Robert LuPone
Encyclopedia
Robert LuPone is an American actor and artistic director. He works both on stage and in film and television. He is the brother of actress Patti LuPone
.
, having studied with Antony Tudor, Jose Limon and Martha Graham.
in A Thousand Clowns
(2001), True West
(2000), A View from the Bridge
(1997), Late Nite Comic
(1987), St. Joan
(1977) and The Magic Show
(1974). For his performance as "Zach" in A Chorus Line
(1976) he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. Some of his many Off-Broadway
performances were in Twelfth Night (1980), Black Angel (1982), and Lennon (1982). He also appears in regional theater.
As Artistic Director of the MCC Theater
he produced Frozen
(2004) and Reasons To Be Pretty
(2008), at the MCC Theater. They each were nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play
.
On television, he appeared in five episodes of The Sopranos
as Dr. Bruce Cusamano (1999–2007). He appeared on Law & Order: Criminal Intent
for two episodes as Nelson Broome (2003–2009), and on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
for one episode in 2004. He also appeared on All My Children
in the 1980s.
LuPone is the artistic director of MCC Theater in New York City, and is Director of the MFA Drama Program at The New School
for Drama, New York City.
Patti LuPone
Patti Ann LuPone is an American singer and actress, known for her Tony Award-winning performances as Eva Perón in the 1979 stage musical Evita and as Madame Rose in the 2008 Broadway revival of Gypsy, and for her Olivier Award-winning performance as Fantine in the original London cast of Les...
.
Early life and training
LuPone was born in Brooklyn, New York City, the son of Angela Louise (née Patti), a school librarian, and Orlando Joseph LuPone, an educational administrator. He trained as a dancer and is a graduate of Juilliard SchoolJuilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
, having studied with Antony Tudor, Jose Limon and Martha Graham.
Career
As a performer he appeared on BroadwayBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
in A Thousand Clowns
A Thousand Clowns
A Thousand Clowns is a 1962 American play by Herb Gardner, which tells the story of a young boy who lives with his eccentric uncle Murray, who is forced to conform to society in order to keep custody of the boy. A 1965 movie version was adapted from the play by Gardner and directed by Fred Coe.-...
(2001), True West
True West
Depending on the context, True West refers to:*True West , Paisley Underground band which flourished in the early 1980s.*True West Magazine, which began publication in 1953.*True West written by Sam Shepard....
(2000), A View from the Bridge
A View from the Bridge
A View from the Bridge is a play by American playwright Arthur Miller that was first staged on September 29, 1955 as a one-act verse drama with A Memory of Two Mondays at the Coronet Theatre on Broadway. The play was unsuccessful and Miller subsequently revised the play to contain two acts; this...
(1997), Late Nite Comic
Late Nite Comic
Late Night Comic was a short-lived stage musical written by playwright Allan Knee and composer/lyricist Brian Gari, which ran for 17 performances on Broadway in 1987.-Origins:...
(1987), St. Joan
Saint Joan (play)
Saint Joan is a play by George Bernard Shaw, based on the life and trial of Joan of Arc. Published not long after the canonization of Joan of Arc by the Roman Catholic Church, the play dramatises what is known of her life based on the substantial records of her trial. Shaw studied the transcripts...
(1977) and The Magic Show
The Magic Show
The Magic Show is a one-act musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Bob Randall. It starred magician Doug Henning. Produced by Edgar Lansbury, it opened in May 1974 at the Cort Theatre and ran for 1,920 performances, closing on December 31, 1978...
(1974). For his performance as "Zach" in A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line is a 1975 musical about Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line. The book was authored by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante, lyrics were written by Edward Kleban, and music was composed by Marvin Hamlisch....
(1976) he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. Some of his many Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
performances were in Twelfth Night (1980), Black Angel (1982), and Lennon (1982). He also appears in regional theater.
As Artistic Director of the MCC Theater
MCC Theater
MCC Theater is an Off-Broadway theater company located in New York City, founded in 1986 by artistic directors Robert LuPone and Bernard Telsey along with six graduates of the New York University drama department, including Jana Herzen...
he produced Frozen
Frozen (play)
Frozen is a play by Bryony Lavery that tells the story of the disappearance of a 10-year-old girl, Rhona. The play follows Rhona's mother and killer over the years that follow. They are linked by a doctor who is studying what causes men to commit such crimes...
(2004) and Reasons To Be Pretty
Reasons to be pretty
reasons to be pretty is a play by Neil LaBute, his first to be staged on Broadway. The plot centers on four young working class friends and lovers who become increasingly dissatisfied with their dead-end lives and each other...
(2008), at the MCC Theater. They each were nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play
Tony Award for Best Play
The Tony Award for Best Play is an annual award celebrating achievements in live American theatre, including musical theatre, honoring productions on Broadway in New York. It currently takes place in mid-June each year.There was no award in the Tony's first year...
.
On television, he appeared in five episodes of The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
as Dr. Bruce Cusamano (1999–2007). He appeared on Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Law & Order: Criminal Intent is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it was also primarily produced. Created and produced by Dick Wolf and René Balcer, the series premiered on September 30, 2001, as the second spin-off of Wolf's successful crime drama...
for two episodes as Nelson Broome (2003–2009), and on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced...
for one episode in 2004. He also appeared on All My Children
All My Children
All My Children is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 5, 1970 to September 23, 2011. Created by Agnes Nixon, All My Children is set in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictitious suburb of Philadelphia. The show features Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, one of daytime's most...
in the 1980s.
LuPone is the artistic director of MCC Theater in New York City, and is Director of the MFA Drama Program at The New School
The New School
The New School is a university in New York City, located mostly in Greenwich Village. From its founding in 1919 by progressive New York academics, and for most of its history, the university was known as the New School for Social Research. Between 1997 and 2005 it was known as New School University...
for Drama, New York City.