Patti LuPone attends 'School for Good and Evil' premiere, not retiring despite leaving Actors Equity
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WESTWOOD, Calif. — In the new Netflix fantasy film "The School for Good and Evil," two friends insist there's been a grave mix-up, when one lands at a school for villains and the other at a school for heroes.
Patti LuPone, however, says she knows exactly which school she'd end up in. The Broadway titan, known for calling out audience members on their cell phones mid-performance, jokes villains are always the most fun to play.
LuPone, who makes a cameo in the film, stepped out Tuesday night, along with the film's stars Charlize Theron, Kerry Washington, Sofia Wylie and Sophia Ann Caruso, for its red carpet premiere at the Regency Village Theatre in Westwood, California.
Fans lined the sidewalk across the street and screamed as celebrities and influencers made their way down the carpet — often decked out in either all-black villain attire, à la the School for Evil, or colorful, pastel ensembles, like the School for Good.
The premiere comes a day after LuPone announced on Twitter she relinquished her Equity card, which notes her membership in the Actors’ Equity Association, a labor union for professional theater actors. "Gave up my Equity card; no longer part of that circus," LuPone wrote. "Figure it out."
The move sparked shock and speculation among LuPone's fans that the Tony winner — who's played iconic roles like the title character in "Evita" and Reno Sweeney in "Anything Goes" — could be foreshadowing an end to her legendary theater career.
But on the red carpet, LuPone put those rumors to rest, telling USA TODAY she doesn't plan on leaving the stage any time soon.
"I'll never not act on stage. I'll never not do that," she says, adding she can still perform on Broadway as a non-Equity member via special provision.
"I just didn't want to be a member of Equity any more," LuPone continues. "It's 50 years later, and I don't use any of their services."
After finishing the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's "Company" at the end of July, LuPone says she's excited to see what's next for her.
"I'm actually interested in the next chapter," she says. "I don't know what's going to happen."
Charlize Theron says best part of film is sharing it with her kids
LuPone isn't the only big name in "The School for Good and Evil."
Theron, who is mother to 10-year-old Jackson and 7-year-old August, says the best part of inhabiting the fantasy world of the film has been sharing it with her kids.
"I think the excitement to share something with my kids. That was definitely a huge part for me," she says, adding that her kids enjoyed seeing their mom in her villainous School for Evil getup. "They've seen the film and they love it."
Broadway veteran Caruso, who plays School for Evil protégé Sophie, says she hopes the film's focus on female friendship empowers young fans.
"I hope that they can take home a new version of what it means to be a princess, and a new version of what friendship should look like," she says.
Her co-star and on-screen bestie Wylie echoes similar sentiments.
"I hope that young girls see the importance of friendship. I think in the past we've prioritized romantic relationships so much," she says. "I can understand that. Love can be so intoxicating, but there's something about a platonic love that you have with your female friend that is so long-lasting and so strong."
For LuPone, the message of the film is hope.
"Let's hope for a better world," she says.
One year later: Broadway shutdown puts actors' dreams on hold as COVID-19 pandemic continues
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Patti LuPone talks 'School for Good and Evil,' says she's not retiring
