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.
It's not often that listening to a cast album makes one think of Richard Strauss, but such is the genius of Scott Frankel and Michael Korie. The composer-lyricist team best known for the brilliant GREY GARDENS is back with WAR PAINT, the story of rival beauty moguls Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden. Here both story and emotion are thinner, but the music is gorgeous--Straussian in its elegiac beauty and bell-like notes--and worthy of its two stars, Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole, two of the most unique and exciting voices in musical theater. Like a golden-age Hollywood director 'managing' the two stars of a women's picture, the score has to find ways to manage its two leads, giving each an equal role. Ebersole gets an old-fashioned entrance--her Red Door spa staff sings breathlessly, 'She's coming, she's coming...,' bursting into a triumphant 'She's here!' LuPone's entrance is less heralded but equally dramatic (and separate), as she steps off a ship in New York. From then on, many of the songs are duets, in which one star sings half of a song about her own experience, and the second sings the other half, with lyrics expressing her different but parallel experience. Occasionally they sing in unison. What sounds tedious as a show (a narrative in which two separate characters have similar, not highly dramatic arcs and don't meet until the very end) enchants on the album. Without the strain of the storytelling, we can simply enjoy the gorgeous songs and their peerless purveyors.
Ghostlight Records has released the Original Broadway Cast Recording of the new musical War Paint - starring two-time Tony Award winners Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole - in digital and streaming formats today, Friday, May 26. Watch a special new 'War Paint Medley' music video featuring three of the show's most acclaimed songs - 'Forever Beautiful,' 'Pink' and 'Face to Face' - below! The video includes exclusive footage from both the recording studio and the stage production, in addition to historical photography.
Seasoned costume designer Catherine Zuber's latest project, War Paint, has her designing lavish pieces for Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole. In an article with Vogue, the designer discusses her experiences and how she found a distinction between the looks for these two characters.
Ghostlight Records will release the Original Broadway Cast Recording of the new musical WAR PAINT – starring two-time Tony Award winners Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole – in digital formats on Friday, May 26. The CD version will be available online and in stores in mid-July. The musical, currently running at the Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street), played a sold-out run in Chicago last summer where it became the most successful show in Goodman Theatre's history. WAR PAINT is nominated for four 2017 Tony Awards, including “Best Actress in a Musical” for both of the leading ladies. Starting today, May 19, customers that pre-order the album via Apple Music will immediately receive the second single “If I'd Been A Man” – the stirring duet between LuPone and Ebersole – in addition to the previously available single “Back on Top.”
Costume designer Catherine Zuber has picked up her twelve Tony nomination (six-time winner) for her inspired work on War Paint. Below, watch as she explains the challenges of giving both leading ladies a distinct and separate identity.
It's been eleven years since two-time Tony winner Christine Ebersole has graced the Broadway stage in a musical. Now she's back and better than ever as cosmetics icon Elizabeth Arden in War Paint. Below, watch as she explains why she's so grateful to be back at the Tonys party!
CBS SUNDAY MORNING's Richard Schlesinger sat down with the actresses, along with author Lindy Woodhead, in a behind-the-scenes story. The show airs Sundays (9:00-10:30 AM, ET). Check out the full video below!
WAR PAINT, the new Broadway musical about cosmetic doyennes Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein, earned four Tony nominations, including for its stars, Christine Ebersole and Patti LuPone.
Ghostlight Records will release the Original Broadway Cast Recording of the new musical War Paint - starring two-time Tony Award winners Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole - in digital formats on Friday, May 26. The CD version will be available online and in stores in mid-July. Watch a teaser for the album's single 'Back on Top' below, and for more information on the album, visit www.sh-k-boom.com/war-paint!
Starring two-time Tony Award winners Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole, War Paint tells the remarkable story of cosmetics titans 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.
In Broadway by Design, BroadwayWorld is shining a spotlight on the stellar designs of this Broadway season, show by show. Today, we continue the series with David Korins, Kenneth Posner & Catherine Zuber, who acted as scenic, lighting and costume designers for Broadway's beautified hit, War Paint.
This week THEATER TALK welcomes Broadway grande dames Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole, currently starring in WAR PAINT, the new Broadway musical in which they portray legendary Twentieth Century cosmetic pioneers Madame Helena Rubinstein and Miss Elizabeth Arden.
As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Ghostlight Records will soon release the original cast album of the new musical, War Paint, starring two-time Tony Award winners Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole. Set to be released in June, pre-orders are now being taken at the theater. To sign up for updates, visit www.sh-k-boom.com/war-paint.
War Paint opened last week at the Nederlander Theatre and BroadwayWorld was on hand to capture photos of the sacred Gypsy Robe ceremony before the production's opening night performance. We're taking you behind the scenes with recipient Joanna Glushak below!
Hillary Clinton attended opening night of the new Broadway musical WAR PAINT last night, alongside her longtime top aide Huma Abedin.
After the curtain closed at the Nederlander Theatre last night, Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole celebrated their triumphant return to Broadway in true fashion at Gotham Hall. We're taking you behind the scenes of the WAR PAINT opening night after party below!
Starring two-time Tony Award winners Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole, War Paint tells the remarkable story of cosmetics titans 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.
After the curtain closed at the Nederlander Theatre last night, Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole celebrated their triumphant return to Broadway in true fashion at Gotham Hall. We're taking you behind the scenes of the WAR PAINT opening night after party below!
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