Oklahoma! is set in the wild west of the Oklahoma Territory in 1906. Curly McClain, a young cowboy, falls in love with Laurey William, a pretty farm girl. Unfortunately, so does Jud Fry, a crazed farm hand. The story that ensues includes a box social dance, jealousy and, like all good Westerns, a flat-out brawl.
The main narrative of Oklahoma! revolves around Curly’s quest to win Laurey’s heart and the lessons he learns along the way. A secondary plot emerges in the form of another love triangle, this time between cowboy Will Parker, his girlfriend Ado Annie, and a crooked Persian peddler.
Although the thematic heart of Oklahoma! is how to be brave and pursue what your heart truly desires even in the face of possible rejection, the show also provides cultural commentary on the conflicts that existed between cowboys and farmers in the largely unsettled West. Issues frequently arose between the two social groups about fencing, water control, and property rights.
Oklahoma! is a period piece based on Lynn Rigg’s 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II adapted the play into a musical, creating the lyrics and music respectively. Oklahoma! was the pinnacle of innovation in musical theater because its song and dance numbers advanced the plot, making the book the most important aspect of the musical. Roger and Hammerstein were the first composers to successfully do this, creating a precedent for the future of musical theater.
Performances:
- Fri., July 11, 2014 @ 7pm
- Sat., July 12, 2014 @ 2pm & 7pm
- Sun., July 13, 2014 @ 1pm & 6pm
- Thurs., July 17, 2014 @ 7pm
- Fri., July 18, 2014 @ 7pm
- Sat., July 19, 2014 @ 2pm & 7pm
- Sun., July 20, 2014 @ 1pm