For Immediate Release: June 29, 2005
Media Contact: Jayme Powers, Arden Theatre Company, 215.922.8900 x22

Arden Theatre Company concludes a record-breaking season with the smash hit Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. This crowning accomplishment has broken all ticket sales revenue records in the history of the theatre. More than 17,300 patrons visited Fleet Street during the run of Sweeney Todd for more than $349,000 in ticket sales topping the mainstage show runner-up, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, by more than $20,000. Sweeney Todd also surpassed this season's children's theatre hit A Year with Frog and Toad in ticket sales revenue (though A Year with Frog and Toad does retain the attendance record as over 26,100 patrons were charmed by this delightful musical).

The 2004/2005 season touts unprecedented attendance and record-breaking ticket sales revenue generated by a hit season that placed four of the season's six shows within the Top Ten best-selling shows of all time. In addition to Sweeney Todd and A Year with Frog and Toad, The Underpants and Fences also made it to the Arden's Top Ten list this season. Bucking a national trend of declining subscription sales, the Arden enjoyed a second consecutive year of increases of 5% in subscription sales. Single ticket sales were up by 15% and group sales increased by 16%. Overall attendance for the season was up nearly 10% to over 90,160 with one less show in the schedule. (The 2003/2004 season was comprised of seven shows while the 2004/2005 season had just six.)

Arden's Producing Artistic Director Terrence J. Nolen reflects, "As we celebrate our 10th anniversary in Old City, it's gratifying to see that our work for both kids and adults has reached more people than ever before and it's thrilling that our audiences have embraced such a wide variety of work.

"As we look to the future, we are emboldened by the tremendous success of this season. Next year, we look forward to welcoming back the Reale brothers (creators of A Year with Frog and Toad) with the world premiere of their newest show for kids - The Dinosaur Musical, and to the return of Michael Hollinger, whose newest play Opus will be co-produced with the City Theatre of Pittsburgh."

Arden Theatre Company has announced all but one of its 2005/2006 shows. The season will open with Joe Orton's Loot, followed by the new musical Winesburg, Ohio. Arden Children's Theatre returns to the creators of A Year with Frog and Toad with the world premiere of The Dinosaur Musical for the holiday season. In January, the mainstage season continues with the world premiere of Michael Hollinger's Opus. Brian Friel's Dancing at Lughnasa follows and the season finishes with Stephen Sondheim's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Details about the season will be available by mid-July.

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