WAR PAINT CLOSING EARLY

Preemptive Broadway closings always strike a melancholy chord, especially when they impact two of the world’s most luminous musical theatre stars: Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole. So I’m unhappy to report the musical War Paint -- the currently running diva collaboration pitting cosmetic groundbreakers Helena Rubenstein and Elizabeth Arden against each other -- will close on November 5th. Originally slated to end its run December 30th, the show’s premature exodus is due to Ms. LuPone’s need for immediate hip replacement surgery.

Photo: Joan Marcus

“It is with great sadness that I must leave War Paint…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 on stage,” said LuPone. “But the pain has now become too intense and I have no other choice but to leave Christine, John [Dosset], Doug [Sills], 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…” 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…On behalf of Christine and the entire company and crew, we wish her a speedy recovery.” 

Upon closing, War Paint will have played 236 regular and 33 preview performances at Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre. As for remaining performances, visit warpaintmusical.com or call 877-250-2929 to reserve tickets. As for those already purchased for performances after November 5, they can be rescheduled or refunded at their point of purchase. 

METEOR SHOWER CAST CHANGE

(DON’T PANIC, AMY SCHUMER ISN’T GOING ANYWHERE)

Producers of the Steve Martin comedy previewing on November 1st announced that Tony nominee Jeremy Shamos will be replacing Alan Tudyk (Rogue One) in Steve Martin’s new comedy Meteor Shower. The reason given is Mr. Tudyk’s leaving is “creative differences.”

Meteor Shower begins performances at the Booth Theatre (222 W. 45^th St.) ahead of an official opening night set for Wednesday, November 29th. Tickets are currently on sale, and can be purchased via Telecharge.com or by visiting MeteorOnBroadway.com.

Jeremy Shamos is known in NYC theatre circles first and foremost for his Tony nominated performance in Clybourne Park, for which he also received Drama League Award and Lucille Lortel Award nominations. Other Broadway credits include Noises Off, The Assembled Parties, Glengarry Glen Ross, Elling, Reckless, and The Rivals. Off-Broadway: The Qualms, Engaged (Obie Award), Animals Out of Paper (Drama Desk Award nomination), We Live Here, Corpus Christi, The New York Idea, 100 Saints You Should Know, Miss Witherspoon, Gutenberg!, Observe the Sons of Ulster…, Shakespeare (Abridged), Race, The Alchemist, Hamlet, Cymbeline, Dinner With Friends (Lortel Award), If I Forget (Drama Desk nomination). Television: recurring roles on “Better Call Saul” and “Nurse Jackie,” guest appearances on “The Affair,” “Chicago P.D.,” “Limitless,” “Happyish,” “Elementary,” “The Good Wife,” “Unforgettable,” “Fringe,” “Law & Order: SVU” and “Criminal Intent.” Film: Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu's Birdman, Woody Allen’s Magic in the Moonlight, Ang Lee’s Taking Woodstock, and The Big Sick.