proudly presented by Drake
Music by Richard Rodgers
Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
The original production of Oklahoma! opened at the St. James Theatre, New York on Wednesday March 31, 1943. It ran on Braodway for over five years, besting the previous record holder by more than two years.
Oklahoma! was immortalised on the silver screen in 1955 and won four Academy Awards. Interestingly filmed in Arizone, this elaborate, panoramic production starred Gordie MacRae and the beautiful Shirley Jones in her movie debut.
The Production Company’s production of Oklahoma! in 2005 starred Ian Stenlake (Cabaret, Eureka, Stingers) as Curly and the legendary Nancye Hayes (Sweet Charity, The Music Man, Annie) as Aunt Eller, with Lucy Durack as Laurey, Amanda Harrison as Ado Annie, James Millar as Jud Fry, Chris Parker as Will Parker and Mitchell Butel as Ali Hakim.
Set in Western Indian territory, just after the turn of the last century, the high-spirited rivalry between local farmers and cowboys provides the colourful background against which Curly, as handsome cowboy, and Laurey, a winsome farm girl, play out their love story. These two headstrong romantics quickly find that love’s journey in a small town is as bumpy as a surrey ride down a country road. They are about to create a new life together, and this new life will begin in the brand new state of Oklahoma!
Richard Rodgers’ score contains some of Broadway’s best loved songs including, “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’”, “The Surrey with the Fringe on Top”, “People Will Say We’re in Love” and the title song, “Oklahoma!”. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s first collaboration remains, in many ways, their most innovative, having set the standards for modern musical theatre.
Director: Terence O’Connell
Musical Director: Guy Simpson
Choreographer: Alana Scanlan