Oklahoma!
27th April to 1st May 2004

Based on the Play "Green Grow the Lilacs" by Lynn Riggs. Music by Richard Rodgers. Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II.

'Oklahoma!' brought together for the first time composer Richard Rodgers and the lyricist / librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The duo would go on to write nine Broadway musicals together, but none would be as important for the development of American musical theatre as 'Oklahoma!'. A milestone in its fusion of story, song and dance, the production even featured a dream ballet (Choreographed by Agnes de Mille), which revealed the main characters hidden fears and desires.

It is 1907 and we are in Indian territory soon to be the state of Oklahoma, with its cornfields and cattle ranches, farmers and cowboys. Aunt Eller runs a homestead for her young niece Laurey, helped by a sinister hired hand, Jud Fry.

Curly, a young cowboy, is in love with Laurey, but has a rival in Jud. She is fed up with Curly's bragging, and so agrees to go to a social evening with Jud. During the box social a fight breaks out between farmers and the cowboys and Aunt Eller relieves the tension by dancing with Curly, which unfortunately gives Jud the chance to dance with Laurey.

Will Parker is in love with Ado Annie, but she has her eye on Ali Hakim, a pedlar man and her father insists she gets engaged to him. The pedlar man's magic potions send Laurey into a dream in which she is about to marry Curly, but to her horror Jud appears by her side.

Back at the ranch Jud makes unwanted advances to Laurey and is ordered off the premises, but returns to upset her wedding festivities...