War Paint to Close Early to Allow for Patti LuPone's Hip Surgery

The new musical War Paint, starring Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole, has announced an earlier date for its final Broadway performance. Rather than the previously announced December 30 closing date, the show will now end its run on November 5. According to press materials, the show is closing early to allow LuPone to have necessary and immediate hip replacement surgery. Upon closing, the musical will have played 236 regular and 33 preview performances at the Nederlander Theatre.

"It is with great sadness that I must leave War Paint to undergo hip replacement surgery," said LuPone. "For several months I have been performing in a great deal of pain. My producers David Stone and Marc Platt have provided an incredible team who, through physical therapy, chiropractic and acupuncture, have enabled me to continue onstage. But the pain has now become too intense and I have no other choice but to leave Christine, John, Doug, and this wonderfully supportive company of actors, who I’ve had the great privilege to work with for over a year. I will miss them more than I can express."

"We had all hoped – no one more than Patti – that we would be able to continue until our scheduled final performance on December 30," said producers David Stone and Marc Platt. "We all know Patti is strong, and she has proven to have even more strength than we imagined. At this point, however, she needs to have hip replacement surgery sooner rather than later. Therefore, we have to move up our final performance to November 5. On behalf of Christine and the entire company and crew, we wish her a speedy recovery."

Inspired by Lindy Woodhead's book War Paint, as well as Ann Carol Grossman and Arnie Reisman's PBS documentary The Powder & the Glory, War Paint examines the ascent and rivalry of Helena Rubenstein (LuPone) and Elizabeth Arden (Ebersole), whose 50-year tug-of-war gave birth to an industry. The show features lyrics by Michael Korie, music by Scott Frankel, and book by Doug Wright. Michael Greif directs, with choreography by Christopher Gattelli (The King and I).

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