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Patti LuPone: U.S. Should Export Culture, Not Military Spending
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Culture & Society

Patti LuPone: U.S. Should Export Culture, Not Military Spending

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • U.S. actress Patti LuPone believes her country should prioritize cultural exports over military spending.
  • She laments the lack of arts support in the U.S. and her personal feelings of being a third-class citizen as an actress.
  • LuPone highlights the challenges for young artists in musical theater due to high production costs.

Legendary Broadway actress Patti LuPone has voiced a strong opinion on U.S. priorities, suggesting the nation should "export its culture, its arts, and its sciences, instead of spending money on ammunition and the Army." The acclaimed performer expressed her dismay in an interview with EFE, calling the current situation a "tragedy" that breaks her heart.

It is a tragedy, and it breaks my heart.

— Patti LuPoneLuPone expresses her sadness about the state of arts support in the U.S.

LuPone, who is embarking on a Spanish tour with her concert 'Songs from a Hat,' lamented the decline in arts support in the United States. She recalled performing in the East Room of the White House during the Bush and Obama administrations, but noted that "the arts in my country are not supported at all" now. As an actress, she admitted to often feeling like a "third-class citizen."

The arts in my country are not supported at all.

— Patti LuPoneLuPone describes the current lack of support for the arts in the United States.

Discussing the state of musical theater on Broadway, LuPone acknowledged the immense talent but expressed concern over the lack of support for young playwrights and composers. She believes many talented individuals will never see their work produced due to the prohibitive costs associated with musicals. "There is so much talent that will never see the light of day, unfortunately, because (the musical) is too expensive," she stated.

As an actress, I have always felt like a third-class citizen.

— Patti LuPoneLuPone shares her personal feelings about the status of actors in the U.S.

At 77, LuPone attributes her continued motivation and passion to her Italian roots, describing herself as having "energy" and being "born to do it." She emphasized the unique connection actors have with the audience in theater, where the "direct response" is immediate, unlike in film or television. She recalled the musical 'Evita' as a career-defining role that made her a star, despite initial controversy and harsh reviews, and also mentioned her work on the musical adaptation of Pedro Almodóvar's film 'Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.'

There is so much talent that will never see the light of day, unfortunately, because (the musical) is too expensive.

— Patti LuPoneLuPone discusses the financial barriers faced by aspiring musical theater creators.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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