Blithe Spirit

In This Program

• From the Artistic Director
• About the Show
• For Our Patrons
• Cast
• Creative Team
• An Interview with Director Allison Narver
• Cultivating the Next Generation of Theater Fans
• Print Edition
• More About Seattle Rep

Dear Friends, 

Welcome to Seattle Rep! We’re delighted to raise your spirits this holiday season with one of the most popular comedies of the past century, Blithe Spirit. Written in 1941 by the legendary playwright-composer-actor-singer Sir Noël Coward, this play showcases his signature razor-sharp dialogue and a high-concept comic plot that’s made it an enduring classic. Eighty-plus years since Coward was at the height of his career and popularity, audiences today may only know his work for its superficial trappings: clipped British accents, dry martinis, shimmering gowns, and smoking jackets. But his plays are also wickedly smart and express ideas that were ahead of their time, each containing a subversive streak. 

I’m fascinated and inspired by the fact that Coward wrote Blithe Spirit in the throes of Britain's involvement in World War II, while his country was living through the sustained nightly horror of German bombings during the Blitz. Yet the play contains no reference to the world at war. Even though any performance during those terrifying times could have ended in real-life tragedy, it would seem Coward wanted audiences to laugh together defiantly in the face of fear. He conjures a world with a hilarious afterlife, where spirits make deadpan quips and carry on. We are lucky to be in this theater today in relative safety, but the need to laugh together—and the need to connect as a community during the best and worst of times—remains timeless. 

Today’s production of Blithe Spirit was created especially for you, our local audience, and exemplifies Seattle Rep’s more than sixty-year mission as a professional regional theater. In alignment with our new three-year strategic plan, it also reflects Seattle Rep’s commitment to explore and develop a new producing model that increases our artistic impact and invests more of our resources in building world-class, locally made theater. Every element was #BuiltBySeattleRep here on site in collaboration with extraordinary artists and artisans who call Seattle home. With nationally renowned Seattle director Allison Narver (Boeing Boeing, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Three Tall Women) at the helm, an acclaimed all-local cast graces the stage in Cathy Hunt’s lushly detailed period costumes and on Carey Wong’s grand English country house scenic design. The countless creative choices they made together have been brought to life here in this theater for a one-of-a-kind interpretation of this classic built just for our community. 

We’re so glad that you made plans to join us at Seattle Rep today. As we look to the future, another key element of our strategic plan reflects our commitment to building stronger relationships with audiences and delivering a thoroughly enjoyable theatergoing experience from start to finish. With every performance we share together, we hope to inspire you to return again and again to Seattle Rep to connect with local artists and your local community for a limitless variety of stories and shared theater experiences. Today, let’s laugh together. Cheers! 

Until next time,

Dámaso Rodríguez
Artistic Director

Check Out Our New Strategic Plan

From shifts in theatergoing habits to new audiences and higher costs, the realities of running a not-for-profit theater have changed a lot since 2019. In response, Seattle Rep has launched a new strategic plan that will see us trying some new things over the next three years. Our plan is focused on three key initiatives to help us to better serve our community and pursue our mission, vision, and values in the future: 

Artistic Impact

Exploring and developing a new producing model. 

Patron Loyalty & Growth

Working to build a larger, more representative, more loyal Seattle community to sustain and grow the Theater. 

Team Culture

Pioneering sustainable, efficient theater work practices to optimize performance. 

In three years, we plan for Seattle Rep to be even closer to our vision of Theater at the Heart of Public Life. But we can’t do it without our community of theatergoers, donors, volunteers, and artists. Thank you  for your belief and participation! 

Learn more about what we seek to achieve at seattlerep.org/strategicplan

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Dámaso Rodríguez   |   MANAGING DIRECTOR Jeffrey Herrmann

Directed by
Allison Narver

The Actors and Stage Managers employed in this production are Members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

First presented by H.M. Tennent, Ltd. and John C. Wilson at the Opera House, Manchester on June 16, 1941 (the following week the company played at Leeds)

Subsequently presented at the Piccadilly Theatre, London on July 2, 1941, transferred to the St. James’s Theatre on March 23, 1942 and then to the Duchess Theatre on October 6, 1942 (1,997 performances)

BLITHE SPIRIT © NC Aventales AG 1941
Copyright agent: Alan Brodie Representation Ltd
www.alanbrodie.com

Producing Partner

Maryanne Tagney 

Associate Sponsor

Bank of America

Season Sponsor

November 29 – December 22, 2024 | Bagley Wright Theater

Thanks to Our Sponsor

At HD Fowler Company, we believe the arts improve our ability to respond to an ever more complex world with different views and perspectives. Supporting Seattle Rep ensures that our corporate family and many other families have the opportunity to enjoy great theater and foster an appreciation and understanding of the cultures and communities that make up our region. 

We are proud to sponsor Seattle Rep and hope that you and your family enjoy this performance of Blithe Spirit. Filled with sparkling wit and hysterical hauntings, this irreverent classic comedy will appeal to anyone who ever longed to see “Downton Abbey” go completely off the rails.

We welcome you to take pictures of the set before and after the show.

Share Your Photos 

#BlitheSpiritSREP
@seattlerep

Photography, recording, and use of cell phones are strictly prohibited during the performance. 

Mission 

Seattle Rep collaborates with extraordinary artists to create productions and programs that reflect and elevate the diverse cultures, perspectives, and life experiences of our region. 

Vision 

Theater at the heart of public life.  

Values 

Artistic Vitality
Sustainability
Generous and Inclusive Practices 

Code of Conduct 

Seattle Rep is committed to being a racially, culturally, and socially just organization. We promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of the work we do, and uphold a safe environment wherein all people are welcome to our space and are treated with respect and dignity.

It is our expectation that all patrons and those affiliated with Seattle Rep will align with this code of conduct and we reserve the right to relocate or remove any person from our theater who disregards this expectation.

Land Acknowledgment 

Seattle Rep acknowledges that we are on the traditional land of the Coast Salish people. We honor with gratitude the land itself and its innumerable stewards, past and present. We recognize Washington’s tribal nations, all of the Tribal signatories of the Treaty of Point Elliott, and the urban Native communities who continue to live and thrive in this space. This acknowledgment does not take the place of authentic relationships with Indigenous communities, but serves as a first step in honoring the land we are on and the people and cultures it has nurtured.

Learn more about how Seattle Rep is working to support and build relationships with Native communities.

Emergencies 

In an evacuation, wait for an announcement for further instructions. Ushers will be available for assistance. Familiarize yourself with the exit route nearest your seat.   

Accessibility 

Seattle Rep is committed to accessibility for all and will work with patrons to accommodate requests. We offer a variety of options to help make our performances accessible.

ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES: We offer select English and Spanish Open Captioned, Audio Described, ASL-Interpreted, Sensory-Friendly, and mask-required  performances. Find dates here or contact the Box Services Office for more information.

HEARING LOOP: Seattle Rep is equipped with hearing loops that transmit sound directly to t-coil enabled hearing devices. There are also receivers and headphones available to borrow at Coat Check. Look for the Hearing Loop signs which indicate coverage at performances, ticket windows, concierge, and concessions.  

WHEELCHAIR SPACES, WIDER SEATS (BAGLEY), TRANSFER SEATS, AND ADDITIONAL SEATING OPTIONS: Please see an Usher or House Manager to see what accessible seating options are available for your performance.  

SENSORY GUIDES & KITS: Scene-by-scene guides of the sensory impact of this show and kits containing headphones, fidgets, sunglasses, and communication cards are available at Coat Check.  

LARGE PRINT & BRAILLE PROGRAMS: Available at Coat Check. 

ALL GENDER RESTROOMS are located on the second floor of the Leo K. Theater and a single-stall restroom is located near the Bagley Wright Theater restrooms on the first floor.  

WELLNESS ROOM is located near the Bagley Wright Theater restrooms on the first floor.  

Contact Us 

BOX OFFICE 
Call 206.443.2222
Text 206.565.2996 

ADMINISTRATIVE
206.443.2210 

ADDRESS 
155 Mercer St.
Seattle, WA 98109 

Anne Allgood

Madame Arcati

Anne Allgood has played Broadway, national tours, and regional theaters coast to coast. CORE Company Member at Seattle’s ACT, starring in many productions (most recently POTUS; notably Sweat, The Women, Old Times, Mary Stewart, Das Barbecü, Rock ‘n Roll, Tribes, Miss Witherspoon, Vincent in Brixton, The Clean House, many Christmas Carols). At The 5th Avenue Theatre, she’s led dozens of shows: Sweeney Todd, Candide, Oklahoma, Memphis, Sunday in the Park with George, many others. At Seattle Rep: You Can’t Take It With You, Luna Gale, The Constant Wife, Bad Dates, Boeing Boeing. Thanks for coming!

Gin Hammond

Ruth

Gin is an award-winning Harvard University/Moscow Art Theatre graduate, most recently seen in POTUS at ACT. Gin has been awarded National Endowment for the Arts grants for multiple plays, and her book, Returning the Bones, is a National Indies Excellence Finalist and an INDIES Book of the Year Gold Award-winner. She is also co-founder of the Meditations for Actors mobile app. Gin’s recent solo show, Living IncogNegro, will be released as a feature-length film in 2025. She couldn't be happier to be part of this spirited extravaganza!

Sophie Kelly-Hedrick

Edith

Sophie Kelly-Hedrick (she/her) is thrilled to be back at Seattle Rep! She was last seen at Seattle Rep during the 2017/18 Season in MAC BETH (also produced Off-Broadway at Red Bull Theatre and Hunter Theatre Project). Sophie earned her B.F.A. in Drama at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Recent TV/Film credits include Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin (MAX), How (Not) to Get Rid of a Body, and the upcoming Perfect Love. sophiekelly-hedrick.com, @sophiekellyhedrick

Kirsten Potter

Elvira

Kirsten has performed with Seattle Rep, the Mark Taper Forum, South Coast Repertory, ACT, and Milwaukee Repertory Theater, among others. Favorite roles at Seattle Rep include Photograph 51, Or, and A View from the Bridge. As a narrator, she has recorded numerous audiobooks and articles and voices the role of Mara Sov in the Destiny video game series. As a playwright, her first play, Rubicon, received its premiere in 2024 at Denver Center for the Performing Arts and was honored as Best New Play by the Colorado Theater Guild. Always and everything for C, M, & W.

Arlando Smith

Charles

Arlando is so happy to return to Seattle Rep after working on The Skin of Our Teeth this season and Fat Ham in the last. Elsewhere locally, his work has been seen at ACT, Book-It Repertory Theatre, Seattle Opera, Seattle Public Theater, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Spectrum Dance Theater, and Village Theatre. Further afield, he has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Kennedy Center, the Los Angeles Theatre Center, and The Public Theater in New York. He has also worked extensively in voiceover, commercials, film, and television. arlandosmith.com

Nate Tenenbaum

Dr. Bradman

Nate Tenenbaum’s (he/him) pre-pandemic credits include Indecent (Seattle Rep), Urinetown (ACT/The 5th Avenue Theatre), Boeing Boeing (TheatreO), The Pillowman (ActOne). During quarantine: Baked one strawberry cheesecake, sewed one shirt (unwearable), and played his vinyl. Post-quarantine: The Wiz (The 5th Avenue Theatre); Cowboy Bob (The Alley Theatre, Houston); A Case for the Existence of God and Mrs. Loman is Leaving (ACT). Love to my dolls and my baby boys.

Sara Waisanen

Mrs. Bradman

Sara Waisanen has enjoyed working with theaters like Arena Stage, Dallas Theater Center, Cal Shakes, and Perseverance Theatre, to name a few. Here in Seattle, Sara has been seen on stage at ACT and Seattle Shakespeare Company. Sara wants to send so many thanks and love to Dick and Sharon Waisanen.

Noël Coward

Playwright

From humble beginnings, Sir Noël Coward (1899–1973) would achieve international recognition for his work as a playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, as well as for his incomparable wit and effortless style. Coward continues to enthrall and delight audiences. 50 years after his death, his popularity endures with his work constantly staged around the world. noelcoward.com 

Allison Narver

Director

Allison Narver is an award-winning stage director whose work has been seen at theaters across the country. Regional: Seattle Rep, ACT, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Intiman, The 5th Avenue Theatre, Book-It Repertory Theatre, New Century Theatre Company, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Portland Opera, Portland Center Stage, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Yale Repertory Theatre, Studio Theatre, City Theatre Company (Pittsburgh), REDCAT. New York: The New Victory Theater, Ars Nova, The Public Theater, Cherry Lane Theatre, New Dramatists, Kirk Theatre, and WP Theater, among many others. Allison was the Resident Director for The Lion King on Broadway. She was also the Artistic Director of Annex Theater, Yale Cabaret, and The Empty Space Theatre.

Carey Wong

Scenic Designer

Theater credits: Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Portland Center Stage, Arizona Theatre Company, Baltimore Center Stage, Syracuse Stage, Alliance Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, The 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, ACT, Village Theatre, Marin Theatre Company, Prince Music Theater, Hey City Theater, Spain’s Nearco Producciones. Resident Designer for Portland Opera, Opera Memphis, Wildwood Park for the Performing Arts. Opera credits: Seattle Opera, Spoleto Festival USA, New York’s Valhalla Wagnerfest, Pittsburgh Opera, Beijing and Macao Music Festivals. careywong.com 

Cathy Hunt

Costume Designer

Cathy Hunt has designed costumes for 100+ theater and opera productions. Her work has been seen at Seattle Rep, Hartford Stage, San Diego Repertory Theatre, Syracuse Stage, New Victory Theater, Cincinnati Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Seattle Opera, The 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle Children's Theatre, Intiman, ACT, Village Theatre, L.A. Theatre Works, Childsplay, and Clarence Brown Theatre. Cathy has been a guest lecturer at the University of Washington and Cornish College of the Arts. She holds an M.F.A. from the University of California, San Diego. 

Connie Yun

Lighting Designer

Connie (she/her) is excited to return to Seattle Rep. Recently, she has designed POTUS, STEW, A Case for the Existence of God, and Wolf Play (ACT); The Boy Who Kissed the Sky, Red Riding Hood, and Snow White (Seattle Children's Theatre); Beauty and the Beast (The 5th Avenue Theatre); Samson and Delilah and The Marriage of Figaro (Seattle Opera). Upcoming productions include Dial M for Murder (Village Theatre), La Boheme (Opera Colorado), and Tosca (Seattle Opera). Connie is a member of USA-829 and mentor with the ETC Fred Foster Mentorship Program. connieyun.com 

Cricket S. Myers

Sound Designer

On Broadway, Cricket earned a Tony Award nomination and Drama Desk Award for her design of Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. Regional: Steppenwolf Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Geffen Playhouse, Milwaukee Rep, Arizona Theatre Company, Pasadena Playhouse, and the Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, and Kirk Douglas Theatre at Center Theatre Group. Select LA theaters: East West Players, Ghost Road Company. Winner of The Ruth Morley Design Award from the League of Professional Theatre Women and a proud member of USA-829 and the Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association. cricketsmyers.com 

Judith Shahn

Vocal/Dialects

Judith (she/her) began working at Seattle Rep almost 40 years ago and has coached dozens of productions including Private Lives, A View from the Bridge, and Road to Mecca. She just finished playing Aiofe in Outside Mullingar at Bainbridge Performing Arts. Judith has also coached at ACT, Intiman, Seattle Opera, and most Seattle theater companies, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Utah Shakespeare Festival, and Shakespeare & Company. She taught at the University of Washington's School of Drama for 26 years and in the School of Law for 8 years. vibrantspeaking.com 

Jamie J. Kranz

Stage Manager

Jamie J. Kranz (she/her) is delighted to be back at Seattle Rep where she last stage managed What the Constitution Means to Me and Teenage Dick. Locally, Jamie has worked with The 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle Opera, ACT, Village Theatre, and Seattle Children’s Theatre. Regional credits include productions with Guthrie Theater, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Everyman Theatre, Children’s Theatre Company, Park Square Theatre, Goodspeed Musicals, and Maine State Music Theatre. Jamie is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and American Guild of Musical Artists. 

Quinn Chase

Assistant Stage Manager

Quinn is a stage manager and technical theater artist from the East Coast who has a passion for original work and devising creative solutions to unique problems. Quinn is a proud member of the unions AEA and AGMA. Previously at Seattle Rep: Sanctuary City, Selling Kabul, Teenage Dick. Other local credits include Seattle Opera: Jubilee, X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X, A Thousand Splendid Suns, The Barber of Seville, Pagliacci, Das Rheingold, Orfeo and Euridice, il Trovatore; ACT: A Christmas Carol; Seattle Children’s Theatre: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. 

Special Thanks

A Touch of Magic, Inc., Brian Ledbetter

This production of Blithe Spirit coincides with #Coward125, a two-year celebration of the enduring legacy of Sir Noël Coward (1899–1973) leading up to Coward’s 125th birthday. Stay up to date with #Coward125 by keeping an eye on the official
Noël Coward socials and visiting noelcoward.com 

Facebook: @noelcowardauthor
Instagram: @sirnoelcoward
Tiktok: @sirnoelcoward

A Light Comedy About Death

Beyond the Stage

We sat down with director Allison Narver to talk about all things Blithe Spirit, playwright Noël Coward, and the legacy of producing comedies during challenging times. 

Seattle Rep: One of your past standout productions directed at Seattle Rep was Marc Camoletti’s Boeing Boeing (2013), also an uproarious and smart comedy. As a director, what draws you to working with comedic stories? 

Allison Narver: The fun thing about directing comedy is that there are rules to follow and rules to break. Comedy depends on rhythm, meter, precision, and pace—particularly with Noël Coward. His language requires both discipline and accuracy and is so fast that the actors can feel like they’re playing a game of ping pong with their scene partners. Their reflexes need to be quick and they must always keep their eyes on the ball. 

The rules you get to break are equally fun and can feel like taking a dare. Is it ludicrous enough to be funny, or is it just dumb? Should we go further, or should we pull back? Something that might make us laugh in rehearsal won’t necessarily work on stage. It’s a game of risk, which can feel scary but also thrilling. 

There’s a long history of comedies being produced during dark times—and to put it mildly, we’re living through a really difficult one right now. But being able to laugh and find joy anyway can be a powerful force of resistance in the face of it all. 

SR: Blithe Spirit has been called “one of Coward's indisputable comic masterpieces” (The Daily Telegraph). How do you see this play speaking to audiences today? Why this play, now? 

AN: Brilliant writing is always relevant, but I think this will resonate with contemporary audiences because one of the themes of Blithe Spirit is trying to keep up appearances in the face of disruptive forces. 

Noël Coward has created a world with a polished, elegant veneer populated by hyper-articulate people. Their glittering and exorbitant speech creates a shield that allows his characters to avoid the messy complications of their inner lives and their deepest feelings—not even death derails this façade! Occasionally, this veneer is pulled aside and briefly exposed by great bursts of passion, jealousy, anger, and spite. When these outbursts erupt, they are quickly and neatly tucked away so that the characters can revert to the exquisitely maintained façades that have served them well for so many years. 

Similarly, in the version of ourselves we curate for our followers online, the façade we present to the world is often shiny, beautiful, and exciting, but doesn’t necessarily represent the complications of our lives or our truest feelings. What is the truth about how we present our lives to the world at large? What do we show, and what do we hide?

SR: What do you hope audiences take away from the show? 

AN: I hope that Seattle Rep audiences walk away remembering that life can still be fun; discovering the joy in Noël Coward’s language; and entering a world that seems familiar, but is not, can be a delight.    

SR: Anything else you want audiences to know? 

AN: Working with these gifted designers and actors has been a joy. I think the design is breathtaking—it has been such a pleasure to watch them create a beautiful world that metamorphizes by the end of the play. The entire Seattle Rep company has put both muscle and heart into the production, and I’m very grateful for their extraordinary work.

Each year Seattle Rep’s youth education and access programming engages more than 9,000 educators, students, and teens, encouraging the next generation of theatergoers and theater makers! Check out opportunities throughout our 2024/25 Season below. 

Teen Nights

In partnership with TeenTix, Seattle Rep offers Teen Nights for every Bagley Wright Theater show in our 2024/25 Season. Held on select Friday nights, these events feature a pre-show reception with activities, snacks, and more. TeenTix members can attend these events (and bring a friend or family member of any age) for just $5 each!

Check out seattlerep.org/teennights for more info and join us for Teen Nights at 6:30 p.m. on the following Fridays: 

• Blithe Spirit: December 13, 2024
• Blues for an Alabama Sky: February 14, 2025 
• Laughs in Spanish: May 2, 2025 
• Duel Reality: June 13, 2025 

Next Narrative Monologue Competition

Open to any high school student in Washington state, the Next Narrative Monologue Competition™ features works from fifty of America's leading contemporary Black playwrights that engage students of all backgrounds in exploring 21st-century themes, while instilling confidence to find their voices.  Winners of our Seattle regional competition participate in the National Finals, receiving an  all-expenses-paid trip to New York City! 

Applications are due January 5, 2025. Learn more and sign up at seattlerep.org/nnmc

Student Matinees

Seattle Rep’s Student Matinee program connects young audiences in Seattle and the surrounding areas with our mainstage productions. By providing arts-based knowledge that meets academic standards, we create multiple entry points for students to experience live theater, supported by in-school residencies, Youth Guides, and post-show actor talks. At just $10 per student, with additional discounts available for schools in need, we keep this opportunity affordable for all.

Student Matinees are available for every show this season but are filling quickly! Get your school signed up by visiting seattlerep.org/studentmatinees

Our Vision of the Future

As part of Seattle Rep’s new three-year  strategic plan, throughout the season ahead our staff will be assessing and developing a new model for sustainable theater programming. This involves studying education programs at other regional theaters to understand their opportunities, challenges, and best practices around both free and paid programs for youth and adults. Our goal is to design sustainable programs that align with Seattle Rep's mission and community needs. Together, let’s continue to make theater a space for everyone to learn, grow, and be inspired!

Print Edition

More About Seattle Rep

• See the rest of our 2024/25 Season. Up next: Pearl Cleage’s Blues for an Alabama Sky, directed by Valerie Curtis Newton.
• Give the Gift of Lasting Memories this Holiday Season –Name a Seat in our Bagley Wright Theater!
• Get Your Gift to Seattle Rep Matched Today – see if your employer has a matching program
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