Arena Stage's OKLAHOMA! Hits 100,000 Attendees, Show Must Close 10/2

Shattering even more records, Arena Stage's production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! has been seen by 100,000 people and counting, including seats filled and tickets sold for both engagements of the critically acclaimed production. Now in its final weeks, this is the last chance to catch the 2010 Helen Hayes Outstanding Resident Musical, which must close October 2, 2011.

"A spirited hit production"-New York Times
"One of the top 10 productions of 2010"-New Yorker
"Just as radiant the second time around"-Washington Post
"Just about perfect"-Bloomberg
"I've never seen a production of this classic where it all worked so well"-Toronto Star
"The show never stops"-Philadelphia Inquirer
"A pleasingly polished, high-energy hoe-down"-Theatermania
"A must see production"-Washington Life
"Triumphant"-Washingtonian
"Rousing crowd pleaser"-Washington City Paper

"Clearly, Molly Smith's production of Oklahoma! has found a way to introduce this show to a whole new audience-and, I might add, also thrilled audiences who already knew Oklahoma!" says Ted Chapin, President and Executive Director of Rodgers & Hammerstein: An Imagem Company. "Nothing makes me happier than to experience a dazzlingly fresh production of one of the classic musicals that form the foundation of this office. Bravo to everyone connected with Arena Stage's production!"

"I'm thrilled that Arena continues to reach unprecedented milestones artistically and in its ability to attract audiences to its grand facility in Southwest," says D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray. "The impact that Oklahoma! has had on its loyal District theater-goers and on the growing economy of the waterfront speaks volumes to the city's investment in the arts. District residents love a good show and I look forward to Arena staging many more that will keep the crowds coming for the benefit of the magnificent theater and the District's economy."

Facts, figures and records broken for Oklahoma! at Arena Stage:

As of September 1, the second engagement of Arena's Oklahoma! has sold more tickets than the original, which previously held the record as the best-selling mainstage production in Arena Stage's 61-year history.
With 174 public performances over 23 weeks, The Combined runs make Oklahoma! the longest-running mainstage production in Arena Stage's history.
Oklahoma! earned four Helen Hayes Awards, including Outstanding Resident Musical, and 10 nominations.
When complete, more people will have experienced Oklahoma! at Arena Stage than:
Nearly twIce The average attendance for mainstage productions in a season among all resident theaters, according to Theatre Communications Group's Fiscal Survey 2010 (166 theaters included);
Nearly twIce The seating capacity of all 40 Broadway theaters combined (courtesy The Broadway League);
75 times the total seating capacity of the Mead Center for American Theater;
Three times the population of Molly Smith's previous hometown of Juneau, Alaska;
TwIce The capacity of the Washington Nationals Stadium; and
TwIce The amount of passengers per day at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

For ticket information, visit www.arenastage.org or contact the Sales Office at 202-488-3300.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater is a national center dedicated to the production, presentation, development and study of American theater. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Molly Smith and Managing Director Edgar Dobie, Arena Stage is the largest company in the country dedicated to American plays and playwrights. Arena Stage produces huge plays of all that is passionate, exuberant, profound, deep and dangerous in the American spirit, and presents diverse and ground-breaking work from some of the best artists around the country. Arena Stage is committed to commissioning and developing new plays through the American Voices New Play Institute. Now in its sixth decade, Arena Stage serves a diverse annual audience of more than 300,000. www.arenastage.org

Follow Arena Stage on Twitter @arenastage or http://twitter.com/arenastage and mention Oklahoma! with #OKinDC. Visit Arena Stage on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/arenastage.

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