Eden Espinosa is the (Lem)pick(a) the week…
The 45-year-old Mexican American Broadway actress and singer is starring as Polish artist Tamara de Lempicka in the Carson Kreitzer–Matt Gould Broadway musical Lempicka.
Espinosa originated the title role in critically acclaimed performances at Williamstown Theatre Festival and La Jolla Playhouse.
Lempicka will begin performances at Broadway‘s Longacre Theatre on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, ahead of an official opening night on Sunday, April 14, producers Seaview and Jenny Niederhoffer have announced.
Directed by Tony Award winner Rachel Chavkin and featuring choreography by Raja Feather Kelly, Lempicka features book, lyrics, and original concept by Kreitzer, and book and music by Gould. Additional casting will be announced in the coming weeks.
“Tamara de Lempicka’s life spanned some of the most consequential eras in modern history,” said Chavkin in a statement, “and her deep and complex story is an ideal subject for exactly the kind of show I love to both see and create: one that is simultaneously intimate and epic.”
She continued, “I think Carson and Matt are visionary storytellers — Carson is an under-recognized leader in the new play field, known for exquisite sparseness and thematic density, and Matt is a wild heart whose music fuses contemporary vibes with classical musical theater…and simply makes your heart swell. How lucky for all of us to have this piece brought to life by a performer as dynamic and brilliant as Eden Espinosa.”
Best known for her Art Deco portraits and nudes, Tamara de Lempicka (1898–1980) was born in Warsaw but spent most of her working life in France and the United States.
“When I first saw this show inspired by the life and times of Tamara de Lempicka, my great-grandmother, I got goosebumps and tears in my eyes,” said Marisa de Lempicka, President of Tamara de Lempicka Estate, LLC stated. “ The music, the story, the choreography, the set, and the incredibly talented cast, directed by Tony Award winner Rachel Chavkin, were truly moving. We feel so happy and proud that Tamara’s art and life story keep inspiring new generations, almost one hundred years later, and that her resilience and iconic creativity are being portrayed in this extraordinary production.”
Lempicka had its world premiere at Williamstown Theatre Festival in 2018, drawing excellent reviews. From there the production played at La Jolla Playhouse in 2022.
The creative team for Lempicka includes Riccardo Hernández (scenic design), Paloma Young (costume design), Bradley King (lighting design), Peter Hylenski and Justin Stasiw (sound design), Peter Nigrini (projection design), Mia Neal (hair and wig design), Remy Kurs (music supervision), Charity Wicks (music direction), Cian McCarthy (orchestrations), and Peter Duchan (creative consultant).
Wagner Johnson Productions serves as Executive Producers.
Espinosa’s Broadway credits include ‘Elphaba’ in Wicked and ‘Maureen’ in the closing Broadway company of Rent. She currently stars in Michael John LaChuisa’s The Gardens of Anuncia at Lincoln Center.