Butler originated the role of Aunt Eller in director Molly Smith's award-winning revival of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical in summer 2010, and returned with the rest of the principals for the current encore run. Butler was nominated for the Helen Hayes Award for her turn.

Burrell joined the Oklahoma! company Aug. 2, and her first performance as Aunt Eller is Aug. 9 on Arena's in-the-round Fichandler Stage, in the Mead Center for American Theater.

Alice Childress' Trouble in Mind, which opens Arena's 2011-12 season, runs Sept. 9-Oct. 23 in the Kreeger Theater. Trouble in Mind, according to Arena notes, "explores the strained relationships of a newly integrated cast rehearsing a bold anti-lynching drama."

Oklahoma! continues to Oct. 2. This will mark Burrell's fourth production at Arena Stage. Previous performances include The Women of Brewster Place, Thunder Knocking on the Door and Of Thee I Sing. Her Broadway credits include Threepenny Opera, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Swinging on a Star, Into the Woods, Dreamgirls, Honky Tonk Nights, Eubie! and London's Show Boat as Julie. She was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for her work in Queenie Pie and Show Boat. Her one-woman theatrical piece Ethel will debut at Walnut Street Studio Theatre in February 2012.

For more information, visit arenastage.org.