Apple TV+'s Schmigadoon! is a delirious dream for theater kids, combining playful parodies of a slew of major musicals with an ensemble cast stuffed with Broadway stars. Incredibly; however, Patti LuPone, one of the celebrated living legends of the Great White Way, was denied a chance to join in.
LuPone is currently enjoying a flood of praise for her riveting performance in Ari Aster's latest mindbending A24 movie, Beau Is Afraid. In an interview with Mashable, she describes her part in the film as "the best role I've ever had on camera." However, LuPone also shared her sadness over being rejected by a producer of Schmigadoon!.
Season 2 (aka Schmicago) spoofs the songs of Stephen Sondheim, with whom LuPone has worked repeatedly and iconically in shows like Company and Sweeney Todd. So, Mashable asked if she'd been approached about the musical TV series. In fact, she approached the show first for Season 1.
"I wanted to be in Schmigadoon!, and I was too old," LuPone said. Asked what she meant, she responded, "Exactly what I said. We reached out to them and said I want to be in Schmigadoon!. They said, 'Sorry. You're too old.'"
"It's so sad. And it's depressing," she said of the rejection, before declaring, "It's their loss! I don't know what else to say. I so wanted to be in it!"
LuPone is 73, the same age as Martin Short, who appears in Seasons 1 and 2 of Schmigadoon!.
Mashable has reached out for comment to Apple TV+.
Look for more from Mashable's interview with LuPone and more of Beau Is Afraid's cast and crew.
