Blithe Spirits: NY Times reports that Michael Blakemore will direct a Broadway revival

The New York Times reports that Michael Blakemore will direct a Broadway revival of Noel Coward's comedy Blithe Spirits, first produced on Broadway 1941, to open at a Shubert Theater still to be announced.

Blithe Spirits tells the story of socialite 'Charles Condomine' an author seeking to expose psychics. During a seance with the eccentric medium 'Madame Arcati,' Charle's dead wife, Elvira, is accidentally summoned and refuses to leave. Only Charles can see and communicate with Elvira, and he grows increasingly alarmed once he relises that his dead wife is planing to kill him so that he can join her on the otherside - a plan which has unfortunate consequences for his present wife, Ruth.

Director Michael Blakemore is the winner of two Tony Awards: 'Kiss Me, Kate' (2000 revival) and 'Copenhagen' (2000). He has been nominated for Tony's for his staging of 'The Life' (1997), 'City of Angels' (1990), 'Lettice and Lovage' (1990), 'Noises Off' (1984), 'A Day in the Death of Joe Egg' (1968).

Blithe Spirits was revived on Broadway in 1987, directed by Brian Murray, it featured 'Richard Chamberlain' as 'Charles Condomine,' Blythe Danner as 'Elvira,' 'Judith Ivey' as 'Ruth' and Geraldine Page as 'Madame Arcati.' Page was nominated for a Tony for Best Actress for her performance.

The production will be produced by Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel and Steve Traxler, currently represented on Broadway by Tracy Letts� August: Osage County and Spring Awakening. They are also the team behind the Broadway revival of David Mamet's Speed-the-Plough playing at the Ethal Barrymore Theatre from 3 Oct 2008 - 22 Feb 2009.

There has been no official announcement about this production.