User blog:LoAP Olivia/Inspirations and Aspirations

If you read my new user page, you'll see that I sing ( a lot) and also write creatively. There have been a lot of people who have inspired me into action; this blog will be covering some of the greater influences on my life so far, one every few days. Feel free to comment on each post with if you know of the person/ persons I am talking about, and anybody that inspires you, or what you would like to do. Thanks.

Here goes...

1.) The Broadway actress Patti LuPone

There is so much I could say about this woman and yet so little time in which to do it. For those of you who do not know, Patti is an extraordinarily talented actress/ performer, whose main medium is musical theatre. She has starred in a revival of the beautiful musical 'Gypsy', of which I know I wish I could have played Louise alongside her, as well as Sweeney Todd, Evita and Company, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and various concert tours and one woman shows.

She is best known for her powerhouse performance in Evita. Evita is a show that will always have a special place in my heart; It's unusual score is bolstered by a wonderful story that captures the essence of it's main character Eva. Patti, in my head, is Eva Peron; a feisty, incomparable leading lady who even now aged 63 smashes songs such as 'Rainbow High' and 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina' I am lucky to have sung some of the songs from Evita in performances, and it really is such a difficult show to get right, yet she smashed it through intensive rehearsel and sheer determination.

Gypsy cemented her as my Heroine. She was absolutely fabulous. I wanted to be there every night in the audience, watching what I believe was my perfect show; it had wonderful uplifting scores, music that makes the soul lift and your heart ache, the characters were superbly performed and envisioned by a stellar cast, and every moment Patti was on stage she commanded the audience. The irony was that I live in England; this was on Broadway. I didn't get to see it firsthand. I only got to listen to the cast album. That made my desire to be in Gypsy one day even stronger.

She has made me want to apply to Julliard in America. That's where she trained, and it's a stunning platform for performers from all over the world to begin their careers. I'm looking to join local productions now; I have a place in a theatre company in a show next year. All thanks to Patti LuPone.

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“ You know, 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 [..] But you know what I mean? And then it becomes disappointing to the audience member, and I am an audience member, that the film actor or the rock star or whatever coming to Broadway doesn’t fulfill his contract and has a limited run. You know what? If you’re going to put your heels down on Broadway, then dig in. Honor it. Nobody’s allowed to sign for three months — we gotta sign for a year! So don’t insult us by signing for twelve weeks. I’m always asked for a year. “But how come …? Never mind, I’ll sign for a year.” I know they can’t possibly be aware of how difficult it is. It’s a monastic life. ”

Patti Lupone

" I just love chickens"

Patti LuPone

"Well, someone tell me, when is it my turn? Don't I get a dream for myself?  Starting now it's gonna be my turn.  Gangway, world, get off of my runway!" Rose's Turn