LuPone Strikes Back! Grabs Texter's Phone at Shows for Days

Patti LuPone apparently had it up to here with a persistent texter during the July 8 evening performance of her play Shows for Days at Lincoln Center and literally snatched it out of her hands.

LuPone, who famously stopped in mid-song at the 2008 revival of Gypsy to scold an audience member for taking photos, grabbed the cell phone and took it backstage with her, according to various eyewitness accounts on Twitter and Facebook.

The evening incident followed a matinee at which at least three cell phones rang during the performance.

I saw Patti LuPone deliver her scene exit line tonight at Lincoln Center & SNATCH A CELL PHONE OUT OF AN AUDIENCE MEMBER'S HAND. #theatre — CatsPolitics (@CatsPolitics) July 9, 2015

PATTI LUPONE TOOK SOMEONE'S PHONE MID-SHOW BECAUSE THEY WERE TEXTING — Travis (@heytravistravis) July 9, 2015

LuPone released a statement to Playbill.com expressing her anger and sadness over the incident.

Is there anything stage actors can do about unwanted cell phone activity in the audience? Read Playbill.com's report.

