LuPone's diva moment

Maybe you’re like me, but any time I take a trip, I hope to come back with “a story.” Some really great tale to make your friends’ eyes pop and their jaws drop at all that you’ve experienced.

And those stories abound in the Big Apple.

Perhaps you’ve heard about superstar Patti LuPone living up to her diva reputation during the closing night performance of the Tony Award-winning “Gypsy.”

But, just in case you haven’t … Closing night of “Gypsy,” Lupone hits the stage in “Roses’ Turn.” If you’ve never seen “Gypsy,” this is the number of all numbers. This is the moment in which musical theater legends are made. “Roses’ Turn” is what gives you the right to call yourself a diva!

So, in the middle of the show’s climax, some nut toward the back of the house starts taking pictures.

Now, true, if you’ve EVER been out of your house, you’re well aware of those announcements saying, “the use of recording devices is strictly prohibited.”

The person was clearly in the wrong.

Onstage, Lupone is belting out “Here she is, boys! Here she is world! Here’s Rooooose!”

And then she stops. And starts screaming “Stop! STOOOOP! Enough. ENOUGH! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?! STOP taking pictures!!! You have taken three pictures already. WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!”

She would not go on until that person had left the theater. Then she lectured the rest of the house with a speech on etiquette before finally continuing, and finishing the show.

Can you imagine?

If you’d like to hear a snippet, (good thing she didn’t see this person with a recording device) go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw6-Tp4UVVA

You can also read a more detailed account at: www.artsjournal.com/lifesapitch, then type Lupone in the search engine.

Happy diva dishing!