Patti LuPone had a message for two theatergoers on Tuesday: Wear your masks properly, or get out.
The Broadway legend, who was participating in a filmed question-and-answer session at the American Theater Wing alongside his “Company” co-stars, called out patrons who didn’t appear to have their masks covering their noses.
Put the mask over your nose. That’s why you’re in the theater,” LuPone told them, according to videos of the incident
“That’s the rule. If you don’t want to follow the rule, get out. I’m serious. Who do you think you are if you don’t respect the people sitting around you?”
When an audience member yelled, “I pay your salary,” LuPone was quick to challenge him.
“Do you pay my salary? Bulls —. Chris Harper pays my salary,” he said, referring to the show’s producer.
A LuPone spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
“We support Patti,” a “Company” spokesperson said in a statement.
“Throughout her illustrious career, Patti has always had an unbreakable bond with the public and takes her role as seriously as her own. She is also a fierce advocate for the entire theatrical workforce,” the statement read. “We stand with Patti and support her efforts to keep our entire community, from patrons to ushers, cast to stage crew, safe and healthy so we can keep Broadway open.”
LuPone has missed 10 performances this year after testing positive for Covid-19.
“I’m so sorry,” he wrote in a Feb. 27 tweet updating people on their test result.
In a March interview with “The View,” he said he “worn that negative test like a badge of honor for over two years, and the little bugger found me.”
“But I will tell you that I am grateful to the scientists, the science and the vaccines, because it could have been worse. And it wasn’t.”
She said on “The View” that she hopes theaters keep mask mandates “for longer.”
“Just because those theaters are old, the seats are close and we’re not out of it,” he said.
LuPone, who has spoken in the past about theater etiquette, told “The View” hosts about a more recent incident when she was hit over the head with roses.
While the gesture is a compliment, he said, “one should cast secretly… aim for the feet, not the head… and pick the thorns from the roses.”
In 2015, LuPone also made headlines when she took the cell phone of an audience member she saw texting during her performance.
Many praised LuPone on Twitter for grabbing the attention of theatergoers.
“I was going to go to bed but then I found out that Patti Lupone cursed an audience member for not wearing a mask properly and all of a sudden I have enough energy to lead an army into battle for her,” said one Twitter user. wrote.
“I can’t believe a new Patti LuPone ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ Audience Member Smackdown video just came out,” another Twitter user joked.
“A missed opportunity not to put Patti LuPone in charge of covid security,” one person wrote.
LuPone was nominated for a Tony Award Monday for best performance by an actress in a featured role in a musical for her role in “Company.”
She has taken home two Tony Awards in her career, for her roles in “Evita” and “Gypsy.”
On Wednesday, a “Company” Twitter account posted a GIF of LuPone pronouncing, “Wear a mask.” the tweet read: “PSA”.
bianca briton Y matthew johnson contributed.