorus is repeated once more to emphasize the central theme.
Overall, "What's the Use of Feeling?" captures the complexity of grief, the search for meaning in sorrow, and the difficulty of moving on. It invites listeners to reflect on the purpose and consequences of their own emotions and the importance of finding a way to heal and embrace the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Why would you want to be here?
Why would you choose to remain in this place?
What do you ever see here?
What do you perceive or understand about this situation?
That doesn't make you feel worse than you do?
That doesn't exacerbate the negative emotions you already have?
And tell me, what's the use of feeling, Blue?
And please enlighten me, what is the purpose or benefit of experiencing sadness and melancholy?
Why would you want to employ her
Why would you choose to engage with someone who was harmed or damaged?
Subjects that destroyed her?
Subjects that caused her harm or devastation?
Why keep up her silly zoo?
Why continue to maintain a collection of trivial and insignificant things associated with her?
Oh, tell me What's the use of feeling, Blue?
Oh, please do explain. What is the purpose or benefit of experiencing sadness and melancholy?
An army has a use
An army serves a purpose or fulfills a function
They can go and fight a war
They can engage in combat and participate in warfare
A Sapphire has a use
A Sapphire possesses a purpose or specific role
She can tell you what it's for
She can provide information and insight on its intended purpose
An Agate terrifies
An Agate instills fear or terror
A Lapis terraforms
A Lapis Lazuli transforms or alters the landscape
Where's their diamond when they need her, Blue?
Where is their authoritative figure or leader when they require her presence, Blue?
You've got to be a leader, Blue
You must assume the role of a leader, Blue
Yes, of course, we still love her
Indeed, it is undeniable that we still hold affection for her
And we're always thinking of her
And our thoughts are constantly occupied by her presence
But now there's nothing we can do
However, at present, our capabilities to take action are limited
So tell me What's the use of feeling?
So please elucidate. What is the purpose or benefit of experiencing emotions?
Oh, how can you stand to be here with it all? (Here with it all)
Oh, how can you bear to exist in this place amidst all the overwhelming circumstances? (Here with it all)
Drowning in all this regret?
Submerged in a vast sea of remorse and sorrow?
Wouldn't you rather forget her? Oh
Wouldn't you prefer to erase her from your memory? Oh
Won't it be grand to get rid of it all? (Rid of it all)
Wouldn't it be magnificent to eliminate all these burdens and troubles? (Get rid of it all)
Let's make a plan of attack
Let's devise a strategy or course of action
Start looking forward and stop looking back, oh
Commence focusing on the future and cease reminiscing about the past, oh
Don't you know I miss her too?
Are you not aware that I also feel the absence of her presence?
But tell me What's the use of feeling?
But please do inform me. What is the purpose or benefit of experiencing emotions?
Mm-hmm-hmm, mm-hmm-hmm
Mm-hmm-hmm, mm-hmm-hmm
Mm-hmm-hmm, hmm-hmm-hmm
Mm-hmm-hmm, hmm-hmm-hmm
Hmm-hmm-mmm
Hmm-hmm-mmm
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Aivi Tran, Rebecca Sugar, Steven Velema
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind