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Blithe Spirit

Blithe Spirit - 1941 Broadway History , Info & More

Booth Theatre (Broadway)
222 West 45th St. New York, NY

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.


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BLITHE SPIRIT Continues at ActorsNET
by Stephi Wild - Feb 10, 2026


ActorsNET will continue its 29th Season with BLITHE SPIRIT, Noël Coward's iconic supernatural comedy, running through February 15 at the Heritage Center Theatre in Morrisville.

Cast and Creative Team Set For THE RAT TRAP at Park Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Jan 6, 2026


Troupe has announced the full cast and creative team for its forthcoming production of Noël Coward’s The Rat Trap, reimagined by Bill Rosenfield. Learn more here!

Troupe Will Bring Centenary Reimagining of THE RAT TRAP Noël Coward's at The Park Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Apr 8, 2025


Following its critically acclaimed production of The Forsyte Saga Parts 1 and 2, Troupe returns to Park Theatre in 2026 with Bill Rosenfield's reimagining of Noël Coward's The Rat Trap.

Review: DEATHTRAP at Spotlighters Is a Self-Referential, Funny, and Sometimes Scary Delight
by Jack L. B. Gohn - Nov 18, 2024


Hall of Mirrors. Self-referential. Meta. All of these terms might be used to supplement the general category of Thriller into which Deathtrap, Ira Levin’s 1978 Broadway hit currently being resurrected at Spotlighters, fits. Yes, the play is (as a thriller should be) about lethal relationships and scary surprises.

BLITHE SPIRIT Comes to the Kelsey Theatre This Month
by Stephi Wild - Oct 17, 2024


Two wives, one dead and one alive, combine for a spooky, laugh-filled experience this Halloween when Theater to Go presents Noël Coward's classic comedy 'Blithe Spirit,' Oct. 31-Nov. 3 at the Kelsey Theatre on Mercer County Community College's West Windsor Campus.

How Often Do Broadway Writing Teams Share Credits?
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Sep 29, 2024


This time, the reader question was: How often do Broadway writing teams share credits for both music and lyrics? 

Review: BLITHE SPIRIT at Searcy Summer Dinner Theatre
by Theresa Bertram - Jun 20, 2024


Dinner and a show? It’s the best combination, which is why I love going to The Searcy Summer Dinner Theatre on the Harding University Campus in Searcy. From now through June 29th, have some delicious dinner catered by Bison Hospitality and watch the hilarious farcical comedy BLITHE SPIRIT....just remember to save the blueberry muffin (a 41 year tradition) for intermission.  

Review: BLITHE SPIRIT at Theatre Memphis
by Kevin Shaw - Oct 18, 2023


What did our critic think of BLITHE SPIRIT at Theatre Memphis? Perhaps it’s self-evident, but the ability to communicate with the dead would appear to be, in a word, “challenging.” Having never personally attended a séance, the ingredients necessary to summon a ghost would seem to require enormous skill, persistence, and focus.

Review: BLITHE SPIRIT at Shaw Festival
by Michael Rabice - Jul 27, 2023


The  perennial festival favorite BLITHE SPIRIT is making a welcome to return to the Shaw Festival stage after 30 years. The result is a breezy romp that is sure to delight, thanks to the fine casting showcasing some of the company's best players.

Pre-Show Seminar On Noël Coward With Dr. Christopher Chan Announced At Peninsula Players Theatre, July 22
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 7, 2023


Dr. Christopher Chan will host a free pre-show seminar Saturday, July 22 at 6:30 p.m., at Peninsula Players before the 8:00 p.m. performance of the Noël Coward's “Blithe Spirit.” 

Noël Coward's BLITHE SPIRIT Begins Performances Tonight At Peninsula Players
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 5, 2023


Peninsula Players Theatre, America's oldest professional resident summer theater and Door County's theatrical icon, has announced the cast of Noël Coward's comedy 'Blithe Spirit.'  This witty, haunting play has been a smash hit in London, on Broadway and around the world since 1941. “Blithe Spirit” runs for three weeks, starting July 5 through July 23 and is generously sponsored by Tim and Jackie Danis. 

White Heron Theatre Company Opens BLITHE SPIRIT July 10
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 5, 2023


White Heron Theatre Company of Nantucket will open it's first production of the 2023 summer season, Blithe Spirit, by Noël Coward (Present Laughter, Private Lives) and directed by Skip Greer. Greer returns to Nantucket after directing 2017's Outside Mullingar for White Heron.

SWEAT & More Lead San Francisco's April 2023 Top Picks
by BWW Staff - Mar 21, 2023


San Francisco / Bay Area is never lacking outstanding theatre, whether epic Broadway shows, engrossing dramas or bold fringe offerings. BroadwayWorld is rounding up our top recommended theatre every month. April 2023's top picks include Merrily We Roll Along, Sweat, and more.

MOXIE Productions and The Grange Hall Cultural Center Welcome Valerie David's Solo Show, BAGGAGE FROM BaghDAD
by Stephi Wild - Dec 6, 2022


Performer/playwright Valerie David of New York City returns to the Grange Hall Cultural Center on Sunday, December 11, 2022 @ 3 pm performing in her award-winning solo show, Baggage From BaghDAD: Becoming My Father's Daughter, as well as being GHCC's 2022 Artist-In-Residence recipient for the second time.

Peninsula Players Theatre Announces 2023 Season Featuring a World Premiere & More
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 25, 2022


Peninsula Players Theatre, America's oldest professional resident summer theater and Door County's theatrical icon, has announce its 88th season performing June 13 through October 15, 2023.

Adam Lambert Will Cover Noel Coward's 'Mad About The Boy' For Forthcoming Documentary
by Stephi Wild - Oct 5, 2022


Adam Lambert will cover Noel Coward's 'Mad About The Boy' in the upcoming documentary of the same name, due out in 2023.

InD Theatre Presents Noël Coward's HAY FEVER
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 27, 2022


inD Theatre presents HAY FEVER, Noël Coward's classic tale of the ”divinely mad” Bliss family who are everything a respectable family ought not to be; unconventional, uncensored, and unapologetic.

BWW REVIEW: Noël Coward's BLITHE SPIRIT Is Given A Modern Makeover In Sydney Theatre Company's New Staging
by Jade Kops - Apr 2, 2022


BLITHE SPIRIT, the satirical farce about the pitfalls of interrupting the souls of those past on for personal amusement plays out at the Sydney Opera House.

Noël Coward's BLITHE SPIRIT Comes To The Walnut
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 14, 2021


Walnut Street Theatre continues its 213th season with Noël Coward's fiendishly funny comedy, BLITHE SPIRIT. Directed by Walnut Producing Artistic Director Bernard Havard, the production begins previews on January 11, opens January 19, and continues through February 13 on the Walnut's Mainstage.

BWW Review: BLITHE SPIRIT, Harold Pinter Theatre
by Aliya Al-Hassan - Sep 22, 2021


Richard Eyre’s production of Noël Coward’s 1941 Blithe Spirit was just settling into its West End home last year when lockdown struck. Now revived with most of its original cast, it settles into the Harold Pinter theatre for an eight-week run, featuring a stage-stealing appearance by Jennifer Saunders.

BWW Review: BLITHE SPIRIT at Little Theatre, University Of Adelaide
by Barry Lenny - Aug 16, 2021


Director, Megan Dansie, has brought out all of Noël Coward’s famous wit.

Madeleine Mantock Joins West End Production of BLITHE SPIRIT as Elvira
by Stephi Wild - Aug 16, 2021


Jennifer Saunders, one of the UK's most popular comic actors, will revive her role as the preposterous clairvoyant Madame Arcati. She is joined by original cast members Geoffrey Streatfeild who will star as Charles Condomine, Lisa Dillon as Ruth Condomine, Simon Coates as Dr Bradman, Lucy Robinson as Mrs Bradman, and Rose Wardlaw as Edith.

Jennifer Saunders Will Return to BLITHE SPIRIT in West End From 16 September
by Stephi Wild - May 28, 2021


After celebrating a sell-out run at Theatre Royal Bath as part of its 2019 Summer season, a UK tour and a short run in London of just 12 performances before the country’s first lockdown curtailed its six-week run at the Duke of York’s Theatre in March 2020, this production now returns to the West End for 8weeks from Thursday 16  September at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

Michael Ball Releases 'Leaning on a Rainbow' From BLITHE SPIRIT Film
by Stephi Wild - Jan 15, 2021


Last year, Michael Ball recorded ‘Leaning on a Rainbow’ for the soundtrack to the new film ‘Blithe Spirit’. The full track is now available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and more.

VIDEO: Check Out the Trailer for BLITHE SPIRIT Starring Dan Stevens, Isla Fisher, Judi Dench and Leslie Mann
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 4, 2020


The trailer for Blithe Spirit has been released! The film, directed by Edward Hall, and starring Dan Stevens, Isla Fisher, Judi Dench and Leslie Mann is set to open in theaters and VOD February 19. Best-selling crime novelist Charles (Dan Stevens) suffers from terrible writer’s block and is struggling to finish his first screenplay.

Blithe Spirit History

Other Productions of Blithe Spirit

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

Blithe Spirit - 1941 Broadway Awards and Nominations

Note: Award winners are highlighted with a background.
Blithe Spirit — awards and nominations
Year Ceremony Category Nominee
1942 New York Drama Critics Circle Awards Best Foreign Play Noel Coward

Videos


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