Put the Damn Phone Away!: Patti LuPone Releases Statement About Rude Theatergoers

Patti LuPone's got something to say!

When news that Patti LuPone schooled a rude audience member by grabbing her phone away from her while she was texting during a performance of "Shows for Days" went viral, frustrated theatergoers everywhere applauded the diva's actions.

In true LuPone fashion, she's not finished with the matter. She has released the following statement.

"We work hard on stage to create a world that is being totally destroyed by a few, rude, self-absorbed and inconsiderate audience members who are controlled by their phones. They cannot put them down. When a phone goes off or when a LED screen can be seen in the dark it ruins the experience for everyone else - the majority of the audience at that performance and the actors on stage. I am so defeated by this issue that I seriously question whether I want to work on stage anymore. Now I'm putting battle gear on over my costume to marshal the audience as well as perform."

It was reported at Wednesday evening's performance of "Shows for Days" starring LuPone and Michael Urie, there was a "persistent texter" in the audience. Phone texting is forbidden in most theaters as the light from the phone distracts both the audience members and actors on stage. Besides that, it's damn rude.

Annoyed with the texter, LuPone, who plays a community theater tyrant in the play, took matters into her own hands to school the rude audience member. On one of her exit lines, she walked up to the texter's seat, snatched the phone out of her hands and took it backstage.

LuPone's actions Wednesday echo sentiments expressed by actor/composer Lin Manuel Miranda who had a more measured reaction to Material Girl Madonna's texting during a performance of his universally lauded Broadway-bound musical "Hamilton" at the Public Theater in April.

During its limited engagement at the Public this winter, Miranda's hip hop musical "Hamilton" about the life of founding father Alexander Hamilton was the hottest ticket in the history of the renowned Off-Broadway theater.f Yet, for some reason, the show wasn't engaging enough for Madonna, who reportedly showed up late, took out her phone several times during the first act and continued to use it during the second act of the play.

"Tonight was the first time I asked stage management NOT to allow a celebrity (who was texting all through Act 2) backstage. #noselfieforyou" Miranda tweeted about the Material Girl.