I saw Angels in America yesterday and everyone was buzzing because Tony Kushner and Patti LuPone were in the audience!
No one said anything during part 1 about anyone famous in the audience, but right before part 2 began we heard cheers and applause coming from the orchestra and everyone in the mezzanine stood up to see who it was. The ushers told us it was Patti and Tony!
Great show and it made it even more special to have the two of them there!
adamgreer said: "I doubt we’ll see her in the audience at Spongebob!"
Oddly enough, I could swear I saw her there in early February.
I was way over on the far side of the orchestra, but it REALLY looked like her. Whether or not it was, her seat was center orchestra maybe about 15ish rows back on the aisle.
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
I was fortunate enough to be at the performance, as well. I was a few rows behind Ms. Lupone and across the aisle from Griffin Dunne, who was also at the performance. The audience treated both as private citizens, pretending not to acknowledge that they (specifically Patti Lupone) was in the audience.
It was only when Mr. Kushner, just prior to the curtain of Part Two, walked down the aisle to greet Ms. Lupone that we stopped pretending. It would be impossible not to acknowledge Mr. Kushner (especially after taking in Part One) at his own show. That is when the spontaneous standing ovation happened. Even for folks who did not recognize Mr. Kushner on site, when they saw Ms. Lupone - they joined in.
Plus AiA opened on May 5th, 1993. I bet that is is why, or partly why, Tony attended. 25 years to the date. I am seeing it this coming saturday and am so thrilled.
I hope I could have her sitting near me in every performance so phones that aren't turned OFF will be snatched and smashed and folks in the audience making noises will be slapped and kicked out.