Simon Doonan and Nexxus® Create First-Ever Premium Window Dressing At New York City's Largest Drugstore Chain with Duane Reade Installation

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tony Awards honor show-stopping Broadway performances.  In a first-of-its kind installation at a drugstore chain, Nexxus Salon Hair Care, the official beauty partner of the Tony Awards, unveiled a premium window display tribute to the awards honoring Broadway at the Duane Reade location across from Radio City Music Hall. Creative Ambassador for Barneys New York, Simon Doonan, who is known for his artistic window designs, used show-stopping hair and Broadway show-stoppers to inspire his latest creation.

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"I love new challenges and was thrilled Nexxus asked me to do something that's never been done before – to take the art of high-end luxury window dressing and put it in the context of a classic American drugstore," said Simon Doonan. "This project has been a blast because I get to do what I love – design creative over-the-top window designs – and celebrate my passion for Broadway, but with a new twist."

Marking the second year of Nexxus' partnership with the Tony Awards, the window, accented by lights like those on a Broadway marquee, prominently features a glamorous woman, on stage, presenting a Tony Award.  Her show-stopping hair is made entirely of Nexxus Salon Hair Care bottles, while her dress is designed out of Tony Awards posters. The display also encourages passers-by to tune in June 9 for the live broadcast of the Tony Awards.

"The Nexxus woman, who is as passionate about the arts as she is about her hair, seeks show-stopping style and experiences," said David Rubin, Vice President, Hair Care for Unilever, U.S.  "The Tony Award-themed window designed by Simon at Duane Reade brings the art of show-stopping hair to life.  When it comes to window design, he continuously raises the standard – the same philosophy Nexxus brings to hair care."

Prior to the unveiling of Simon's design, Nexxus generated excitement and conversation – and a $25,000 donation to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids – through trivia questions about the installation, including location, type of venue and identity of the celebrity partner at Facebook.com/Nexxus. Additionally, Facebook fans who submitted correct answers were entered for a chance to win* a framed sketch of the window display signed by Simon. After the reveal, Facebook.com/Nexxus will carry behind-the-scenes photos and video, sketches from Simon, as well as tips from Nexxus Creative Director Kevin Mancuso.

The design will be on display through June 16 at the Duane Reade located at 51 West 51^st Street, across from Radio City Music Hall, the venue for the 67^th Annual Tony Awards. The 2013 Tony Awards, which are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, will be broadcast live (8:00-1:00 p.m. ET/PT time delay) on the CBS Television Network.

About Unilever North America

Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of Food, Home and Personal Care products with sales in over 190 countries. Our products are present in 7 out of 10 homes globally and are used by over 2 billion people on a daily basis. In the United States and Canada the portfolio includes brand icons such as: Axe, Becel, Ben & Jerry's, Bertolli, Breyers, Caress, Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy, Consort For Men, Country Crock, Degree, Dove personal care products, Good Humor, Hellmann's, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!, Just for Me!, Klondike, Knorr, Lever 2000, Lipton, Magnum, Motions, Nexxus, Noxzema, Pond's, Popsicle, Promise, Q-tips, Ragu, Simple, Slim-Fast, Soft & Beautiful, St. Ives, Suave, tcb, TIGI, TRESemme, Vaseline, and Wish-Bone. All of the preceding brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies.

Our ambition is to double the size of our business, whilst reducing our overall environmental footprint (including sourcing, consumer use and disposal) and increasing our positive social impact. We are committed to helping more than a billion people take action to improve their health and well-being, sourcing all our agricultural raw materials sustainably by 2020, and decoupling our growth from our environmental impact. Supporting our three big goals are more than 50 time-based targets. See more on the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan at http://www.unileverusa.com/sustainable-living/  or http://www.unilever.ca/sustainable-living/ (Link opens in a new window).

Unilever employs more than 12,000 people across North America – generating over $10 billion in sales in 2012. For more information visit www.unileverusa.com or www.unilever.ca

About Simon Doonan

Writer, bon-vivant, window dresser, fashion commentator Simon Doonan has worked in fashion for over 35 years.  He has written six books: 'Confessions of a Window Dresser,' 'Wacky Chicks,' a memoir entitled 'Beautiful People' and tongue-in-cheek style guides entitled 'Eccentric Glamour' and 'Gay Men Don't Get Fat.' His latest book, 'THE ASYLUM: a collage of fashion reminiscences' is due out in September 2013. He has written regularly for The New York Observer, The Daily Beast, and currently writes a column for SLATE entitled 'Notes from the Fashion Apocalypse.'

A TV comedy series based on 'Beautiful People' has aired the UK, the US and Australia. Simon has been a featured guest on late-night talk shows such as Chelsea Lately and The Conan O'Brien Show. He has regularly appeared on America's Next Top Model, VH1, Full Frontal Fashion and Bravo.

Simon has won many awards including the CFDA Award. In 2009 he was invited by President and Mrs. Obama to decorate the White House for the Holidays. In 2010 Simon was commissioned by Target to design the season's Halloween costumes.

Simon Doonan lives in New York City with his partner, the ceramicist and designer Jonathan Adler and their Norwich terrier Liberace.

About the Tony Awards

The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. At The Broadway League, Nick Scandalios is Chairman and Charlotte St. Martin is Executive Director. At the American Theatre Wing, William Ivey Long is Chairman and Heather Hitchens is Executive Director. Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry Entertainment are the Executive Producers of the 2013 Tony Awards. Mr. Weiss will also serve as Director of the 2013 Tony Awards.

About Duane Reade

Founded in 1960, Duane Reade is the largest drug store chain in New York City. In keeping with the company's brand vision of New York Living Made Easy, Duane Reade provides New Yorkers with prescriptions, health products and services, beauty products and services, food and convenience items for daily life in the City...everything for "How I Feel", "How I Look", and "What I Need Now". The company operates 250+ stores throughout the metropolitan New York region. Duane Reade is part of the Walgreens family of companies, the nation's largest drugstore chain with more than 8,000 stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

*No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. The Nexxus Showstopping Reveal Sweepstakes is sponsored by Conopco, Inc., d/b/a Unilever. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & DC, 18 & older. Begins 9:00 a.m. ET on 5/10/13 & ends 11:59 p.m. ET on May 15, 2013. For official rules, visit http://bit.ly/10elXYM

SOURCE Nexxus Salon Hair Care