The production, which tried out in Chicago over the summer, lands in New York with a formidable pedigree. It’s the latest project from “Wicked” producers David Stone and Marc Platt, and its Tony-winning stars, Patti LuPone (“Gypsy,” “Evita”) and Christine Ebersole (“Grey Gardens”), are two of the biggest musical-theater names out there.
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The history of the makeup industry has always fascinated me, particularly in the beginning of the twentieth century when women were just beginning to understand the joys, processes and ramifications of commercial makeup products. Unfortunately, however, this historical happening often goes unnoticed by those who think makeup to be insignificant in the grand scheme of history. I can't wait to watch those people eat their own words when this show takes over Broadway. We've seen through the likes of Hamilton that it is not only possible but compelling to tell stories in which two figures can go directly against each other without either being the hero or the villain. We've also seen from Hamilton that it is possible for a woman - i.e. Angelica Schuyler - to tell her story unapologetically with the unique perspective and struggle that she experiences. Now we get to watch as two women, neither of which is better or worse than the other, go head to head for literally anything other than the love of a man. And not just anything other than a man - commercial success, career advancement, financial gain, professional goals! And their conflict - why it's about nothing other than a subject which specifically effected women's history at a time when women were finally starting to gain some of the rights, abilities, and life structures that they deserved. Even better, this whole venture is being backed by big names known for their fine work, big names who have invested their time, money, and hard work in a story which might otherwise have been a blip on the radar. This news fills me with incredible hope - I can't wait to see how "War Paint" grows once it hits New York.
This show looks like its going to be amazing! I get so happy when a show cares enough to go out of town and spend the extra money to make sure the show is good! I believe that more shows need to do this! While I understand that the cost of mounting a musical is close to $20 million now, I believe the extra money that the producers will spend will help in the long run. If a show is able to stay open for an extra 6 months because of an out of town tryout they will get more money in the long run. Hopefully this show will stay open for a while and more shows will bring back going out of town instead of just opening on broadway.
The set looks so cool in the photo! I love the combination of neon lights and the seat that reminds me of one that was in my grandmother’s house. I think the design of the cosmetics in the background is brilliant. The 2-D style of the bottles, outlined with a bit shadow, is simple, clean, and perfectly fits in the magenta set. Repeating the same shapes and spacing across the rows prevents the background from becoming too distracting. The actress in the photo is wearing blue, which is a contrast from her surroundings. I do wonder what her rival’s store looks like. Maybe the same cosmetic display background is used, lit differently, but I doubt that they both have a neon lights style. I’m interested in what the designers used for inspiration when they were creating the style for the rival women and their companies. Were they inspired by the real people, marketing campaigns, or a different direction entirely?
Personally, I'm really curious about how the plot will unfold. This article has not shed a light on the story itself at all. The theme of the musical is still highly relevant, if not more controversial, in today's society, as females are more conscious and assertive in their fight against objectification and judges of their appearance and sexuality. The flourishing of makeup industry has some controversy in itself as it sets a standard of how women should look like, and provides women with tools to make themselves look closer to this standard. Bigger eyes, long and curly eyelashes, fleshy lips - here are the eyelash curlers, the lip gloss, the eyeshadow, now go ahead and make yoself pretty. Opinions on this vary between men and women, and from women to women.
Production wise, I think the fact that this is a musical about makeup and beauty standard is really enough for us to start wondering about the colorfulness and exuberance in costumes, sets, lighting and sound. It is such a strong creative team so it doesn't surprise me at all to see the audience response was strong.
I am beyond excited for "War Paint" and can only imagine the excitement brewing in New York. My hope is that the story follows these two women working to create a glamorous world and the not so glamorous avenues they took to reach their success. The casting seems superb and is sure to bring in audiences. I am also quite excited for the creative and producing team. The team truly knows how to put on a show. Opening right before Tony nominations is a smart move on the producers part. The show will be fresh, the cast still well-rested and the technical elements just used enough to run smoothly. I'm looking forward to the shows many nominations. Though it is shaping up to be a spectacular production, the show faces many other strong productions in the coming year. Dear Evan Hansen, and Natasha Pierre/1812 just to name a few. I am also excited that a show is going to showcase two women in powerful roles with powerful stories over the age of 25. Sad to say, but it's refreshing and exciting. I can't wait.
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