Due to previous commitments by the actors and Arena Stage, Oklahoma! — which has earned rave reviews and is luring New York commercial producers to Washington, DC — must close Dec. 30.
The revival, directed by artistic director Molly Smith, has broken Arena box office records less than two weeks after opening night. Performances play Arena's signature in-the-round Fichandler Stage.
The Arena sales records currently set by Oklahoma! are:
- Highest single ticket sales for a single production by opening night. By opening night, Arena Stage had 54 percent more in advanced single ticket revenue than the previous record holder, the 2010 production of Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies.
- Highest single ticket sales for a single production in a 24-hour period, surpassing Molly Smith's 2002 production of South Pacific by a 50 percent increase in revenue.
- Highest grossing, non-extension production in Arena Stage history. Previously held by the 2010 production of Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies, the record for the highest single ticket sales for a non-extension run has been exceeded by more than $100,000 by opening night.
- Highest single ticket sales for a single production in one week. Oklahoma! has broken this record twice so far, first during the week of Nov. 1-7, 2010, when Arena Stage surpassed the previous record set by Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies by selling more than 4,000 tickets, and then again the following week, when Arena Stage sold nearly 6,000 tickets.
The cast of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! also includes Philip Michael Baskerville (Cord Elam), Andrew Hodge (Slim), Shane Rhoades (Fred), Vincent Rodriguez III (Sam), Anton Harrison LaMon (Jess), Cara Massey (Gertie), Emilee Dupre (Vivian), Annie Petersmeyer (Virginia), Jessica Wu (Kate), Cyana Cook (Ellen), Semhar Ghedremichael (Aggie), Hollie E. Wright (Sylvie/Dream Laurey), Kyle Vaughn (Mike/Dream Curly), Kurt Boehm (Male Swing) and Jessica Hartman (Female Swing).
The creative team includes choreographer Parker Esse, music director George Fulginiti-Shakar, assistant musical director Mary Sugar, set designer Eugene Lee, assistant scenic designer Tristan Jeffers, costume designer Martin Pakledinaz, assistant choreographer Ashley Yeater, assistant director Anita Maynard-Losh, fight choreographer David Leong, lighting designer Michael Gilliam and sound designer Tim Thompson.
Tickets for the extension are on sale now through the Arena Stage Sales Office by calling (202) 488-3300 or at www.arenastage.org.