1. Art and Diseño

For immediate release.
ANGELA LANSBURY MAKES NOËL COWARD’S “BLITHE SPIRIT”
THE BEST-SELLING PLAY REVIVAL IN DECADES
AT LOS ANGELES’ CENTER THEATRE GROUP / AHMANSON THEATRE
Following sold-out engagements on Broadway and in London’s West End, television
legend, Oscar recipient and five-time Tony Award-winner Angela Lansbury enjoyed
continued success with Noël Coward’s smash-hit comedic play “Blithe Spirit” in its Center
Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre engagement.
Lansbury returned to the Los Angeles stage for the first time in over 30 years, and L.A.
audiences had clearly been waiting, making “Blithe Spirit” the best-selling play revival at the
Ahmanson Theatre in more than 25 years – a title previously held by “The Trip to Bountiful,”
which immediately preceded “Blithe Spirit” in the 2014-2015 season at the Ahmanson.
In addition, “Blithe Spirit” was the third best-selling drama at the Ahmanson in the last
25 years, just behind the plays “God of Carnage” and “War Horse.”
The North American tour of “Blithe Spirit” launched at the Ahmanson on December
9, 2014, and ran through January 18, 2015. Following the L.A. engagement, the tour continued
to SHN’s Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco, January 20 through February 1, 2015, and
will then move to Mirvish Productions’ Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto, February 11
through March 15, and w i l l conclude in Washington, D.C., March 17 through March 29, at
the National Theatre where Lansbury made her first pre-Broadway stage debut nearly 58 years
ago to the day.
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 (the popular TV show
“Murder, She Wrote,” the memorable stage productions of “Sweeney Todd” and “Mame,”
the classic film “Gaslight”) is joined by an all-star cast including Charles Edwards as Charles
Condomine (“Downton Abbey,” “The 39 Steps,” “Blithe Spirit” – 2014 West End revival),
Jemima Rooper as Elvira (“The Black Dahlia”; “One Man, Two Guvnors”; “Blithe Spirit” –
2014 West End revival), Charlotte Parry as Ruth Condomine (“Coram 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 North American tour of “Blithe Spirit” is produced by Jeffrey Richards, Jerry
Frankel, Steve Traxler, Lee Dean, John Frost, Charles Diamond and Will Trice in association
with Ken Davenport, Kathleen K. Johnson and JAM Theatricals.
-more-
Noël Coward’s “Blithe Spirit” at Center Theatre Group’s Ahmanson Theatre. Page 2
For more information about the “Blithe Spirit” tour, please visit
www.BlitheSpiritThePlay.com.
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January 29, 2015