Photo Flash: THE WORLD OF NOEL COWARD Opening Reception

The life and career of playwright, composer, director and actor Noel Coward is being celebrated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in a new touring exhibition, "Star Quality: The World of Noel Coward" which is currently open at the Lincoln Center until August 12. These photographs from the New York launch party yesterday, March 11, feature Jim Dale, Dana Ivey and more.

Coward is well known as the creator of such stage classics as Hay Fever, Private Lives, Cavalcade, Design for Living and Blithe Spirit, many of which were adapted for film, and as the composer of such timeless songs as "I'll See You Again," "Mad About the Boy" and "Mad Dogs and Englishmen." "Star Quality" will be the first exhibition to show the full extent of Coward's talents as a director of plays and movies, a stage and film actor, songwriter, cabaret artist, wartime patriot, painter and patron of charitable causes.

With unparalleled access to the Coward Archives, and drawing on public and private collections in Europe and the U.S. as well as the Academy's Margaret Herrick Library, the exhibition brings together dozens of rare photographs, drawings, paintings, original manuscripts, letters, sheet music, posters, playbills, set and costume designs, personal memorabilia, audio and video clips, and original costumes, including several of the silk dressing gowns that became Coward's trademark.

The original exhibition was conceived and developed at Ten Chimneys by Erika Kent.

Read more about the New York exhibition here

Photo credit: Carolyn Contino/BEImages.