Blithe Spirits: Tickets are now on sale to the general public

Tickets are now on sale to the general public for the Broadway revival of Noel Coward's comedy, Blithe Spirit, to be directed by Michael Blakemore, opening at the Shubert Theatre on 15 Mar 2009, following previews from 26 Feb 2009.

Blithe Spirit 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 (Christine Ebersole), 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.

Directed by Michael Blakemore, Blithe Spirit stars Angela Lansbury (Madame Arcati), Rupert Everett (Charles Condomine), Christine Ebersole (Elvira), Jayne Atkinson (Ruth), Deborah Rush (Mrs. Bradman) and Simon Jones.

Blithe Spirit was first produced on Broadway 1941. It was revived in 1987, directed by Brian Murray, and 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.

Angela Lansbury will star as eccentric medium Madame Arcati. She last appared on Broadway in Terrence McNally's 'Deuce' (2007), in which she starred alongside Marian Seldes. That was her first role on Broadway in almost 25 years, and earned her a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Play. In her 60-plus year career on stage, film and television, Ms. Lansbury has received four Tony Awards for her starring roles in 'Mame,' 'Dear World,' 'Gypsy' and 'Sweeney Todd,' three Academy Award nominations for 'Gaslight' (her screen debut), 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' and 'The Manchurian Candidate,' and 18 Emmy Award nominations, including 12 for her long-running television series, 'Murder, She Wrote.'

Rupert Everett will star as husband 'Charles Condomine.' He first came to prominence when he starred as 'Guy Bennett' in Julian Mitchell's 'Another Country' which had its world premiere at the Greenwich Theatre in 1982, and later went on to transfer to London's West End. He was subsequently cast in the play's film adaptation. Other noteworthy films he has starred in include 'My Best Friend's Wedding,' 'An Ideal Husband,' 'The Next Best Thing' and the 'Shrek' sequels.

Christine Ebersole will star as the departed wife 'Elvira.' Ebersole won her first Tony for her role as 'Dorothy Brock' in '42nd Street' (2001 revival), and her second for her roles as 'Edie Beale / Edith Bouvier Bealei in 'Grey Gardens' (2006). Ebersole was nominated for a Tony for her work in 'Dinner at Eight' (2002 revival).

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).