Patti LuPone is an American actress and singer who has won two Grammy Awards, two Tony Awards and two Olivier Awards. She is also a 2006 American Theater Hall of Fame inductee. When the Broadway superstar performed recently as part of the touring series at Lindenwood University’s J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts, 20 Lindenwood students had the opportunity to rehearse with her and then perform on stage with her.
This rare opportunity is part of Lindenwood’s commitment to “real experience” for its students. The students were selected from the junior- and senior-level musical theatre majors and Voices Only, the university’s premier acapella group.
“The key was to find good strong voices who could sing harmony well and could act the song,” Pam Grooms, chair of the music department says. “It was a thrilling day to watch Patti LuPone, a master performer, rehearse and perform with the Lindenwood students.”
The students delivered. LuPone’s pianist and musical director, Joseph Thalken, who worked with the students before the performance, offered some high praise.
“We work with many student groups for this show,” Joseph tells Pam. “This group is one of the best we have worked with.”
LuPone, best known for her portrayal of the title character in Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Evita, graciously told the students it was their show. The students performed four numbers with LuPone in the show’s second act and then returned for the finale.
“I grew up listening to Patti LuPone,” Lillie Weber, a musical theatre major says. “I never thought in my wildest dreams I would ever have the chance to be in the same room as Patti LuPone, let alone have the chance to sing with her.”