Blithe Spirit
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The Play"If you're looking for a laugh filled evening, where all your woes disappear and the charm of life is rekindled then give Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit a go." - James Tompkins The University of Louisville will open its 2006-07 University Theatre season with Noel Coward’s comedy “Blithe Spirit” Sept. 27-Oct. 1. The play will be staged in Thrust Theater at Floyd and Warnock streets. Performances will begin at 8 p.m., with an additional 3 p.m. Sunday matinee Oct. 1. |
Set in Kent, England, in 1941, the play’s action occurs in the home of novelist and socialite Charles Condomine. Writing a book about the supernatural, he invites eccentric clairvoyant Madame Arcati to perform a séance at a dinner party to enrich his understanding.
An unexpected turn of events begins when Charles’ deceased wife, Elvira, responds to Arcati’s call and presents an unnatural and baffling love triangle. Director James Tompkins, associate professor of theater arts, called “Blithe Spirit” a comedy romp and predicted “a laugh-filled evening, where all your woes disappear.”
Written by Coward while serving as a secret agent in Paris during World War II, the play has become a theatrical favorite. “Blithe Spirit” was first produced and presented at London’s Piccadilly Theatre in 1941 and played for a record-breaking 1,997 consecutive performances, directed by Coward himself. Its American stage premiere also was in 1941, playing a total 785 performances between two Broadway theaters.
Ticket prices are $10 for the general public, $9 for U of L employees and senior citizens and $7 for students. Call the box office at (502) 852-6814 for reservations or group ticket prices.
For more information, call Tompkins at (502) 852-8447.
The Players
Amy Cotterill(Ruth) is senior majoring in both English and Humanities at UofL. Past credits at UofL include Hurricane in The Katrina Chronicles and Anne Braden in Champions of the Civil Rights Movement. Other credits elsewhere include Penny in You Can’t Take it with You and writer and director of The Gift and Reflections of the Past, Windows to the Future.
James Cronin (Charles ) is a third-year MFA student in Performance. He graduated magna cum laude from East Tennessee State University with an honors BS in Philosophy and Theatre. Past productions at UofL include: A Winter’s Tale,A Doll House, School Play, and All in the Timing. Other credits include: Daniel Boone in Blue Jacket and Oedipus in Oedipus the King. James also serves as a Studio Theatre coordinator and the director of The Indicators, Louisville’s premiere improv troupe. This is his thesis performance.
Erik Anthony DeCicco(Dr. Bradman) is a second-year MFA student in Performance. He earned his BA in English and a BFA in Performance at Jacksonville University. Past credits at UofL include Daniel in Night Sky and Kaden in As Bees in Honey Drown. Past productions elsewhere include: Assassins, The Goodbye Girl, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Twelfth Night, You Can’t Take It with You, Suessical! The Musical and The Threepenny Opera.
Patti Heying (Madame Arcati) is a third-year MFA student in Performance. She has performed in several UofL productions, including Boston Marriage, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Doll House and A Winter’s Tale. She has also performed in the Lexington, Kentucky area playing Beatrice in Much Ado about Nothing, Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, Lady Croom in Arcadia, M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias and Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath. In addition to her work in Kentucky, Patti spent eight years teaching and performing in Minnesota.
Christine Leidner (Mrs. Bradman) is a freshman Theatre Arts major at UofL. This is her debut performance here. Past productions at Walden Theatre include Richard III, The Three Musketeers, The House of Bernarda Aba, Pride and Prejudice, and the Young Playwrights Festival 2003. She is a member of the Indicators Improv Troupe.
Frances Lewis (Edith) is a freshman Theatre Arts major at UofL. This is her debut performance here. Past productions at the Youth Performing Arts School include She Stoops to Conquer, Showboat, The Good Woman of Setzuan, and Curious Savage. She performed as the Stepmother in Cinderella at the Music Theatre of Louisville.
Jackie Roe (Elvira) is a junior Liberal Studies major at UofL. She was in the Studio Theatre production of Naomi and the Living Room. This is her mainstage debut at UofL.
Jaycee Padilla (Stage Manager) is a junior majoring in both English and Psychology at UofL. Past productions she stage managed at Hardin County Playhouse include Harvey, Cemetery Club, Crimes of the Heart, and Unexpected Guest. She also performed in several productions at the Hardin County Playhouse and Elizabethtown Community College and is the Drama Club coach at Radcliff Middle School.
The Director
James Tompkins is Associate Professor of Theatre Arts at the University of Louisville. He received his BA from Lake Forest College and his MA from the University of Washington. He received a two year French Government Grant, which earned him the coveted "Diplome" from the Ecole Jacques LeCoq. His first teaching assignment was at the Academy of Dramatic Art, started by John Fernald, while he acted professionally at Meadow Brook Theatre. At the invitation of The British government he taught in London, England at the leading theatre schools: The Webber Douglas Academy; The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art; The Central School of Speech and Drama; Arts Educational; The City Literary Institute and; The Drama Studio of London. Returning to the U.S. he taught at The Ohio State University. Other professional acting credits are: Stage One: The Louisville Children's' Theatre; The Oregon Shakespeare Festival; A Contemporary Theatre in Seattle and; Provincetown Playhouse on the Wharf. He has choreographed for the Louisville Ballet apprentices, The Kentucky Opera, and other companies in the area. He has directed for the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival and written his own Commedia plays. He has directed, choreographed fights, and coached movement for The Louisville Repertory Company. Most recently he performed the role of the Beggar in The Beggar's Opera for the UofL Opera Program. He serves on the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs, the third largest state arts funding council in the U.S. In the summer of 2005 he served as the Arts Representative on a U.S. State Department peace mission to Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. Other international teaching credentials include The National School of Drama in India and, most recently The National Academy of Performing Arts and the National College of Arts in Pakistan .
The Stage
Thrust Theatre
2314 S. Floyd Street
Louisville, KY 40292
This U of L Theatre Arts Productions will be performed on the intimate stage of the Thrust Theatre. Built in 1992 and seating 164 patrons, the Thrust offers a variety of staging opportunities and interaction with the audience.
The building housing the theatre is also the location of the Department's main office, faculty offices, classrooms and rehearsal rooms, and the costume shop.
The Thrust Theatre is located in the HPES/Studio Arts building on the corner of Warnock and Floyd, catty-corner from McDonald’s. Metered street parking is available on Floyd St. Free parking is available in university lots located along Floyd St. after 7:30 p.m. weekdays and all day on weekends.
Click here Map of Thrust Theatre
The Ticket
Box Office
HPES / Studio Arts Building
Corner of Floyd and Warnock Streets
Office Hours
Monday - Friday
10am - 3pm
(502) 852-6814
Ticket Price
General Public - $10
Students - $7
Senior Citizens - $9
U of L Faculty/Staff - $9
Season Tickets - $30.00-$45.00 (Order Form) [DOC]
Additional Information
To make ticket reservations, please contact the Box Office Manager, Debbie Hudson, at 852-6814. Accepted methods of payment include Visa & Mastercard.