The musical relates the rivalry between two important women of the cosmetics industry, Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein from the 1930s to the 1960s. Elizabeth Arden was the daughter of a Canadian farmer, and presented her products as emblems of an upper-class life of comfort. Helena Rubinstein, from Poland, "emphasized science", promising an "exotic look." That was "code for Jewish" according to Scott Frankel.
War Paint tracks the meteoric rise of Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein, two women who rose to the top of the cosmetics industry, and developed a truly fearsome rivalry. By constantly striving to one-up the other, they broke down boundaries in male-dominated boardrooms and social strata, and paved the way for generations of female entrepreneurs to come.
> 2004 book War Paint by Lindy Woodhead
> 2007 film The Powder & the Glory by Ann Carol Grossman & Arnie Reisman
War Paint premiered at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago in the summer of 2016. Under the direction of Michael Greif, the Chicago production began performances on June 28, 2016, officially opened on July 18, and ran through August 21, 2016. The production starred Patti LuPone as Rubinstein and Christine Ebersole as Arden, with John Dossett as Tommy Lewis, Arden's husband and Douglas Sills, as Harry Fleming, Rubinstein's confidante. The musical featured scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Catherine Zuber, lighting design by Kenneth Posner, sound design by Brian Ronan, orchestrations by Bruce Coughlin, and choreography by Christopher Gattelli.
The musical will premiere on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre on March 7, 2017 (previews), officially on April 6.
Act I
"A Woman's Face" – Helena Rubinstein, Elizabeth Arden, Society Doyenne, Grand Dame, Heiress & Countess
"Behind the Red Door" – Arden Girls, Society Doyenne, Grand Dame, Heiress, Countess & Elizabeth
"Back on Top" – Helena & Beauty Technicians
"Hope in a Jar" – Harry Fleming, Helena, Society Doyenne, Grand Dame, Heiress, Countess, Elizabeth, Tommy Lewis, Arden Girls & Bergdorf Goodman Customers
"A Working Marriage" – Elizabeth & Tommy
"My American Moment" – Helena & Elizabeth
"Step on Out" – Arden Girls, Miss Beam, Tommy & Harry
"If I'd Been a Man" – Elizabeth & Helena
"Better Yourself" – Elizabeth
"Oh, That's Rich" – Tommy, Helena, Harry & Elizabeth
"Face to Face" – Helena & Elizabeth
Act II
"War Paint" – Helena, Elizabeth, Women Factory Workers, Eleanor Roosevelt, WACs & Flagbearers
"A Woman's Face (Reprise)" – Countess, Society Doyenne, Heiress, Grand Dame, Young Mother & Other Branch Salon Clients
"Now You Know" – Helena
"No Thank You" – Harry, Elizabeth, Tommy, Helena & William S. Paley
"Fire and Ice" - Charles Revson, Dorian Leigh, Mirror Girls, Helena, Elizabeth, Harry & Tommy
"Face to Face (Reprise)" – Helena & Elizabeth
"Dinosaurs" – Tommy & Harry
"Pink" – Elizabeth
"Forever Beautiful" – Helena
"Beauty in the World" – Helena & Elizabeth
"A Woman's Face (Reprise)" – Company
Aucun dossier informatif complémentaire concernant War Paint
Aucun dossier informatif complémentaire concernant War Paint
Version 1
War Paint (2016-07-Goodman Theatre-Chicago)
Type de série: Pre-Broadway Try OutThéâtre: Goodman Theatre (Chicago - Etats-Unis) Durée : 1 mois Nombre : Première Preview : 28 June 2016
Première: 18 July 2016
Dernière: 21 August 2016Mise en scène : Michael Greif • Chorégraphie : Christopher Gattelli • Producteur : Star(s) : Avec: Patti LuPone (Helena Rubinstein), Christine Ebersole (Elizabeth Arden), John Dossett (Tommy Lewis), Douglas Sills (Harry Fleming), Mary Ernster, Leslie Donna Flesner, David Girolmo, Joanna Glushak,
Chris Hoch, Mary Claire KingCommentaires : The show was the most successful production in Goodman Theatre history.
Originally set to close on August 7. The run was extended to August 14 due to high ticket sales. It was extended again to August 21.
Version 2
War Paint (2017-04-Nederlander Theatre-Broadway)
Type de série: OriginalThéâtre: Nederlander Theatre (Broadway - Etats-Unis) Durée : 7 mois Nombre : 33 previews - 236 représentationsPremière Preview : 07 March 2017
Première: 06 April 2017
Dernière: 05 November 2017Mise en scène : Michael Greif • Chorégraphie : Christopher Gattelli • Producteur : Star(s) : Avec: Patti LuPone (Helena Rubinstein), Christine Ebersole (Elizabeth Arden), John Dossett (Tommy Lewis), Douglas Sills (Harry Fleming)Commentaires : War Paint arrives on Broadway following an acclaimed Chicago run, where it became the highest grossing show in the Goodman Theatre's history.
A Broadway pairing for the ages, War Paint pits Patti LuPone against Christine Ebersole in this powerful tale of cosmetic giants Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein.Presse : "Ms. LuPone and Ms. Ebersole (notice how tactfully I’m shifting the order in which they’re mentioned) are not coasting on the market value of their star appeal. They’re strategically deploying the knowledge and craft of a combined eight decades in musicals to make us believe that the show in which they appear is moving forward, instead of running in place in high heels... So, though my eyes occasionally glazed seeing 'War Paint' for the second time, I wouldn’t have missed it, if only to hear its leading ladies’ climactic ballads." Ben Brantley for New York Times
"LuPone’s performance is slathered in gusto. Ebersole’s turn is creamier than any emollient. They’re so good, you wish the show were better. As is, it’s polished to a high shine but bland and scarcely skin deep. And it took not one but two source materials to produce this." Joe Dziemianowicz for New York Daily News
"David Korins’s set and Catherine Zuber’s costumes complement the musical at every turn, and Michael Greif's direction keeps it moving efficiently along. But the show doesn’t make a persuasive case that its stories must be told." Adam Feldman for Time Out New York
"Two Broadway greats in a classy vehicle worthy of their immense talents." David Rooney for Hollywood Reporter
"'War Paint' is a musical about Catherine Zuber’s fabulous costumes and magnificent hats, as modeled by the great Patti LuPone as Helena Rubinstein, and her Highness, Christine Ebersole as Elizabeth Arden. And if those hallowed names mean nothing to you, this is not your show." Marilyn Stasio for Variety
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