Today is Patti LuPone’s birthday.

And I’d like to wish her the best and happiest of birthdays. I saw her in the first West End musical I ever saw–Les Miserables–in 1985. Her portrayal as Fantine destroyed me each and every time I saw her. I think I saw her three times over those six months I was in London.

I loved seeing her in Gypsy. She blew me away, even though Neal Patrick Harris’ excitement for her performance (he was sitting directly in front of me when it was at New York City Center in 2007) was just as thrilling. He also was sitting directly in front of me at Book of Mormon…but I digress…

I wish I saw her in Anything Goes. And in Evita. But I feel fortunate that I did see her in Master Class, Noises Off, An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin, and a benefit concert at Carnegie Hall.

But most of all, her performance in Sweeney Todd on Broadway is one of my all time favorite theatrical experiences. So I want to thank her for that.

So happy birthday Patti Lupone. I can’t wait to see what’s coming up next.