“Hell’s Kitchen” star Kecia Lewis requested an apology from Patti LuPone on Saturday after the Broadway legend and “Agatha All Along” star called the jukebox musical “too loud.”
In a six-minute video posted to Instagram on Saturday, Lewis — who won a Tony this year for her performance as Miss Liza Jane in “Hell’s Kitchen” — began her open letter to LuPone by specifying that the message is “not from the cast or crew or producers of ‘Hell’s Kitchen.’ I am speaking for Kecia Lewis only.”
Lewis went on to note “a couple of situations that have gone on in the last few weeks” involving LuPone. “The first one is that you contacted our theater owner about changing a couple of our sound cues because you found them to be too loud,” she said. “You also, after our sound design was adjusted, sent flowers to our sound and stage management team thanking them.”
LuPone currently stars alongside Mia Farrow in the Broadway play “The Roommate” at the Booth Theatre, which shares a back wall with “Hell’s Kitchen” at the Shubert Theatre.
Lewis’ video message cut to a clip of LuPone refusing to sign a fan’s “Hell’s Kitchen” playbill because the musical is “too loud.” “I wanted to address this because, Ms. LuPone, these actions, in my opinion, are bullying. They’re offensive, they are racially microaggressive, they’re rude, they’re rooted in privilege. And these actions also lack a sense of community and leadership for someone as yourself, who has been in the business as long as you have.”
Lewis continued, “I want to explain what a microaggression is. These are subtle, unintentional comments or actions that convey stereotypes, biases or negative assumptions about someone based on their race. Microaggressions can seem harmless or minor, but can accumulate and cause significant stress or discomfort for the recipient. Examples include calling a Black show loud in a way that dismisses it. In our industry, language holds power and shapes perception, often in ways that we may not immediately realize. Referring to a predominantly Black Broadway show as loud can unintentionally reinforce harmful stereotypes, and it also feels dismissive of the artistry and the voices that are being celebrated on stage.”
While acknowledging that sending thank-you flowers might appear courteous, the “Hell’s Kitchen” star argued that the gesture was “dismissive and out of touch, especially following a formal complaint that you made that resulted in the changes that impacted our entire production. Primarily the people who have to go out on stage and perform the work were impacted.”
Later in the video, Lewis suggested a couple of questions that stage veterans like herself and LuPone “can consider to support community-building equity and inclusivity on Broadway.” “How can I ensure that my feedback or my concerns are communicated in a way that is constructive and also, most importantly, respectful?” Lewis said. “How can I use my platform and experience to support diverse show teams promoting the idea that every production brings unique value to Broadway?”
Lewis concluded the open letter to LuPone by saying, “On Broadway, we are not just neighbors, Ms. LuPone. We are a community that shares in each other’s artistry and challenges. Respect and collaboration are what keep us thriving and inspire the next generation. It’s important that we support each other’s hard work on and off the stage, so let’s lift each other up and show that every show on this street called Broadway deserves respect and celebration. Let’s continue fostering an environment on Broadway that recognizes and values all shows for their unique contributions and energy, and that celebrates the diversity of voices and sounds and stories that we all bring to the stage. Ms. LuPone, I respectfully submit to you that you owe us an apology — not flowers. Thank you for listening.”
“Hell’s Kitchen” is a semi-autobiographical musical about singer Alicia Keys’ upbringing in New York City in the 1990s. The musical, which features music and lyrics by Keys, opened on Broadway in April and received 13 Tony nominations, winning two.
Variety has reached out to LuPone’s reps for comment.
