Oklahoma
Music by Richard Rodgers
Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Original Choreography by Agnes de Mille
Based on the play Green Grow the Lilacs by Lynn Riggs
source: Concord Theatricals
Performances at
Elm Street Auditorium
May 11-13, 1973
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The Actorsingers
Member of the Arts and Science Center
Welcome you to
OKLAHOMA
The Play
Set in the Midwestern Indian country, at the turn of the century, the musical presents two sets of lovers. It’s a yarn that features a villainous character, Jud, (which opened musical comedy to a new aspect), who comes between a cowhand known as Curly and a pretty girl called Laurey. A love triangle between Ado Annie, an Oriental peddler, and a cowhand named Will provides sticky humorous situations. With an unusual auction, enchanting ballet, and a sad murder, there is, in all the romance, tensions, laughter and drama, the melodic tunes which create OKLAHOMA!
Rodgers and Hammerstein
Oklahoma was a direct result of Rodgers and Hammerstein becoming a team. Rodgers had been approached by The Theatre Guild of New York, which was suffering a succession of theatrical failures that was bringing their famous producing organization to death, about creating a musical based on Novelist Lynn Riggs’ “Green Grow the Lilacs,” but Lorenz Hart, Rodgers’ partner at the time, felt sure that this particular novel didn’t have the makings of a musical. The Theatre Guild’s next play simply had to be a success. Rodgers new partner was Hammerstein.
Hammerstein had secretly wanted to convert “Green Grow the Lilacs” into a musical. He had approached Jerome Kern, who turned his request down with the reason that the novel didn’t have the makings of a musical. Then Hammerstein found out that The Theatre Guild was negotiating with Rodgers and Hart; Rodgers remembered Hammerstein and Hammerstein remembered Rodgers at the same time. Rodgers paid Hammerstein a visit to his farm in Pennsylvania in 1941, and a “marriage” was performed — a marriage of words and music.
Musical Numbers
TIME: Just After The Turn Of The Century
PLACE: Indian Territory (Now Oklahoma)
Act One
Scene I The Front Of Laurey’s Farmhouse
Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’ Curly, Laurey, Aunt Eller
Kansas City Will, Aunt Eller and the Boys
I Cain’t Say No Ado Annie
Many A New Day Laurey and the Girls
It’s A Scandal! It’s An Outrage! Curly and Laurey
Scene II The Smoke House
Pore Jud Curly and Jud
Lonely Room Jud
Scene III A Grove on Laurey’s Farm
Out of My Dreams Laurey and the Girls
Act Two
Scene I The Skidmore Ranch
The Farmer And The Cowman Carnes, Aunt Eller, Curly, Will, Ado Annie, Slim and Ensemble
All Er Nuthin’ Ado Annie, Will and Two Dancing Girls
Scene II Skidmore’s Kitchen Porch
People Will Say We’re In Love (reprise) Curly and Laurey
Scene III The Back of Laurey’s Farmhouse
Oklahoma Curly, Aunt Eller, Ike, Fred and Ensemble
Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’ (reprise) Laurey, Curly and Ensemble
Finale Entire Company
