A Little Night Music Now In Previews

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past month then you know that Catherine Zeta-Jones is making her Broadway debut in Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music. Oh and don't forget five-time Tony Award winner Angela Lansbury as well. The show which first premiered on Broadway in 1973 began previews last night at the Walter Kerr Theatre on Broadway. I'll admit that I'm not the biggest Sondheim fan in the world although Company does rank up there as one of my favorite musicals of all time. Not too mention last years production of Sunday In The Park With George which completely blew me away. Maybe I'm a Sondheim fan after all.

This new revival is based on the critically acclaimed production which opened this past March at the Garrick Theatre in London. Let's be honest. Would the show be selling as well as it is without it's two main stars? Who knows? Sondheim shows while critically acclaimed have never been big money makers. The show is going to have to receive some pretty outstanding reviews to survive after it's two stars leave. We shall see. Until next time theatre fans.

JWB
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GHOSTS haunt the Shubert

One of the most delightful comedies to come to Broadway this season is the revival of Noel Coward's BLITHE SPIRIT. This charming drawing room comedy stars the Angela Lansbury, Rupert Everett, Jayne Atkinson and Christine Ebersole. Written in 1941, it is the story of a writer (Everett) who invites a suspect Medium (Lansbury) to his home to host a seance in hopes of finding material for a new book. The bumbling Medium somehow brings Charles first wife (Ebersole) back from the dead and the comedy roars as his 2nd wife (Atkinson) tries to get rid of her.
This is a riotous production made for all. The entire cast is charming and it is directed by Michael Blakemore. BUT if you love Angela Lansbury then don't miss this! She has won several awards already and surely will win the TONY Award as "best supporting actress" in a play.
Call us at APPLAUSE 800-451-9930/212-307-7050 and get great tickets for a great price today or book them on our website www.APPLAUSE-tickets.com.
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Buy tickets for Broadway's Blithe Spirit- at discount prices

For those of you Angela Lansbury fans that might want to see one of the theater's greatest legendary performers, now is your chance to see Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit at the Shubert Theater in New York City. Ms. Lansbury and her co-stars-Rupert Everett, Christine Ebersole and Jayne Atkinson are very funny in this show that tells the tale of a very successful novelist that seems to be "haunted" by his biggest fan-his deceased first wife. You can only imagine how this revelation will make his current wife feel. I saw Blithe Spirit and really enjoyed the performances of the entire cast. The show really has lots of funny material.

For a limited time only the folks at Applause Theater Service in New York City can get you great seats to Blithe Spirit at tickets below the regular "face value". Why is this? Applause has been a New York State licensed ticket agency for over 21 years now. They have insider access to premium seating as well as "discount" tickets for Blithe Spirit as well as over 20 other Broadway Shows.

There is no pressure to buy anything at Applause, just good "old-fashioned, friendly service from local ticket experts. If you think you might want to see Blithe Spirit, you can call Applause at their local phone 212-307-7050 or toll free at 800-451-9930, seven days a week. They love to talk about Broadway theater.

If you need some great restaurant suggestions, feel free to ask for a few when you contact Applause. You are welcome to check out the Restaurant Row web site here as many of the places we eat at before the theater are listed on this site. Call me if you'd like a personal recommendation or two. I eat out all the time.

Thanks for supporting Applause Theater Service and the Broadway Theater community.

Sincerely,
Rich Gladstone
Applause Theater Service
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Critics Love "Blithe Spirit" and its Star Angela Lansbury!

Spring doesn't officially arrive until next weekend, but last night, a blast of warm, comic air blew over Broadway with the opening of director Michael Blakemore's delightful revival of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit at the Shubert Theatre. I saw this production a couple of weeks ago with the rest of the crew here at Applause and we fell in love with the show, its cast and most especially the legendary Angela Lansbury. What a simple pleasant evening of laughs and great entertainment. Most of the critics seem to agree with me on this. I've taken all of the critics reviews and posted them below for your reading pleasure.

[ NYT ] The Medium as the Messenger, by Ben Brantley
This genial but bumpy new revival of Noël Coward's Blithe Spirit stars Angela Lansbury in her juiciest role in years.
[ NYP ] Spirit Willing, Flash Weak, by Elisabeth Vincentelli
Like her character, daffy medium Madame Arcati, Angela Lansbury creates mischievous chaos in Blithe Spirit—some of her co-stars seem to struggle to keep pace with her somewhat loose M.O.
[ DN ] Angela Lansbury moves us, but Blithe Spirit doesn't, by Joe Dziemianowicz
Watching the 83-year-old Lansbury work her magic is endless fun. Otherwise, director Michael Blakemore doesn't offer much in terms of imagination in this revival.
[ ND ] Angela Lansbury takes Blithe Spirit to heights, by Linda Winer
Angela Lansbury is delicious, but it's odd that director Michael Blakemore does not locate more of the luxurious, brittle sheen and the high-style physical humor in this farce about a married novelist bewitched by the ghost of his first wife.
[ NY1 ] Reviewed by David Cote
Broadway will always have its ghosts. They say the specters of past troupers and producers hover through the back alleys and theaters of the Great White Way. Well, now there's another apparition to be found on the Rialto, and it's frightfully funny. The play is Blithe Spirit, the champagne-light supernatural farce by Noel Coward, and it should continue to haunt the Shubert for a good long time.
[ AP ] Lansbury and company wittily spin Blithe Spirit, by Michael Kuchwara
Light and airy requires heavy lifting—theatrically speaking. And for the most part, the starry cast of the latest Broadway revival of Blithe Spirit delivers the goods, artfully keeping the classic Noel Coward comedy spinning merrily.
[ B ] Lansbury's Comic Psychic Lights Up Fervent Spirit, by John Simon
When a scintillating comedy, masterly direction and superior performances come together, what have you got? A rip-roaring revival of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit that lights up Broadway's Shubert Theatre.
[ V ] Reviewed by David Rooney
While the dry martinis flow freely among hosts and guests alike in Blithe Spirit, those libations do little to loosen up Michael Blakemore's classy but stiff Broadway revival. There are sparkling moments, thanks mostly to the light touch of the sublime Jayne Atkinson and the comedic life-force of Angela Lansbury because she's, well, Angela Lansbury. But overall this is a wispy ectoplasm of the 1941 Noel Coward ghost comedy rather than a full-bodied materialization.
[ BS ] Reviewed by David Sheward
This Blithe Spirit is like spending a pleasant afternoon tea with a favorite aunt. You'll be served familiar treats and hear familiar stories, but with Angela Lansbury and friends handing out the goodies, you know you'll enjoy yourself.
[ CU ] Reviewed by Elyse Sommer
With New Yorkers being blitzed with bad news about the economy, their job security and the difficulties of ending two unpopular wars, the producers of the latest revival of this wartime-prompted ghost story may well be right in thinking that it will once again prove to be a perfect escape from grim reality.
You can get great seats to this show just by calling Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service which is a NEW YORK STATE OFFICIALLY LICENSED TICKET AGENCY of "BLITHE SPIRIT" and all BROADWAY SHOWS. Call and ask about the Insider Deal for some big savings! 800-451-9930

Call Applause Theatre Service for this Hot Theatrical Event, Noel Coward's "Blithe Spirit" Coming to Broadway

Can you believe this cast????

ANGELA LANSBURY, who last appeared on Broadway in Deuce, has enjoyed a career without precedent. Her professional career spans more than a half-century, during which she has flourished, first as a star of motion pictures, then as a four-time Tony Award-winning Broadway musical star and most recently as the star of "Murder, She Wrote," the longest-running detective drama series in the history of television. The actress made her Broadway debut in 1957 when she starred as Bert Lahr's wife in the French farce, Hotel Paradiso. In 1960, she returned to Broadway as Joan Plowright's mother in the season's most acclaimed drama, A Taste of Honey, by Shelagh Delaney. One year later, she starred on Broadway in her first musical, Anyone Can Whistle. Lansbury returned to New York in triumph in 1966 as Mame, for which she won the first of her unprecedented four Tony Awards as Best Actress in a Musical. She received the others as the Madwoman of Chaillot in Dear World (1968), as Mama Rose in the 1974 revival of Gypsy and as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd (1979). From 1984-1996 she starred as Jessica Fletcher, mystery-writing amateur sleuth, on "Murder, She Wrote," for which she won four Golden Globe Awards. In 1982, she was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame, and in 1994 she was named a Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II. Angela and her husband Peter were married in 1949. They worked together until Peter's death in January 2003. Angela has three grown children, Deirdre, Anthony and David, and three grandchildren.

CHRISTINE EBERSOLE received the Tony Award, Obie Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Special Citation from NY Drama Critics and the Drama League Award for Performance of the Year for her dual roles as Edith and Edie Beale in Grey Gardens. Her Broadway credits include Steel Magnolias, Dinner at Eight (Tony and Outer Critics Circle noms.), 42nd Street (2001 Tony and Outer Critics Circle Awards), The Best Man, Getting Away With Murder, Harrigan 'n Hart, Camelot (opposite Richard Burton and Richard Harris), Oklahoma!, On the Twentieth Century, I Love My Wife and Angel Street. Off-Broadway credits include Alan Bennett's Talking Heads (2003 Obie and Outer Critics Circle awards, Drama Desk nom.), Three Sisters, Geniuses and four Encores! concerts. Regional credits include Much Ado About Nothing (Old Globe), Mame, Evita, My Fair Lady, The Marriage of Bette and Boo and Laughing Wild. Films include Tootsie, Amadeus, Dead Again, Richie Rich, Black Sheep, Folks!, True Crime, Till There Was You, My Favorite Martian, Thief of Hearts and ,My Girl 2. Television includes "Saturday Night Live" (series regular '81-'82 season), "Gypsy" with Bette Midler, "One Life to Live" (Emmy nom.), "Ryan's Hope," "The Cavanaughs" (with the late great Barnard Hughes), "Valerie," "Ink," "Related" and guest appearances on "Will & Grace," "Just Shoot Me," "Murphy Brown" and "Ally McBeal." CD's include In Your Dreams with Billy Stritch, Live at the Cinegrill and Grey Gardens.

RUPERT EVERETT is no stranger to Noel Coward, having previously delivered an acclaimed performance as "Nicky" in The Vortex at the Garrick Theatre on the West End. Best known for his star making and Golden Globe nominated turns in My Best Friend's Wedding and An Ideal Husband, Rupert Everett has been a fixture in feature films and television for the past 20 years. Following his theatrical training at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, and the avant-garde Glasgow Citizens Theatre, Everett received his big break in Kenneth Branagh's 1982 West End production of Another Country. Since his first film appearance, in the feature film adaptation of Country, he has appeared in over 25 acclaimed motion pictures, including Chronicle of a Death Foretold, Hearts of Fire, The Comfort of Strangers, Prêt-à-Porter, The Madness of King George, Shakespeare in Love, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Next Best Thing, The Importance of Being Earnest, To Kill a King, Stage Beauty, Shrek 2 & 3, Separate Lies, Stardust, and St. Trinian's. His television credits include "Arthur the King," "Mr. Ambassador," and "Boston Legal." In addition to eight credits with the Glasgow Citizen's Theatre (notably Picture of Dorian Gray, Noel Coward's Private Lives, Don Juan, and Heartbreak House), Everett's other West End credits include Appeal at the Lyric Hammersmith

JAYNE ATKINSON. Best known for her scene stealing turn as Homeland Security director Karen Hayes on the hit FOX drama "24" and her Tony-nominated performances on Broadway in The Rainmaker and Enchanted April, Ms. Atkinson has been a powerful and consistent presence on stage, television, and film. In addition to The Rainmaker and Enchanted April (for which she received Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Actress and was Drama Desk nominated), her Broadway credits include Ivanov, Our Town (with Paul Newman), and All My Sons. Off-Broadway, she received a Drama Desk nomination for her performance in The Skriker, and has appeared in The Vagina Monologues, How I Learned to Drive, Henry VIII, and The Art of Success. In addition to "24" for which she received a SAG Award nomination for Best Ensemble, her series regular TV credits include "A Year In The Life," and "Parenthood," and guest and recurring spots on the original "Law and Order" & "SVU", "Criminal Minds", "The Education of Max Bickford", "The Practice", and "The X-Files." Her film credits include Recount for HBO Films, Syriana, The Village, 12 and Holding, Free Willy, and Blank Check.

At last, Broadway has a comedy to die for! Can you believe this cast? Rupert Everett, Christine Ebersole, Jayne Atkinson AND Angela Lansbury are all set to star in Noel Coward's BLITHE SPIRIT, directed by Michael Blakemore. With so many big stars set to come to Broadway this upcoming season, this is one that I can't wait to see! Just listen to this premise. It's the wickedly funny comedy about a successful novelist haunted by his biggest fan -- his deceased first wife! What happens when his once-beloved won't take "til death do us part" for an answer? What happens when his new wife finds out they're not alone anymore? Can anyone conjure up a solution? You don't need a crystal ball for the answers – just tickets to BLITHE SPIRIT. Call an Applause Theatre Service Sales Expert including myself, Erik Swanson pictured to the right, right now and get your tickets to this hot theatrical Event! 800-451-9930