Blithe Spirit opened in 1941 when it played for over 2,000 performances and hugely raised wartime spirits. It has been one of the world's favourite comedies ever since. Its razor-sharp wit and wonderful characters have continued to raise spirits both in the audience and on stage. Novelist Charles Condomine and his second wife Ruth are literally haunted by a past relationship when an eccentric medium manages to conjure up the ghost of Charles's neurotic first wife, Elvira, at a seance.
They have assumed the preposterous Madame Arcati is a fraud who will simply entertain their dinner guests with a little chicanery and supply Charles with material for his forthcoming novel. But when Elvira appears, visible only to Charles, and determined to sabotage his current marriage, life - and the afterlife - begin to get complicated.
Great Lakes Theater (GLT), Cleveland's Classic Company, commences the second half its 2014-15 season with Ira Levin's murder mystery masterpiece, Deathtrap. The production will be performed in the company's intimate and audience-friendly home at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, today, February 21 - March 16, 2014. Charles Fee, GLT's Producing Artistic Director, directs the production.
Peter Polycarpou, Gary Wilmot and Colin Stinton join the cast of the West End transfer of Chichester Festival Theatre's sparkling production of the Broadway smash hit musical, The Pajama Game, directed by Richard Eyre. Peter Polycarpou and Colin Stinton reprise their roles as Vernon Hines and Hasler, with Gary Wilmot taking over the role of Vernon Hines from 2 June. They join the previously announced Joanna Riding and Michael Xavier. The Pajama Game opens at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 13 May, with previews from 2 May, playing until 13 September 2014.
Great Lakes Theater (GLT), Cleveland's Classic Company, commences the second half its 2014-15 season with Ira Levin's murder mystery masterpiece, Deathtrap. The production will be performed in the company's intimate and audience-friendly home at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, February 21 - March 16, 2014. Charles Fee, GLT's Producing Artistic Director, directs the production.
The critically-acclaimed FURIOUS THEATRE COMPANY will present the second show of their 2013-2014 season, in association with, and direct from its critically-acclaimed run at the ARTISTS REPERTORY THEATRE in Portland, the rolling U.S. premiere of FOXFINDER written by Dawn King and directed by Damaso Rodriguez. FOXFINDER will feature Furious members, Sara Hennessey and Shawn Lee as well as Amanda Soden and Joshua Weinstein and will preview tonight, January 8, Thursday, January 9 and Friday, January 10 at 8pm and will open on Saturday, January 11 at 8:00pm and run through Sunday, February 2 at the Pasadena Playhouse Carrie Hamilton Theatre, 39 S. El Molino Ave. in Pasadena.
Following a critically acclaimed, sold-out run, Chichester Festival Theatre's sparkling production of the Broadway smash hit musical, The Pajama Game, directed by Richard Eyre, transfers to the West End on 1 May playing until 13 September 2014.
The critically-acclaimed FURIOUS THEATRE COMPANY will present the second show of their 2013-2014 season, in association with, and direct from its critically-acclaimed run at the ARTISTS REPERTORY THEATRE in Portland, the rolling U.S. premiere of FOXFINDER written by Dawn King and directed by Damaso Rodriguez. FOXFINDER will feature Furious members, Sara Hennessey and Shawn Lee as well as Amanda Soden and Joshua Weinstein and will preview on Wednesday, January 8, Thursday, January 9 and Friday, January 10 at 8pm and will open on Saturday, January 11 at 8:00pm and run through Sunday, February 2 at the Pasadena Playhouse Carrie Hamilton Theatre, 39 S. El Molino Ave. in Pasadena.
PICT Theatre's final production of the season is the Pittsburgh premiere of Paul Giovanni's The Crucifer of Blood, a Sherlock Holmes adventure featuring characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Matt Torney directs. David Whalen returns to reprise the role of Sherlock Holmes since his 2011 turn as the master detective. Also returning from the 2011 production is Daryll Heysham as Inspector Lestrade. Justin R. G. Holcomb makes his PICT debut as Dr. Watson.
With seven premieres on its stages this year, Artists Rep's 2013/14 season reinforces the theatre's longstanding commitment to producing new plays in Portland. With the U.S. premiere of Foxfinder starting tonight, October 29, Artists Rep aims to give this play national recognition and offer West Coast audiences the first look at this up-and-coming playwright.
With seven premieres on its stages this year, Artists Rep's 2013/14 season reinforces the theatre's longstanding commitment to producing new plays in Portland. With the U.S. premiere of Foxfinder starting October 29, Artists Rep aims to give this play national recognition and offer West Coast audiences the first look at this up-and-coming playwright.
9 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick will be rockin' every night beginning September 24 with music and laughter. George Street Playhouse and Artistic Director David Saint have announced casting for the opening production for the venerable theatre's fortieth season. Gettin' The Band Back Together (formerly titled Garage Band) is a rockin' valentine to the Garden State, and will be directed by Tony Award-winner John Rando - who also helmed The Toxic Avenger in New Brunswick (and New York) a few seasons back. Gettin' The Band Back Together will rock the house beginning Tuesday, September 24 and continue through Sunday, October 27. Opening night is set for Friday, October 4. Gettin' The Band Back Together is performed by special arrangement with Davenport Theatrical Enterprises, Inc. and Roy Putrino.
Second Thought Theatre presents the final production in its ninth season, In a Forest, Dark and Deep by Neil LaBute. Director Regan Adair returns to STT for the first time since 2011's critical hit, Red Light Winter. In a Forest, Dark and Deep will run in previews today, August 9 - 10, 2013. Opening and Press Night is Thursday, August 15 at 7:30pm. The show closes August 31.
Second Thought Theatre announced today cast and creative team of the final production in its ninth season, In a Forest, Dark and Deep by Neil LaBute. Director Regan Adair returns to STT for the first time since 2011's critical hit, Red Light Winter. In a Forest, Dark and Deep will run in previews August 9 - 10, 2013. Opening and Press Night is Thursday, August 15 at 7:30pm. The show closes August 31.
In a fascinating new interview with Tavis Smiley and Cornel West on the podcast program THE CONVERSATION, Broadway/Hollywood icon Angela Lansbury reveals plans to reprise her Tony Award-winning role of Madame Arcati in Noel Coward's BLITHE SPIRIT in London's West End this Christmas.
Juilliard's Drama Division announces the 2013-2014 season of fully-staged productions featuring Juilliard's 43rd group of acting students in their fourth and final year in the drama program at Juilliard. This season's plays include Jeffrey Hatcher's Smash, directed by Victor Pappas; Amy Herzog's The Great God Pan, directed by Maria Mileaf; and Sam Shepard's Buried Child, directed by Daniel Fish. All performances take place in the Stephanie P. McClelland Drama Theater at Juilliard.
Fresh off the heels with rave reviews for his conducting debut with the Pasadena POPS, Michael Feinstein returns to lead the orchestra in a performance celebrating the legendary films of MGM. Michael Feinstein's MGM Movie Classics tonight, July 13 features rare and stunning arrangements from the golden age of the silver screen, and the orchestra will be joined by guest vocalists Ron Raines, Christine Ebersole, the cast of Hollywood Revisited, and the Debbie Allen Dance Academy Tap Ensemble.
The theatre programme for the Manchester International Festival 2013 has been announced. MIF13 commissions include: The Machine, The Old Woman, Macbeth, The Masque of Anarchy and The Rite of Spring.
Fresh off the heels with rave reviews for his conducting debut with the Pasadena POPS, Michael Feinstein returns to lead the orchestra in a performance celebrating the legendary films of MGM. Michael Feinstein's MGM Movie Classics on Saturday, July 13 features rare and stunning arrangements from the golden age of the silver screen, and the orchestra will be joined by guest vocalists Ron Raines, Christine Ebersole, the cast of Hollywood Revisited, and the Debbie Allen Dance Academy Tap Ensemble.
Debra Jo Rupp stars in Becoming Dr. Ruth at TheaterWorks in Downtown Hartford. The comedy will run tonight, May 31 through July 7, 2013.
Debra Jo Rupp stars in Becoming Dr. Ruth at TheaterWorks in Downtown Hartford. The comedy will run May 31 through July 7, 2013.
Long Wharf Theatre concludes its 2012-13 season with Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning play Clybourne Park, by Bruce Norris, and directed by Associate Artistic Director Eric Ting. The play will take place on The Claire Tow Stage in the C. Newton Schenck III Mainstage from tonight, May 8, 2013 through June 2, 2013.
The Guthrie Theater today announced that actors Daniel Gerroll, Patricia Kalember and Whoopi Goldberg will appear in BEHOLD: A Gala Performance celebrating the Guthrie's 50th anniversary on June 22, 2013. BEHOLD marks a return to the Guthrie for Gerroll, who last appeared in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing in the 2011-12 season. Kalember, a stage actress best-known for her roles on television's "Thirtysomething" and "Sisters," makes her Guthrie debut alongside husband Gerroll in the performance, which will be the first time the pair will perform together since a 2002 production of Blithe Spirit at the Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor, NY. Goldberg also returns to the signature thrust stage for the first time since her five-night Guthrie engagement in May of 1988.
The Theatre Group at SBCC will present the new comedy BECKY'S NEW CAR by Steven Dietz as the final play in the 2012/2013 season. Directed by Katie Laris, Becky's New Car will run tonight, April 24-May 11, 2013 in the intimate Jurkowitz Theatre.
Long Wharf Theatre concludes its 2012-13 season with Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning play Clybourne Park, by Bruce Norris, and directed by Associate Artistic Director Eric Ting. The play will take place on The Claire Tow Stage in the C. Newton Schenck III Mainstage from May 8, 2013 through June 2, 2013.
The Theatre Group at SBCC will present the new comedy BECKY'S NEW CAR by Steven Dietz as the final play in the 2012/2013 season. Directed by Katie Laris, Becky's New Car will run April 24-May 11, 2013 in the intimate Jurkowitz Theatre.
The Stratford Festival held its annual general meeting on Saturday, celebrating the successes of its landmark 60th season, under the joint leadership of Artistic Director Des McAnuff and General Director Antoni Cimolino. This was Mr. McAnuff's final season as Artistic Director. Mr. Cimolino has now assumed that role, with Anita Gaffney becoming Executive Director.
1941 | Broadway |
Broadway |
1943 | Broadway |
Broadway |
1987 | Broadway |
Broadway |
2009 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Broadway |
2011 | West End |
London Production West End |
2014 | West End |
West End Revival Production West End |
2014 | US Tour |
1st National Tour US Tour |
2021 | West End |
West End |
Videos