Tickets are now available to catch the hotly anticipated War Paint, starring two-time Tony winners Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole. Directed by Michael Greif, the new Broadway musical about beauty titans Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden will begin previews at the Nederlander Theatre on March 7, 2017. Opening night is scheduled for April 6.
Featuring a score by Scott Frankel and Michael Korie and a book by Doug Wright, War Paint follows cosmetics trailblazers Helena Rubinstein (LuPone) and Elizabeth Arden (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.
War Paint will additionally feature Tony nominees John Dossett and Douglas Sills, who are also reprising their roles from the production's world premiere at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre this summer. Dossett is set to portray Tommy Lewis, Arden’s husband and chief marketing officer, and Sills will once again take on the character of the ambitious Harry Fleming, Rubinstein’s clubby confidante and faithful ally.
The musical is inspired by Lindy Woodhead's book, War Paint, and Ann Carol Grossman and Arnie Reisman's documentary film, The Powder & the Glory. Greif, Frankel, Korie and Wright all previously collaborated on Grey Gardens with Ebersole.
No word yet on further casting, but the Chicago production's company also included Mary Ernster, Leslie Donna Flesner, David Girolmo, Joanna Glushak, Chris Hoch, Mary Claire King, Steffanie Leigh, Erik Liberman, Barbara Marineau, Stephanie Jae Park and Angel Reda.