We Need to Adore Her: Five Patti LuPone Videos We Can’t Live Without

Oh, Patti LuPone. How we adore thee! And what’s not to love? With her oversized personality, mega-watt talent and worship-worthy singing voice, LuPone is one of the greatest stars Broadway has produced, period. Now, thanks to the glory of YouTube, many highlights from the lady of the stage’s 40+ year career are readily available to view. So, as LuPone prepares to open in her first original musical role in way too long (as Lucia in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown), we’re sharing five of our favorites. Watch and get obsessed yourself!

1. Stand Back! - 1981
Yes, we’ve all marveled at the brilliant Evita performance clips from the 1980 Tony Awards, when LuPone took home her first trophy. But what really gets us excited is this video from the following year’s ceremony, with the diva looking gorgeous and tearing through “Buenos Aires.” The best part? When she winks at us one minute in!



2. With One Clip - 1992
We once cherished a rare worn-out VHS of LuPone as Norma Desmond in the premiere of Sunset Boulevard at Andrew Lloyd Webber’s private Sydmonton Festival, but now the entire world can enjoy the performance online. Wondering if the maestro was right in dumping LuPone from the Broadway production? Shame on you—with one look at this video, you’ll know he was a fool!



3. “Being Aliveeeee” - 1993
Sutton Foster once told us that she was obsessed with this clip as a kid, and so were we! Here, LuPone appears at the starry Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall and delivers our favorite take on “Being Alive” from Company. We still can’t get over the 10 second belt at the end.



4. When Saturday Nights Were Fun - 2008
YouTube, SchmooTube. This one’s a Broadway.com video! When we were asked to interview LuPone for an EPK to promote her album Live at Les Mouches, we jumped at the chance. Looking back on her legendary club act with LuPone was a blast, as you can see from the video, which features rare clips of the show.

5. Patti & The Perm - 1986
OK, truth be told we mostly love this clip because of Patti's big hair, but this appearance on the short-lived The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers also offers terrific performances of two LuPone standards—"I Dreamed a Dream" and "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina.” Check out theater fan Rivers botching the pronunciation of Les Miserables and then awkwardly asking LuPone if she'll be playing Fantine on Broadway!

Keep 'em coming, Patti! And happy opening night!