Video: Stars of “Oklahoma!” at Arena Stage

When Washington's Arena Stage re-opened last fall, many scratched their heads when artistic director Molly Smith chose "Oklahoma!" to kick off a new era. After all, the show has been produced thousands of times, and even those who are not regular theatergoers have probably seen a production at least once—most likely at a local high school.

But Smith had another plan entirely, and her production, featuring an interracial cast, delivered rapturous reviews. The show, with most of its cast from last fall, began an encore run this summer and continues through Oct. 2.

We recently had a chance to chat with two stars of the show—both locals—about the impact of the production, their thoughts on the "new" Arena and how this story manages to resonate in the age of new media.

Thanks to Eleasha Gamble (Laurey) and June Schreiner (Ado Annie) for taking time out of their schedules to chat with us.