Photo Flash: Angela Lansbury and More Celebrate BLITHE SPIRIT's Opening in D.C.

Following the internationally acclaimed production with sold-out engagements on Broadway and London's West End, television legend, Oscar recipient and five-time Tony Award-winner Angela Lansbury returns to the stage in an exciting North American tour of Noël Coward's smash-hit comedic play, BLITHE SPIRIT. The tour makes its Washington premiere Tuesday, March 17 through Sunday, March 29 at the National Theatre, where Ms. Lansbury made her first pre-Broadway stage debut nearly 58 years ago to the day in Hotel Paradiso. Scroll down for photos from the opening night festivities!

Returning to the role of Madame Arcati, for which she won her fifth Tony Award in 2009 for Best Featured Actress in a Play, Angela Lansbury ("Murder, She Wrote;" Sweeney Todd; Mame; Gaslight) will be joined by an all-star cast including Charles Edwards as Charles Condomine ("Downton Abbey," The 39 Steps, Blithe Spirit - 2014 West End revival), Melissa Woodbridge as Elvira (Blithe Spirit - 2014 West End revival), Charlotte Parry as Ruth Condomine (The Winslow Boy, The Importance of Being Earnest), Simon Jones as Dr. Bradman ("Hitchhiker's Guide," The Real Thing, Blithe Spirit - 2009 Broadway revival/2014 West End revival), Susan Louise O'Connor as Edith ("Orange is the New Black," Blithe Spirit - 2009 Broadway revival) and Sandra Shipley as Mrs. Bradman (Anything Goes, Blithe Spirit - 2009 Broadway revival). The play is directed by two-time Tony Award-winner Michael Blakemore (Kiss Me, Kate; Copenhagen).

The creative team, led by two-time Tony Award-winner Michael Blakemore, includes scenic and costume designs by Helen Hayes Award-winner Simon Higlett; Angela Lansbury's costume designs by two-time Tony Award-winner Martin Pakledinaz, and sound design by Olivier Award-winners Ben and Max Ringham.

The National Tour of BLITHE SPIRIT began in December 2014 at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. The tour continues on to SHN's Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco and to Mirvish Productions' Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto. The tour concludes in Washington, where Ms. Lansbury has received such local honors as Signature Theatre's Sondheim Award in 2010 and the Helen Hayes Awards American Express Tribute in 1990, in addition to being a Kennedy Center honoree in 2000.

Tickets for BLITHE SPIRIT start at $48 plus applicable service charges, and are available at the National Theatre Box Office, online at thenationaldc.com, or by calling (800) 514-3849. For more information, visit www.thenationaldc.com or www.BlitheSpiritThePlay.com.

Photo Credit: Daniel Swartz