Patti LuPone snubbed as ‘too old’ for ‘Schmigadoon!’ role: ‘Their loss’


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Broadway legend Patti LuPone claims she wasn’t able to join the cast of the Apple TV+ musical comedy series “Schmigadoon!” because a producer told her she was “too old.”

“I wanted to be in ‘Schmigadoon!’ – and I was too old,” LuPone, 73, explained to Mashable in a new interview.

When the interviewer probed for more details, she replied, “Exactly what I said. We reached out to them and said I want to be in ‘Schmigadoon!’ They said, ‘Sorry. You’re too old.’ “

The Post reached out to reps for the show’s co-creators, Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio, as well as LuPone for further comment.

Patti LuPone claimed a producer of “Schmigadoon!” told her she was “too old” to join the series.
Getty Images

She claimed that she approached the show's producers ahead of the first season.
She said she approached the show’s team for a part.
FilmMagic

LuPone’s still holding her head high despite the alleged rejection.

“It’s so sad. And it’s depressing,” she said. “It’s their loss! I don’t know what else to say. I so wanted to be in it!”

The series, which premiered in July 2021, follows a couple who discover a town where everyone acts like they’re in a classic musical. It pays comedic homage to some of Broadway’s greats such as “Oklahoma!” and “The Music Man.”

One of the show’s stars is Martin Short, who is 73 — just like LuPone.

The second season, which premiered earlier this month, has the couple explore “Schmicago,” inspired by the musicals of the ’60s and ’70s, such as “Chicago,” “Cabaret” and the works of the late composer Stephen Sondheim.

LuPone starred in six of Sondheim’s productions, including the revival of “Company,” before Sondheim’s death in November 2021.


"Schmigadoon!" is a musical comedy series on Apple TV+.
“Schmigadoon!” is a musical comedy series streaming on Apple TV+.
©Apple TV/Courtesy Everett Collection

In an interview with the A.V. Club published this month, co-creator Paul said it was “nice” the actors from the first season came back for another round.

“It’s also nice that we were able to bring back a lot of the same ensemble we had in Season 1,” he told the outlet.

“They came back for Season 2. I wanted to do that. I said, ‘I want to see familiar faces.’ It’s like this big company of actors that all came back for this second show, which is nice.”

But it appears LuPone won’t be part of that cast.


The show stars actors like Kristin Chenoweth, Cecily Strong, and Martin Strong.
The show stars Kristin Chenoweth, Cecily Strong and Martin Short.
©Apple TV/Courtesy Everett Collection

LuPone said that it was "their loss" not having her on the series.
LuPone said it was “their loss” not having her on the series.
Getty Images for Netflix

This isn’t the first time LuPone has spoken candidly about Hollywood.

In 2019, she labeled composer Andrew Lloyd Webber a “sad sack” and a “jerk” — continuing an on-again, off-again feud that dates to 1994.

LuPone also called Madonna a “movie killer” during a 2017 appearance on “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen,” arguing the Queen of Pop couldn’t “act her way out of a paper bag.”



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