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Patti LuPone, Christine Ebersole, and the company of the Broadway musical War Paint
Patti LuPone, Christine Ebersole, and the company of the Broadway musical War Paint

War Paint to Close in December

Don’t miss your chance to see two epic divas (played by two epic divas) square-off in the Broadway musical War Paint. The musical, which stars two-time Tony-winner Patti LuPone (Evita, Gypsy) and two-time Tony-winner Christine Ebersole (42nd Street, Grey Gardens), will play its final performance at Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre on December 30, 2017 at 8pm. With a score by the Tony-nominated team of Doug Frankel and Michael Korie, and a book by Tony and Pulitzer-winner Doug Wright, the production will have played 300 performances by its final curtain.

Easily one of the most-eagerly anticipated musicals of the 2016-2017 Broadway season, War Paint tells the story of the two cosmetic mavens, Elizabeth Arden (Ebersole) and Helena Rubinstein (LuPone), forging their way in the industry of beauty, each making a name for their empire in the face of each other’s success. The piece draws its inspiration from Linda Woodhead’s book by the same name, as well as the 2007 documentary The Powder & the Glory by Ann Carol Grossman and Arnie Reisman. War Paint was ushered to Broadway under the guidance of director Michael Greif and choreographer Christopher Gattelli.

War Paint was nominated for a handful of Tony Awards, including nods for its leading ladies in the Best Actress category. Other nominations included David Korins for Best Scenic Design of a Musical and Catherine Zuber for Best Costume Design of a Musical. Despite losses in all three categories, War Paint continued to be a must-see show for spring and summer, thanks particularly to the draw of its star power.

War Paint also features Tony Award nominee John Dossett as Tommy Lewis, Miss Arden’s husband and chief marketing officer, and Tony Award nominee Douglas Sills as Harry Fleming, Madame Rubinstein’s clubby confidante and faithful ally. The cast also includes Barbara Jo Bednarczuk, Patti Cohenour, Mary Ernster, Tom Galantich, David Girolmo, Joanna Glushak, Chris Hoch, Mary Claire King, Steffanie Leigh, Erik Liberman, Barbara Marineau, Donna Migliaccio, Stephanie Jae Park, Jennifer Rias, Angel Reda, and Tally Sessions.

Mark Robinson is the author of the two-volume encyclopedia The World of Musicals and maintains a theater and entertainment blog at markrobinsonwrites.com.

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