By Alayna Een
Few people possess the absolute star power of Tony, Grammy, and Olivier award winner Patti LuPone, as anyone lucky enough to be in the Noorda Center for the Performing Arts in Orem, Utah, on February 4, 2023, would agree. LuPone’s first steps on the stage were immediately met with an enthusiastic standing ovation—an honor she earned multiple times over the course of the memorable evening. The surprisingly intimate but impressive setting of the concert hall matched the flow of the performance, as LuPone offered autobiographical snippets that segued smoothly into her powerful songs. Her frankness and sincerity closed the gap between performer and audience and brought the focus to one central point: our shared love for these songs and this kind of music.
The title of the concert,“Don’t Monkey with Broadway,” was both her hilarious opening number and the playful undercurrent of the evening as she balanced paying homage to the iconic songs from her most memorable Broadway roles with performing unexpected versions of both well-loved and lesser-known pieces. She gave us the crowd-pleasing songs from Evita (“Don’t Cry for Me Argentina”) and Company (“I’ll Drink to That” and “Being Alive”) with ardor. But she delivered her personal, though lesser-known, favorites with the same passion. This was perhaps best demonstrated by the incredible range and power that came through in “Meadowlark,” from the ill-fated and unknown musical (Baker’s Wife) that was supposed to make LuPone a star—a setback she more than recovered from.
At intermission, she traded her flowing lavender gown and predictable setlist for a button-up and trousers and a surprising lineup. She hit the stage with the smoothest “Ya Got Trouble” (Music Man) I’ve ever heard and invited the all-too-eager audience, helped along by her unerring pianist and musical director (Joseph Thalken), to sing the ensemble part. She followed that up with soulful renditions of traditionally male solos (including “Something’s Coming”), delighted the audience with an Anita/Maria showdown (“A Boy Like That; I Have A Love” from Westside Story), and performed a few more favorites before ending the evening with a heartfelt “The Parting Glass” (traditional Scottish and Irish farewell).
Being in the audience for this concert, put together under the careful hand of Scott Wittman (director), truly was a great privilege. This is Patti LuPone’s first live concert since the COVID pandemic, and the fact that it was held at the Noorda Center in Orem, Utah, further solidifies the center’s rising reputation as an elite performance venue. But while the performance had the highest professional quality, it also felt deeply personal. LuPone’s long and storied career, which she discussed bluntly in the concert and on her website’s photo gallery, has a breadth that allows her to resonate with so many people. It seemed that each person in the audience had a different reason for loving her or a song they hoped she’d sing. And she occasionally teared up over the music and messages of the songs—just as I did. By the end, I felt an unexpected kinship with her. Her love for “being alive,” respect for the music she sings, and dedication to the stage she has graced so often are unparalleled and led to a truly unforgettable night with Patti LuPone.
The Noorda Center for the Performing Arts, 800 W University Parkway, Orem, Utah 84058,
The Noorda Series Event, February 4, 2023 at 7:30 PM
Contact: 801-863-7529
The Noorda Center Facebook Page
The Noorda Website
Digital Program
Patti LuPone Website
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