The Washington Crossing Open Air Theatre Presents OLIVER!

The Washington Crossing Open Air Theatre presents a musical with a "twist" as its next offering when Lionel Bart's legendary award winning Oliver! comes to the outdoor venue for a three weekend run. Set to open on Friday, September 9, the musical will continue through Sunday September 25. Due to the end of summer and an earlier sunset, shows will now begin at 7 pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Oliver! has enjoyed immense success over the years. The first Broadway production won three Tony Awards and the 1968 film version won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The perfect family musical, based on Charles Dickens' classic "Oliver Twist", Oliver! is the story of a young orphan boy who wants "more." From the orphanage to the mean streets of London, the ever-optimistic Oliver strives to survive through thick and thin meeting such memorable characters as Nancy, Fagin, Bill Sikes and the Artful Dodger along the way. Dramatic, engagingly powerful and ultimately uplifting, Oliver! is an unforgettable, feel good story of a remarkable boy looking for a place to call home.

The production's magical score is full of Lionel Bart's irresistible songs including "Food Glorious Food', 'Consider Yourself', 'You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two', 'I'd Do Anything', 'As Long As He Needs Me', 'Where Is Love' and many more. The Open Air Theatre production stars David Whiteman as Fagin. Open Air audiences know David from numerous leading roles he has played at the outdoor venue over the past 6 seasons. Earlier this season he reprised the role of King Arthur in Monty Python's Spamalot, a role he first portrayed in 2015. Other roles include Man in Chair in The Drowsy Chaperone, Frankenstein's Monster in Young Frankenstein and Georges in last season's production of La Cage aux Folles. Area theater audiences also know David for his annual portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge in the Downtown Performing Arts Center's holiday production of A Christmas Carol.

The Washington Crossing Open Air Theatre production of Oliver will be performed on Friday, September 9, Saturday, September 10 and Sunday, September 11 at 7 pm. The show returns for two additional weekends of shows with 7 pmperformances on September 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for children (ages 12 and under) and $12 for seniors (ages 65 and older.) Tickets can always be purchased at the Open Air Theatre Box Office a half-hour prior to the performance. Group discounts are available.

For information about the productions remaining in the 2016 season, directions and more, visit the website at www.downtownpac.com. The Washington Crossing Open Air Theatre is located inside Washington Crossing State Park at 455 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road in Titusville, New Jersey. Box Office phone is (267) 885-9857.

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