This week we’re only going back a few years to listen to some absolute Broadway elite powerhouses. This week’s TONY Tuesday is:

“Face to Face” from ‘WAR PAINT’ at the 2017 TONY Awards ceremony.

‘War Paint’ is a 2016 musical about the three decadelong rivalry between two of the biggest women in the history of the cosmetic industry: Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubenstein. Although having never actually met each other the musical follows their competition and their need to outdo and undo each other to remain at the peak of successful women in industry.

The production opened at The Goodman Theatre in Chicago in June 2016 with Christine Ebersole and Patti LuPone in the roles of Arden and Rubenstein respectively, accompanied by John Dossett as Tommy Lewis, Elizabeth’s husband and Douglas Sills as Harry Flemming Helena’s confidante. The musical with a book by Dough Wright and music and lyrics by Scott Frankel and Michael Korie was directed by Michael Greif, with choreography by Christopher Gattelli, scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Catherine Zuber, lighting deign by Kenneth Posner, sound design by Brian Ronan and orchestrations by Bruce Coughlin. After a successful run in Chicago, the musical transferred to The Nederlander Theatre in New York, where it opened for previews on the 7th March 2017. The show received mixed reviews for its Broadway bow, with Ebersole and LuPone receiving high praise for their vocal powerhouse performances, however, the rest of the show was deemed to be somewhat lacklustre and bland. Although the show initially started off with a strong box office return, it soon dwindled with the decision being made to close the show December of the same year with people citing that it was very hard to make a dramatically appealing musical where the central conceit is the two leads never having actually met. The production itself ended up closing on the 5th November instead to give Patti LuPone time to have hip replacement surgery.

In the April of 2019 ‘War Paint’ made its regional debut in Arkansas.

‘War Paint’ is a unique show with a beautiful score and some insane vocals, give it a listen Besties!!!

Cast recording available on Spotify and Apple Music

FACTS:

Music: Scott Frankel
Lyrics: Michael Korie
Book: Doug Wright
Theatre: The Nederlander Theatre
Run: March 7th 2017 – November 5th 2017 (269 performances)

TONYS:

(NOMINATED) Best actress in a leading role in a musical – Christine Ebersole, Best actress in a leading role in a musical – Patti LuPone, Best scenic design of a musical – David Korins, Best costume design of a musical – Catherin Zuber