Even the Theatre World is Full of Drama

Holy 1990's, Batman!

For a community that seems so tight-knit and always happy-go-lucky, there's quite a bit of ridiculous drama that could even get a laugh or two. This drama isn't current, but it is a great story known by many theatre fans.

Back in 1993, Patti LuPone played the role of Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical adaptation of the film Sunset Boulevard. While starring in the original London production, Webber said she would star in the Los Angeles transfer and subsequent Broadway production. This didn't quite happen... LuPone found that in a tabloid paper, Webber hired Glenn Close to play Norma Desmond and LuPone was fired. LuPone filed a lawsuit against Webber with a settlement reported to be worth $1 million dollars. LuPone won the case and built a pool using Webber's money; she has since named the pool the "Andrew Lloyd Webber memorial pool."

LuPone talks to CNN about her Sunset scandal (1995)