Blithe Spirit is a classic comedy play, written by Noël Coward in 1941. The play follows the story of novelist Charles Condomine who, hoping to gather material for his next book, invites eccentric medium Madame Arcati to conduct a séance in his home. The séance proves a little too successful when it accidentally conjures the ghost of Charles' deceased first wife, Elvira. This comedic situation unfolds as Charles struggles to deal with his formidable first wife's return, all while trying to keep it a secret from his very much alive second wife, Ruth. The play was a massive success, running for nearly 2,000 performances in London's West End alone. It has been revived numerous times and even adapted into a 1945 film of the same name.
The full cast is announced today for the first ever large-scale stage production of Evelyn Waugh's classic novel Brideshead Revisited, adapted by Bryony Lavery, touring this spring and summer in the 50th anniversary year of Waugh's death.
California Shakespeare Theater continues its 2015 season with groundbreaking playwright Charles Ludlam's high-camp homage to the horror genre, The Mystery of Irma Vep. Directed by Jonathan Moscone in his final production as Cal Shakes Artistic Director, and featuring Danny Scheie and Liam Vincent, The Mystery of Irma Vep plays at the Bruns Amphitheater from tonight, August 12 through September 6.
From 1930's bohemian Paris to the dizzying heights of Manhattan society, a tempestuous love triangle unravels between a vivacious interior designer, Gilda, playwright Leo and artist Otto - three people unashamedly and passionately in love with each other.
California Shakespeare Theater continues its 2015 season with groundbreaking playwright Charles Ludlam's high-camp homage to the horror genre, The Mystery of Irma Vep. Directed by Jonathan Moscone in his final production as Cal Shakes Artistic Director, and featuring Danny Scheie and Liam Vincent, The Mystery of Irma Vep plays at the Bruns Amphitheater from August 12 through September 6.
Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 206th season with Noel Coward's honeymoon of a comedy, PRIVATE LIVES. Directed by Bob Carlton, the play begins previews tonight, January 13th, opens on January 21st and runs through March 1st on the WST Mainstage.
Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 206th season with Noel Coward's honeymoon of a comedy, PRIVATE LIVES. Directed by Bob Carlton, the play begins previews on January 13th, opens on January 21st and runs through March 1st on the WST Mainstage.
The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham are delighted to present a new look at a hilarious classic, fresh off a critically-acclaimed run at the Pasadena Playhouse. Prepare to be intoxicated by FALLEN ANGELS, written by Noel Coward and directed by Art Manke. 'This is a deliriously giddy look at a rarely produced play by the one-and-only master of the sophisticated comedy, Noel Coward,' offers Wood. 'We are thrilled to present this brilliant and wickedly fun production to our subscribers and audiences and we know they will leave our theatre as charmed by this production as we are!' adds Wareham. FALLEN ANGELS will open tonight, October 12 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, November 3, 2013 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.
PICT Theatre (Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre) packs its eighteenth year of classic favorites and pure Irish genius, a return to its original mission under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Alan Stanford. The selection of plays all fit the theme, "Something Wicked This Way Comes," a line taken from the fifth show of the season.
The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham are delighted to present a new look at a hilarious classic, fresh off a critically-acclaimed run at the Pasadena Playhouse. Prepare to be intoxicated by FALLEN ANGELS, written by Noel Coward and directed by Art Manke. 'This is a deliriously giddy look at a rarely produced play by the one-and-only master of the sophisticated comedy, Noel Coward,' offers Wood. 'We are thrilled to present this brilliant and wickedly fun production to our subscribers and audiences and we know they will leave our theatre as charmed by this production as we are!' adds Wareham. FALLEN ANGELS will begin previews on Tuesday, October 8 and will open on Saturday, October 12 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, November 3, 2013 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.
Tony Award winning playwright Richard Greenberg's new play, Breakfast at Tiffany's opens at the Cort Theatre (138 W 48th Street) tonight, March 20, 2013. Directed by Sean Mathias, the stage adaption of Truman Capote's classic novella will star Emilia Clarke (HBO's 'Game of Thrones') in the iconic role of 'Holly Golightly,' Cory Michael Smith as 'Fred,' and George Wendt as 'Joe Bell.' Let's see what the critics had to say...
Rachel York will join Megan Hilty in the Encores! production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, opening May 9 at New York City Center. York will play the brunette, Dorothy Shaw, best friend of Lorelei, the diamond-loving blonde played by Hilty. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes will be directed by John Rando with music direction by Rob Berman and choreography by Randy Skinner and will play for seven performances, May 9 - 13, at New York City Center, 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues.
The Colony Theatre is thrilled to present the fourth production of its 37th season of shows - the Los Angeles Premiere of TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT, written by Graham Greene, adapted for the stage by Giles Havergal, and directed by David Dean Bottrell.
The Colony Theatre is thrilled to present the fourth production of its 37th season of shows - the Los Angeles Premiere of TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT, written by Graham Greene, adapted for the stage by Giles Havergal, and directed by David Dean Bottrell.
The Colony Theatre is thrilled to present the fourth production of its 37th season of shows - the Los Angeles Premiere of TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT, written by Graham Greene, adapted for the stage by Giles Havergal, and directed by David Dean Bottrell.
Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) in association with
David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers and Cineworld has announced the full Broadway company for Kneehigh Theatre's production of Noël Coward's Brief Encounter, adapted and directed by Emma Rice.
Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) in association with David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers and Cineworld will present Kneehigh Theatre's production of Noël Coward's Brief Encounter, adapted and directed by Emma Rice.
Actor and writer Stephen Fry will host the first night of a special Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' weekend salute to playwright, composer, director and actor Noel Coward that will include a live theatrical presentation of two of Coward's little seen short plays - Design for Rehearsing and Age Cannot Wither - followed by a screening of the 1932/33 Best Picture Oscar winner 'Cavalcade,' on Friday, April 16, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. The salute will continue through Saturday and Sunday with double-feature screenings at the Academy's Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood.
Actor and writer Stephen Fry will host the first night of a special Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' weekend salute to playwright, composer, director and actor Noel Coward that will include a live theatrical presentation of two of Coward's little seen short plays - Design for Rehearsing and Age Cannot Wither - followed by a screening of the 1932/33 Best Picture Oscar winner 'Cavalcade,' on Friday, April 16, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. The salute will continue through Saturday and Sunday with double-feature screenings at the Academy's Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood.
One of the many delights of director Michael Blakemore's revival of Noel Coward's giddily funny 1941 froth, Blithe Spirit, is that this 2009 production looks like it could have been seen in the play's premiere year. No doubt contemporary Broadway theatre can provide more spectacular ways for an actress playing a ghost to enter a room than to just have her walk through the French windows. And certainly if an invisible spirit chooses to destroy her husband's drawing room, modern technology can whip up a few tricks more gasp-inducing than simply having a picture frame fall and a bookshelf topple over. But when you have one of the English language's great comedies played by a company that excels in the verbal dexterity of the playwright's wit, there's no need for such distractions.
Ken Davenport, producer of the Broadway hits Blithe Spirit and Speed-the-Plow, and the Off-Broadway hits Altar Boyz, My First Time, and The Awesome 80s Prom, and a recent Tony Award nominee for Will Ferrell?s You?re Welcome America, today proudly announces that Leslie Arden will write the score for the new musical, Somewhere in Time (www.somewhereintimethemusical.com), based on the novel by Richard Matheson and the Universal film, which starred Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. Mr. Matheson and Mr. Davenport will collaborate on the book. Stafford Arima, currently represented by Altar Boyz at New World Stages, will direct.
The Cleveland Play House Artistic Director Michael Bloom announces the world premiere production of Thornton Wilder's novel Heaven's My Destination, adapted by award-winning playwright Lee Blessing. The play is the centerpiece of the fourth annual FusionFest, a multidisciplinary performing arts festival.
The Cleveland Play House Artistic Director Michael Bloom announces the world premiere production of Thornton Wilder's novel Heaven's My Destination, adapted by award-winning playwright Lee Blessing. The play is the centerpiece of the fourth annual FusionFest, a multidisciplinary performing arts festival.
Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Sunday, March 22, 2009.
Videos