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Jeff McCarthy, Kyle Coffman, and the Cast of Arena Stage's Oliver! Celebrate Opening

Molly Smith puts a modern spin on this classic musical.

Bethany Rickwald
Washington, DC

Arena Stage celebrated the opening night of its gritty production of Lionel Bart's classic musical Oliver! last week, with cast, crew, and guests all in attendance. The show, which runs through January 3, is directed by Arena Stage artistic director Molly Smith.

Jake Heston Miller (Oliver) and Jeff McCarthy (Fagin) at the opening of Oliver! at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater.
Jake Heston Miller (Oliver) and Jeff McCarthy (Fagin) at the opening of Oliver! at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater.
(© Cameron Whitman)

Young actor Jake Heston Miller stars in the title role, with Broadway veterans Jeff McCarthy (The Pirate Queen) as Fagin, Kyle Coffman (The Mystery of Edwin Drood) as Artful Dodger, Ian Lassiter (War Horse) as Bill Sykes, and Paul Vogt (Hairspray) as Mr. Bumble, with Eleasha Gamble (Arena Stage's Oklahoma!) as Nancy.

Workhouse Boys/Members of Fagin's Gang Sebestain Gervase, Ethan Van Slyke, Henry Niepoetter, and Mohammed Badawi celebrate the opening of Oliver!
Workhouse Boys/Members of Fagin’s Gang Sebestain Gervase, Ethan Van Slyke, Henry Niepoetter, and Mohammed Badawi celebrate the opening of Oliver!
(© Cameron Whitman)

The production's in-the-round, modern staging aims to highlight the disparity between classes and dangerous life on London's streets today.

Jake Heston Miller (Oliver) and Kyle Coffman (Artful Dodger) stop for a photo at the opening of Arena Stage's Oliver!
Jake Heston Miller (Oliver) and Kyle Coffman (Artful Dodger) stop for a photo at the opening of Arena Stage's Oliver!
(© Cameron Whitman)

For tickets and more information, click here.

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