Bankrate: Who were some of the famous people who would watch you perform at Les Mouches?
Patti LuPone: Andy Warhol was there. I had a friend who was a money manager -- and a very rich man -- who brought all of these people to Les Mouches because he was a bon vivant, and he was responsible for bringing all the unusual types. The showbiz types were coming to see me, but the Andy Warhols, the Cheryl Tiegs and the Ron Duguays all came through Richard Weissman because he would supply people with things to do, and people would go because he was a great entertainer, a bon vivant. I miss him.
Bankrate: What was Andy Warhol like?
Patti LuPone: Very shy and very sweet.
Bankrate: Do you still perform in cabaret settings?
Patti LuPone: Yeah. It's a great lesson and a great place to go and sing the songs you want to sing.
Bankrate: You had a pretty great year last year, winning the Tony Award, among others, for "Gypsy." Considering that you're already a pretty major figure in American theater, does winning the Tony affect your career at all?
Patti LuPone: We'll see (laughs). I won't know until after I leave the show and I'm lugging that Tony around.
Bankrate: Based on your experience, do you anticipate it will affect your career?
Patti LuPone: No. It won't. I don't think the Tony has the same effect that the Oscar has. It didn't affect me last time I won.
Bankrate: I'm surprised to hear that because you were the new, fresh face then. That Tony didn't help launch you to a certain extent?
Patti LuPone: No, no. I've always said the Tony gets you into better restaurants. That's about it.
Bankrate: Well, there's nothing wrong with being in better restaurants.
Patti LuPone: Exactly right. But you know, Broadway has changed. It's not as glamorous as it used to be. First of all, it's not open anymore. At 21 (a restaurant), which used to be a speakeasy, the last serving is at 9:30. I actually called them and said, "This is Patti LuPone. Can we come for dinner? We'll be there at 11:00." They said, "Oh no. Last serving is 9:30." I went, "What? You were a speakeasy!" There used to be a plethora of late night restaurants that would be open for the actor/theater crowd. Since 9/11, there hasn't been that kind of business.
Bankrate: Has it really not picked up since 9/11?
Patti LuPone: I think they just shut their doors. I could be wrong. Maybe it's not 9/11. Maybe it's the fact that the ticket prices are so high that nobody goes out. I don't know.
Bankrate: Performers in general don't follow the economy or finances really closely. Have you been good about keeping a close eye on that stuff over the years?
Patti LuPone: No. I'm the same way, except I did tell my former accountant to take everything out of stocks because I didn't understand it. Accountants put your money in stocks because they're bored all day long, so they want to play with it. If I don't understand it, I don't want my money in stocks. So I have no money in stocks.
Bankrate: What did you do instead?
Patti LuPone: They're in CDs, Treasury bonds.
Bankrate: Because you wanted it to be in something that you grasped?
Patti LuPone: I just wanted to be able to understand. It's like, I'm a land baron. I'm not a gambler. I invested in real estate.
Bankrate: Considering everything happening there, is that working out for you?
Patti LuPone: I'm not selling anything yet. I hadn't planned on selling it. What I did was I bought and built, bought and built. And so far, I can pay my mortgage.
Bankrate: Where did you buy and build?
Patti LuPone: Connecticut and South Carolina.
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