War Paint tells the remarkable story of cosmetics titans Helena Rubinstein (Patti LuPone) and Elizabeth Arden (Christine Ebersole), who defined beauty standards for the first half of the 20th Century.
Brilliant innovators with humble roots, both women were masters of self-invention who sacrificed everything to become the country's first major female entrepreneurs. They were also fierce competitors, whose 50-year tug-of-war would give birth to an industry that would forever change the face of America. From Fifth Avenue society to the halls of Congress, their intense rivalry was ruthless, relentless and legendary- pushing both women to build international empires in a world dominated by men.
Legendary talents Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole play rival cosmetics titans in a highly anticipated new musical that -- hear this, clearly -- is not a two-act cat fight between dueling so-called divas, but rather a smart portrayal of the obstacles faced by a pair of America's earliest female entrepreneurs. 'War Paint,' directed by Michael Greif ('Dear Evan Hansen') and now open at the Nederlander Theatre, benefits foremost from the remarkable symmetry between its leads.
The last half-hour or so of War Paint, the beguiling but frustrating new musical about beauty legends Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden, is just about everything you could want from a Broadway show. The two leads - Patti LuPone as Rubinstein and Christine Ebersole as Arden - each get a gorgeous, perfectly conceived solo: 'Forever Beautiful' for LuPone and 'Pink' for Ebersole. Then comes a rueful duet finale ('Beauty in the World') to complete the arc of their double biography with some twin-engine vocalizing.
2016 | Chicago |
Goodman Theatre World Premiere Production Chicago |
2017 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Christine Ebersole |
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Patti LuPone |
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical | Catherine Zuber |
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lyrics | Michael Korie |
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Orchestrations | Bruce Coughlin |
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical | Brian Ronan |
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Wig and Hair | David Brian Brown |
2017 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Broadway of Off-Broadway Musical | War Paint |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Christine Ebersole |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Patti LuPone |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical) | Catherine Zuber |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical) | Kenneth Posner |
2017 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design of a Musical | Catherine Zuber |
2017 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical | Christine Ebersole |
2017 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical | Patti LuPone |
2017 | Tony Awards | Best Scenic Design of a Musical | David Korins |
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