Exclusive: CHEWING THE SCENERY- Randy Lip Syncs Patti LuPone's LES MISERABLES Experience

sang my first show tune when I was just three

My mother knew I'd go far. Sing I, great. I've been a show queen since way before Glee

Now I'm a Broadway star. Not exactly, but my friend has a friend who knows Edina Menzel

You know, I mean, sort of. So things are happening, you'll see. But till my ship comes in, I've got a lot to tell

Let's start chewing the scenery with. Welcome to chewing the scenery with

Me. Turn off your cell phones. Chapter 10

While we were performing the cradleable rock in London, I started rehearsals for another musical Les Miserables

I played the role of Fantiore. a young Wistful girl forced into prostitution to support her illegitimate child Cameron McIntosh again offered me a part He seen my picture in a London paper announcing the upcoming run of the Cradle Will Rock

and before I left for London, he came to my apartment and played me some music

I knew it would be a hit after hearing the first four bars. Yes, I'll do it

I should have told him to call my agent, but I said yes right away because I was excited by the music

and perhaps even more excited by the significance of his offer. I was an American actor being asked to work in London with the Royal Shakespeare Company, RSC

I said yes, yes, yes. Then I thought about the really bad position my yes put me in when it came time to negotiate

Le Miz had two directors, Trevor Nunn and John cared. Early on in the rehearsal period, they assembled the company and said that when the principal players finished their roles

they would then become part of the ensemble and partake in the varied events that made

up the story of Les Miserables. I don't think so, I said to myself

I sure as hell didn come to London to be in the chorus of a four musical After Fantine dies 20 minutes into the first act of this four extravaganza

there's a big waltz that introduces my daughter Cosette to the proceedings

After Fantine finished dying in rehearsal one afternoon, John said, Patty, my dear, you should be part of this next section, the waltz

F***! busted! We reopenedly visit the Palace Theater in the West End on December 4th

On opening night, Trevor Nunn came to my dressing room. This is so right, he told me

If anybody belongs here, Patty, it's you. I was so grateful he said that to me

And then some shit just had to hit the fan, now, didn't it? First, I found out that I was not being paid commensurate to the highest paid RSC actor

which was a contractual point. And that it had been going on since the beginning of my contract

Then after we had recorded the album, and even though my contract stated that no single of mine could be released without prior negotiations

a single of I Dream to Dream was released without the said negotiation or a Hey Patty guess what I walked off the show I walked off the stage and stayed away for three days the company manager begged me to come back but staying away was the only weapon i had to make them honor my contract i never walked off the stage in my life but i sick and tired of being abused by producers until they honor my contract i not returning to the stage in the end i did return

A negotiation took place, but why, why, why, why, why, why, why was I forced to walk off the stage to have the issue resolved

Over the years, nobody's fought my battles for me. This is my career, my livelihood, and my talent

I will protect it if nobody else does. I came home from London, $25,000 in debt

I was freaking out. Why? Why