‘War Paint’ to Close on Broadway in December

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“War Paint,” a double-barreled musical starring Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole, will close on Broadway on Dec. 30 after 300 performances.

The musical depicts the rivalry between two cosmetics entrepreneurs — Helena Rubinstein (Ms. LuPone) and Elizabeth Arden (Ms. Ebersole) — who built competing beauty empires over half a century. Based on a 2004 dual biography by Lindy Woodhead, the show opened in Chicago in 2016 and transferred to Broadway’s Nederlander Theater in April.

In his review for the Times, Ben Brantley saved his praise for the two lead actresses, writing, “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.”

“War Paint” was nominated for four Tony Awards, with Ms. LuPone and Ms. Ebersole receiving nominations for best actress in a leading role in a musical.

A representative said the show has not recouped its capitalization of $11 million.

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