2012 PARTNERS
BLITHE SPIRIT
Aug 8–Sep 2
The funniest haunting that ever there was! A novelist hosts a séance as research for his next book, unwittingly summoning the spirit of his first wife—making his current spouse none-too-pleased. Following in the fancy footsteps of his 2009 production of Private Lives, A.C.T. Associate Artistic Director Mark Rucker brings Coward's romantic shenanigans and barbed-wire bon mots to the Cal Shakes stage for a second, splendid time.
Running time: Two hours and 40 minutes (including two 10-minute intermissions)
- WHO'S WHO
- Events
- PHOTOS
- VIDEO/AUDIO
- PRESS
- Articles
CREATIVE TEAM
Mark Rucker - Director
Annie Smart - Set Designer
Katherine Roth - Costume Designer
York Kennedy - Lighting Designer
Will McCandless - Composer/Sound Designer
Lynne Soffer* - Dialect/Text Coach
Philippa Kelly - Resident Dramaturg
Corrie Bennett* - Stage Manager
Laxmi Kumaran* - Assistant Stage Manager
Megan Sada* - Assistant Director
Krista Smith - Assistant Lighting Designer
Christina Hogan - Production Assistant
CAST
René Augesen* - Ruth Condomine
Anthony Fusco* - Charles Condomine
Jessica Kitchens* - Elvira Condomine
Domenique Lozano* - Madame Arcati
Kevin Rolston* - Dr. Bradman
Melissa Smith* - Mrs. Bradman
Rebekah Brockman - Edith
*Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
Ellen & Joffa Dale
Michael & Virginia Ross
Simpson Strong-Tie
Jay Yamada
 ONSTAGE |
 OFFSTAGE Teen Nights |
 AUDIENCE ENRICHMENT Free pre & post peformance enrichment events |
PHOTOS
Dress Rehearsal Photos
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Publicity photos
 |
 |
(L to R) Anthony Fusco as Charles, Jessica Kitchens as Elvira, and René Augesen as Ruth in Cal Shakes’ production of Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit, directed by Mark Rucker, playing at the Bruns Amphitheater Aug 8–Sep 2; photo by Kevin Berne.
VIDEO
Audio
Listen to a podcast of a pre-performance Blithe Spirit Grove Talk, presented by Resident Dramaturg Philippa Kelly. Podcast produced by Will McCandless.
Listen to the podcast on the Cal Shakes blog
Listen to the Blithe Spirit theme composed by Will McCandless specially for our production.
PRESS
"The laughs flow freely...(a) hilarious haunting" —SF Chronicle
“Under the crisp direction of Mark Rucker, Blithe Spirit … has lost absolutely none of its ability to charm and convulse an audience with laughter.” —The Huffington Post
“Intoxicating … [Director Mark] Rucker succeeds in keeping the wit as dry as the martinis.” —Contra Costa Times
Noël Coward's Ghost Story Still Kills. —SF Weekly
Jessica Kitchens is a 'Blithe Spirit' —SF Chronicle
The State of Arts: Blithe Spirit —KDFC
