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This article is about the musical. For the motion picture based on that musical, see Oklahoma! (1955 film). The 1943 musical play Oklahoma!, written by Composer Richard Rodgers and Lyricist / Librettist Oscar Hammerstein II
For other uses, see Oklahoma (disambiguation).
Oklahoma!
Original Broadway Cast Album
Music Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Oscar Hammerstein II
Book Oscar Hammerstein II
Based upon Lynn Riggs's play
Green Grow the Lilacs
Productions 1943 Broadway
1947 West End
1951 Broadway revival
1955 Film
1979 Broadway revival
1980 West End revival
1998 West End revival
2002 Broadway revival
Awards 1993 Special Tony Award
(50th Anniversary)

Oklahoma! is the first musical play written by composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist/librettist Oscar Hammerstein II (see Rodgers and Hammerstein). Richard Charles Rodgers ( June 28, 1902, Arverne Queens, New York City &ndash December 30, 1979, New York Oscar Hammerstein II (ˈhæmɚstaɪn (born Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein) ( July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was Rollie Lynn Riggs ( August 31, 1899 – June 30, 1954) was an author poet and playwright born on a farm near Claremore Oklahoma. This article is about the folk song For the stage play see ''Green Grow the Lilacs''. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London 's "Theatreland" A revival is a restaging of a former hit play at a later date The 1943 musical play Oklahoma!, written by Composer Richard Rodgers and Lyricist / Librettist Oscar Hammerstein II Special Tony Award includes Lifetime Achievement Award Special Theatrical Event Excellence in Theatre and Special Tony Award Special Award winners 1940s Musical theatre is a form of Theatre combining Music, Songs spoken Dialogue and Dance. A composer (literally meaning 'one who puts together' is a person who creates Music, usually in the medium of notation, for Interpretation and Performance Richard Charles Rodgers ( June 28, 1902, Arverne Queens, New York City &ndash December 30, 1979, New York A lyricist is a Writer who specializes in Song Lyrics, usually paid for by a band to write a custom song(s A libretto is the text used in an extended Musical work such as an Opera, Operetta, Masque, sacred or secular Oratorio and Oscar Hammerstein II (ˈhæmɚstaɪn (born Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein) ( July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was Richard Rodgers (1902 &ndash 1979 and Oscar Hammerstein II (1895 &ndash 1960 were a well-known American songwriting duo Originally entitled Away We Go, the musical is based on Lynn Riggs's 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. Rollie Lynn Riggs ( August 31, 1899 – June 30, 1954) was an author poet and playwright born on a farm near Claremore Oklahoma. This article is about the folk song For the stage play see ''Green Grow the Lilacs''. Set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906, it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance with farmer girl Laurey Williams. Oklahoma Territory was an Organized territory of the United States from May 2, 1890 until November 16, 1907, when Claremore is a city and the County seat of Rogers County, Oklahoma, United States. Their love is challenged by Laurey's threatening farmhand, Jud Fry, and much of the play follows the tension generated by this conflict. Will and Ado Annie's love is filled with tension when Ado can't seem to pick which man she wants and needs. A special Pulitzer Prize award was given to Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II for Oklahoma! in the category of "Special Awards And Citations - Letters" in 1944. The Pulitzer Prize, ˈpʊlɨtsɚ PULL-it-sər is an American award regarded as the highest national honor in Newspaper journalism, [1]

The original Broadway production opened on March 31, 1943. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. It was a box-office smash and ran for a then unprecedented 2,212 performances, later enjoying award-winning revivals, national tours and an Academy Award-winning 1955 film adaptation. "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. The 1943 musical play Oklahoma!, written by Composer Richard Rodgers and Lyricist / Librettist Oscar Hammerstein II It has long been a popular choice for school and community productions. [2]

This musical, building on the innovations of the earlier Show Boat, epitomized the development of the "book musical", a musical play where the songs and dances were fully integrated into a well-made story with serious dramatic goals, that was able to evoke genuine emotions other than laughter. Show Boat is a musical in two acts with music by Jerome Kern and book (based on a novel by Edna Ferber) and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein [3] In addition, Oklahoma! features musical themes, or motifs, that recur throughout the work to connect the music and story more closely than any musical ever had before. [4]

Contents

Productions

Original Broadway production

Independently of each other, Rodgers and Hammerstein had been attracted to making a musical based on Lynn Riggs' stage play Green Grow the Lilacs. When Jerome Kern declined Hammerstein's offer to work on such a project, and Lorenz Hart refused Rodgers' offer to do the same, Rodgers and Hammerstein began their first collaboration. Jerome David Kern ( January 27, 1885 &ndash November 11, 1945) was an American Composer of popular music Lorenz "Larry" Hart ( May 2, 1895 &ndash November 22, 1943) was the lyricist half of the famed Broadway songwriting team

The first production was called Away We Go! and opened for out of town tryouts in New Haven's Shubert Theatre during March 1943. The Shubert Theatre is a 1600-seat theatre in New Haven Connecticut, originally opened in 1914 [5] Only a few changes were made before it opened on Broadway, but two would prove significant: the addition of a show-stopping musical number, Oklahoma!; and the decision to retitle the musical after it. A number in Music is a self-contained piece that is combined with other such pieces in a performance " Oklahoma " is the title song from and the finale to the Broadway musical Oklahoma! The music and lyrics were written by Richard

The Broadway production opened on March 31, 1943 at the St. James Theatre in New York City. Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The St James Theatre is located at 246 W 44th St Broadway, New York City, New York. The City of New York At the time, roles in musicals were usually filled by actors who could sing, but Rodgers and Hammerstein chose the reverse, casting singers who could act. As a result, there were also no stars in the production, another unusual step. It was directed by Rouben Mamoulian and starred Alfred Drake (Curly), Joan Roberts (Laurey), Celeste Holm (Ado Annie), Howard Da Silva (Jud Fry), Betty Garde (Aunt Eller), and Joseph Bullof (Ali Hakim). Rouben Mamoulian ( October 8, 1897 &ndash December 4, 1987) was an Armenian - American film and Theatre Alfred Drake ( October 7, 1914 - July 25, 1992) was an American Actor and Singer. Joan Roberts (born 15 July 1918) is the American actress who created the role of Laurey in the original Broadway production Celeste Holm (born April 29, 1917) is an American stage, Film, and Television actress, perhaps best remembered Howard Da Silva ( May 4, 1909 – February 16, 1986) was an American Actor. Betty Garde ( September 19, 1905 &ndash December 25, 1989) was an American film and television actress Marc Platt danced the role of "Dream Curly", and Katharine Sergava danced the part of "Dream Laurey". Marc Platt (born December 2 1913 in Pasadena, California, United States) is an American ballet dancer and Musical Katharine Sergava (born July 30, 1910 in Tbilisi, Georgia &ndash died November 26, 2005. Choreographer Agnes de Mille originally wanted comedian Groucho Marx to play the part of Ali Hakim, but after Rodgers objected the production team cast Bullof.

The production was choreographed by Agnes de Mille (her first time choreographing a musical on Broadway), who provided one of the show's most notable and enduring features: a 15-minute first-act ballet finale (often referred to as a dream ballet) arising from Laurey's inability to make up her mind between Jud and Curly. Agnes George de Mille ( September 18, 1905 &ndash October 7, 1993) was an American Dancer and Choreographer Ballet is a formalized form of Dance with its origins in the French court further developed in France and Russia as a Concert dance A dream ballet, in Musical theater, is an all- Dance, no- Singing Production number that reflects the themes of the production The production was a box-office smash and ran for a then unprecedented 2,212 performances. It finally closed on May 29, 1948 and was followed by a ten-year national tour, setting another record. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian defeats the Sassanid army in the Battle of Ctesiphon, under the walls of the Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

London premiere

Oklahoma! was the first of a post-war wave of Broadway musicals to reach London. It starred Howard Keel (then known as Harold Keel), opening at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, on April 30, 1947 to rave press reviews and sellout houses, running for 1,543 performances. Howard Keel, born Harold Clifford Keel ( April 13, 1919 &ndash November 7, 2004) was an American Actor The Theatre Royal Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. Events 313 - Roman emperor Licinius unifies the entire Eastern Roman Empire under his rule Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. [6] A pre-London run opened a day late at the Manchester Opera House on April 18, 1947, after the ship carrying the cast, scenery, and costumes ran aground on a sandbank off Southampton. The Opera House in Quay Street Manchester, England is a 1920 seater commercial touring theatre which plays host to touring musicals Ballet, Events 1025 - Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland. Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Southampton ( IPA /ˌsaʊθˈhæmptən/ is the largest city in the county of Hampshire, on the south coast of England [7]

1951 revival

A 1951 revival opened at the Broadway Theatre on May 9, 1951, and ran for 100 performances. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located Events 1457 BC - Battle of Megiddo (15th century BC between Thutmose III and a large Canaanite coalition under the King of Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January Ridge Bond played Curley, Patricia Northrop played Laurey, and Henry Clarke was Jud.

1979 Broadway revival

A 1979 revival played at the Palace Theatre, with nine previews beginning on December 6, 1979. Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) The show opened on December 13, 1979 and closed on August 24, 1980, running for 293 performances. Events 1294 - Saint Celestine V abdicates the papacy after only five months Celestine hoped to return to his previous life Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar 's General Gaius Scribonius Curio is defeated in the Second Battle of the Bagradas River Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) William Hammerstein (Oscar's son) directed, and Gemze de Lappe recreated Agnes De Mille's choreography. Gemze de Lappe (born February 28, 1925, in Portsmouth Virginia) is an American Dancer who worked very closely with Agnes de Mille The show starred Christine Andreas as Laurey, Laurence Guittard as Curly, Mary Wickes as Aunt Eller, Christine Ebersole as Ado Annie, and Harry Groener (who garnered various awards and nominations for his performance) as Will Parker. Christine Andreas (born October 1, 1951) is an American Actress and Singer. Laurence Guittard is an actor and singer mostly appearing on the Broadway stage Mary Wickes ( June 13, 1910 – October 22, 1995) was an American Film and Television Actress. Christine Ebersole (born 21 February 1953) is an American actress and singer Harry Groener (born September 10, 1951) is an American Actor and Dancer, perhaps best known for playing Mayor Wilkins in This production started as a cross-country national tour, beginning at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles on May 1, 1979. The Pantages Theatre, formerly known as RKO Pantages Theatre, is located at Hollywood and Vine (6233 Hollywood Boulevard) Hollywood California Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Tour sites include Washington D. C. 's Kennedy Center and Oklahoma City. The John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (on the building itself called the John F Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the US state of Oklahoma.

1980 English revivals

William Hammerstein revived his 1979 Broadway staging in England with a new production at the Haymarket Theatre, Leicester, in 1980. The Haymarket Theatre was a Theatre in Leicester, England, based in the Haymarket Centre on Belgrave Gate in Leicester City Centre A UK tour followed. Produced by Emile Littler and Cameron Mackintosh, it moved to London, opening at the Palace Theatre, London, on September 17, 1980, and running until September 19, 1981. Sir Cameron Anthony Mackintosh (born) is a British Theatrical producer notable for his association with many commercially successful musicals The Palace Theatre, is a West End theatre in the City of Westminster. Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 John Diedrich was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a musical, and Alfred Molina was nominated as Most Promising Newcomer. The Laurence Olivier Award is regarded as the most prestigious award in British theatre and is presented in recognition of artistic achievement in London theatre Alfred Molina (born 24 May 1953 is a Tony Award -nominated British / American Actor. The original cast recording was released by Stiff Records in 1980, catalogue OAK1. [8]

1998 West End production
Hugh Jackman on the cover of the DVD of the London revival
Hugh Jackman on the cover of the DVD of the London revival

A new production of the musical was presented by the National Theatre in London at the Olivier Theatre in 1998. Hugh Michael Jackman (born 12 October, 1968) is an Tony Award -winning and Emmy Award -winning Australian Actor The Royal National Theatre, located on the South Bank in the London Borough of Lambeth, England. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. It was directed by Trevor Nunn and choreographed by Susan Stroman. Trevor Robert Nunn CBE (born 14 January 1940) is an English theatre- and Film director. Susan Stroman (born October 17, 1954) is an American Broadway director, Choreographer, Film director, and In the cast were Maureen Lipman (Aunt Eller), Jimmy Johnston (Will Parker), Josefina Gabrielle (Laurey Williams), Shuler Hensley (Jud Fry), Vicki Simon (Ado Annie), Peter Polycarpou (Ali Hakim) and Hugh Jackman (Curly McLain) in his British stage debut. Maureen Diane Lipman CBE (born 10 May, 1946) is a British film Theatre and television actress, Columnist Shuler Paul Hensley (born March 6 1967) is a American singer and actor Peter Polycarpou is a British stage and TV Actor. He played Chris Theodopolopoudos in the hugely successful TV series Birds of a Feather. Hugh Michael Jackman (born 12 October, 1968) is an Tony Award -winning and Emmy Award -winning Australian Actor The limited engagement was a sell-out and broke all previous box office records,[9] and so the show was transferred to the Lyceum Theatre in London's West End for a six-month run. The Lyceum Theatre is a 2000-seat West End theatre located in the City of Westminster, on Wellington Street just off the Strand. West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London 's "Theatreland" Plans to transfer to Broadway with the London cast were thwarted by Actors' Equity, which insisted on American actors. Template talkInfobox Union for usage --> The Actors' Equity Association (AEA commonly referred to as Actors' Equity The production was filmed and issued on DVD, and it garnered a number of Olivier Awards and nominations. The Laurence Olivier Award is regarded as the most prestigious award in British theatre and is presented in recognition of artistic achievement in London theatre

2002 Broadway production

Several years later, the National Theatre production opened on Broadway at the George Gershwin Theatre on March 21, 2002, and ran for 388 performances. The George Gershwin Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 222 West 51st Street in midtown- Manhattan in the Paramount Plaza Events 630 - Byzantine emperor Heraclius restores the True Cross to Jerusalem. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Only two of the London cast--Josefina Gabrielle and Shuler Hensley--were in the production, which also featured Patrick Wilson as Curly and Andrea Martin as Aunt Eller. Shuler Paul Hensley (born March 6 1967) is a American singer and actor Patrick Joseph Wilson (born July 3 1973) is a Tony - Emmy - and Golden Globe -nominated American Theater and Andrea Louise Martin (born January 15 1947) is an American - Canadian Actress and comedienne. This revival was well received and won special praise for its innovative and evocative stage sets. It was nominated for seven Tony Awards, and Shuler Hensley won the award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. Shuler Paul Hensley (born March 6 1967) is a American singer and actor The show was also nominated for nine Drama Desk Awards, with Hensley winning as Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical and Susan Stroman winning for choreography. The Drama Desk Award, created in 1955, is an award which recognizes shows produced on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-off-Broadway, and

2006 Japan production

In 2006 Oklahoma! was performed in Japan by the all-female Takarazuka Revue. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The Takarazuka Revue (宝塚歌劇団 Takarazuka Kagekidan) is a Japanese all- Female musical theater in the city of Takarazuka Japan This revival starred Yuu Todoroki, Ai Shirosaki, and Hiromu Kiriya.

Plot summary

Act I

Curly McLain, a cowboy, is in love with Laurey Williams, a farm girl, but they both are too proud and stubborn to show it. A rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys over fences and water rights leads to tension, even in romance. As the curtain rises, Curly looks forward to the beautiful day ahead as he wanders into Laurey's yard ("Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin'"). He and Laurey tease each other while Laurey's Aunt Eller looks on ("Surrey With The Fringe On Top"). The sinister and dark-hearted outsider farm hand, Jud Fry, appears. He also sets his sights on Laurey. He asks her to the box social, a dance that includes an auction of lunch baskets prepared by the local girls (to raise funds for a schoolhouse). Box social is a term with varying definitions in Australia the United Kingdom and the United States She accepts to spite Curly, despite being afraid of Jud. Meanwhile, cowboy Will Parker returns bedazzled and souvenir-laden from a trip to the relatively modern Kansas City ("Kansas City"). But he is upset that his girlfriend, Ado Annie, invites romancing ("I Cain't Say No") from other men – especially the peddler, Ali Hakim, who appreciates her passion but doesn't want to get married ("It's a Scandal! It's an Outrage!").

Curly discovers that Laurey is going to the box social with Jud and tries to convince her to go with him instead. Afraid to tell Jud she won't go with him, Laurey warns Curly off by telling him that "People Will Say We're in Love. " Hurt by her refusal, Curly goes to the smokehouse where his rival lives, and the two indulge in idle banter about Jud's reputation ("Pore Jud Is Daid"). Their talk turns into ominous confrontation, punctuated by alarming but harmless gunplay. Once Curly departs, Jud's resolve to win Laurey becomes even stronger ("Lonely Room"). Confused and fraught by her feelings for Curly and her fear of Jud, Laurey muses ("Out of My Dreams"), then falls asleep, dreaming ("Dream Ballet") of what marriage to Curly would be like. Her dream takes a nightmarish turn when Jud replaces Curly, and she cannot escape him. She wakes from her nightmare and reluctantly leaves with Jud to go to the box social as the curtain falls.

Act II

At the social, the farmers and ranchers make peace ("The Farmer and the Cowman") in a teasing way, and due in no small part to Aunt Eller's diplomacy. Curly must sell his prized possessions—saddle, horse, even gun—in order to outbid Jud in the auction for Laurey's basket, which, as is apparent to all watching, has really turned into a battle for Laurey herself. Later that night, Will and Ado Annie work out their differences ("All Or Nothin'"). Jud confronts Laurey about his feelings for her. When she admits that she doesn't return them, he threatens her. She then fires him as her farm hand, screaming at him to get off of her property. Furious, Jud threatens Laurey before he departs. Laurey bursts into tears and calls for Curly, who comes to her rescue, and she bravely recounts her final encounter with Jud. Curly is so relieved at this development that he suddenly finds himself proposing to her. She accepts ("People Will Say We're In Love", reprise).

Three weeks later, a drunken Jud reappears the morning after Curly and Laurey's wedding. He attacks Curly and in the ensuing confrontation accidentally falls on his own knife, killing himself. At Eller's urging the wedding guests hold a makeshift trial for Curly. The judge, Ado Annie's father, declares the verdict "not guilty!", and everyone rejoices ("Oklahoma!") in celebration of the territory's impending statehood. After more rejoicing, Curly and Laurey depart on their honeymoon.

Musical numbers

Act I
Act II

The 1959 musical Little Mary Sunshine, which lampoons older operettas and musicals, has two songs that poke fun at songs from Oklahoma! "Once in a Blue Moon" parodies "All Er Nuthin", and "Mata Hari" parodies "I Cain't Say No. " Oh What a Beautiful Mornin' " is the opening song from the musical Oklahoma! written by composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist/librettist " The Surrey With the Fringe on Top " is a Show tune from the 1943 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma!. " Kansas City " is a song from the musical Oklahoma!. I Cain't Say No is a song from the musical play Oklahoma! written by composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist/librettist Oscar Hammerstein " Oh What a Beautiful Mornin' " is the opening song from the musical Oklahoma! written by composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist/librettist I Cain't Say No is a song from the musical play Oklahoma! written by composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist/librettist Oscar Hammerstein Many a New Day is a song from the musical Oklahoma!, written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. It's a Scandal! It's a Outrage! is a song from the musical Oklahoma! Travelling salesman Ali Hakim has just been pushed into marrying Ado Annie Carnes "People Will Say We're In Love" is a Show tune from the (1943 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma!. " Pooor Jud Is Daid " is a song written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II for the musical Oklahoma!. "Lonely Room" is a tune from Rodgers and Hammerstein 's Oklahoma!, sung not too long after " Pore Jud is Daid " "The Farmer and the Cowman" is a song composed by Richard Rodgers and with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II for their musical Oklahoma! All Er Nuthin is a tune from the musical play Oklahoma! written by composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist/librettist Oscar Hammerstein II "People Will Say We're In Love" is a Show tune from the (1943 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma!. " Oklahoma " is the title song from and the finale to the Broadway musical Oklahoma! The music and lyrics were written by Richard " Oh What a Beautiful Mornin' " is the opening song from the musical Oklahoma! written by composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist/librettist "People Will Say We're In Love" is a Show tune from the (1943 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma!. Little Mary Sunshine is a musical that parodies old-fashioned Operettas and musicals "

Principal roles and notable performers

Character Description Notable performers
Curly McLain A cowboy in love with Laurey Alfred Drake°, Howard Keel, Hugh Jackman, Patrick Wilson, Laurence Guittard
Laurey Williams Aunt Eller's niece, an independent young woman Joan Roberts°, Christine Andreas
Jud Fry A hired hand on Aunt Eller's ranch, a mysterious and dangerous loner Howard Da Silva°, Shuler Hensley, Alfred Molina
Aunt Eller Laurey's aunt, a respected community leader Betty Garde°, Mary Wickes, Andrea Martin, Patty Duke, Maureen Lipman
Ado Annie Carnes A flirtatious gullible young woman Celeste Holm°, Christine Ebersole, Jessica Boevers
Will Parker A simple young man in love with Ado Annie Lee Dixon°, Harry Groener
Andrew Carnes Ado Annie's father, eager to have her marry Ralph Riggs°
Ali Hakim A Persian peddler, enamored of Ado Annie Peter Polycarpou , Stephen Lopez

° denotes original Broadway cast

Original cast recording

Most of the songs from Oklahoma! were released as box set by Decca Records in 1943 containing six double-sided discs in 78 RPM format. Alfred Drake ( October 7, 1914 - July 25, 1992) was an American Actor and Singer. Howard Keel, born Harold Clifford Keel ( April 13, 1919 &ndash November 7, 2004) was an American Actor Hugh Michael Jackman (born 12 October, 1968) is an Tony Award -winning and Emmy Award -winning Australian Actor Patrick Wilson is the name of Patrick Wilson (actor (born 1973 US theater and film actor Patrick Wilson (librarian (1928 - 2003 Laurence Guittard is an actor and singer mostly appearing on the Broadway stage Joan Roberts (born 15 July 1918) is the American actress who created the role of Laurey in the original Broadway production Christine Andreas (born October 1, 1951) is an American Actress and Singer. Howard Da Silva ( May 4, 1909 – February 16, 1986) was an American Actor. Shuler Paul Hensley (born March 6 1967) is a American singer and actor Alfred Molina (born 24 May 1953 is a Tony Award -nominated British / American Actor. Betty Garde ( September 19, 1905 &ndash December 25, 1989) was an American film and television actress Mary Wickes ( June 13, 1910 – October 22, 1995) was an American Film and Television Actress. Andrea Louise Martin (born January 15 1947) is an American - Canadian Actress and comedienne. Anna Marie "Patty" Duke (born December 14, 1946) is an Academy Award - three-time Emmy Award - and two-time Golden Globe Maureen Diane Lipman CBE (born 10 May, 1946) is a British film Theatre and television actress, Columnist Celeste Holm (born April 29, 1917) is an American stage, Film, and Television actress, perhaps best remembered Christine Ebersole (born 21 February 1953) is an American actress and singer Jessica Boevers (b August 25, 1972) is an American actress who has appeared in a number of notable Broadway productions as well as Off-Broadway Lee Michael Dixon (born 17 March 1964 in Manchester, England) is a former English professional footballer who formed part of the highly-respected Harry Groener (born September 10, 1951) is an American Actor and Dancer, perhaps best known for playing Mayor Wilkins in Peter Polycarpou is a British stage and TV Actor. He played Chris Theodopolopoudos in the hugely successful TV series Birds of a Feather. Decca Records is a British Record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. It was designated as Decca Album 359. The box set sold over a million copies, prompting the label to call the cast back into the studio to record three additional selections that had been left out of the first set. These were issued as Decca Album 383, Oklahoma! Volume Two. In 1949, Decca re-released the first set on LP but not the second set, which soon became a very rare collectors' item. All subsequent LP releases were similarly incomplete. Finally in 2000, Decca Broadway went back to the original glass masters to generate a new high fidelity transfer of the complete song program and released it on CD, utilizing the original 78 album artwork.

The success of the original Oklahoma! cast album led to many more recordings by the original casts, such as Ethel Merman in Annie Get Your Gun, Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza in South Pacific, and Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews in My Fair Lady. Ethel Merman ( January 16, 1908 – February 15, 1984) was an American Actress and Singer for Musical Mary Virginia Martin ( December 1, 1913 – November 3, 1990) was an American Tony Award -winning star of stage film The Italian bass Ezio Pinza ( 18 May 1892 - 9 May 1957 was one of the outstanding Opera singers of the first half South Pacific is a musical, with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and book by both Hammerstein and Joshua Sir Reginald “Rex” Carey Harrison (5 March 1908 - 2 June 1990 was an English Academy Award and Tony Award -winning Theatre and Dame Julie Elizabeth Andrews, DBE (born Julia Elizabeth Wells on October 1 1935) is an award-winning English Actress My Fair Lady is a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw 's Pygmalion and with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner

Later original cast recordings of Oklahoma! were made of the 1979 Broadway revival and the 1998 London production. There have also been studio cast recordings starring Nelson Eddy and John Raitt, as well as a film soundtrack album featuring the cast of the 1955 movie version. Nelson Ackerman Eddy ( June 29, 1901 - March 6, 1967) was an American singer who appeared in 19 Musical films John Emmett Raitt ( 19 January[[ 917]] &ndash 20 February[[ 005]] was a star of the Musical theater and stage

Awards and nominations

1947 Theatre World Award

1980 Tony Award nominations

1980 Theatre World Award

1980 Drama Desk Award nominations

1993 Tony Award

1998 Critics' Circle Theatre Award

1998 Evening Standard Award

1999 Laurence Olivier Award

2002 Tony Award nominations

2002 Theatre World Award

2002 Drama Desk Award nominations

Cultural references

References

  1. ^ Information from the Pulitzer.org website
  2. ^ TIME magazine reported in its May 26, 2008 issue, p. Time (trademarked in capitals as TIME) is a weekly American Newsmagazine, similar to Newsweek and 51, that this musical tied (with Bye Bye Birdie) as the eighth most frequently produced musical by U. Bye Bye Birdie is a musical with a book by Michael Stewart, lyrics by Lee Adams, and music by Charles Strouse. S. high schools in 2007.
  3. ^ The Cambridge Companion to the Musical, edited by William A. Everett and Paul R. Laird, Chapter by Thomas L. Riis with Ann Sears and William A. Everett, Cambridge University Press, 2002, ISBN 0 521 79189 8, p. Cambridge University Press (known colloquially as CUP is a Publisher given a Royal Charter by Henry VIII in 1534 137
  4. ^ Wilk, Max. OK! The Story of Oklahoma!: A Celebration of America's Most Beloved Musical. Rev. ed. New York: Applause Books, 2002. ISBN 1-557-83555-1
  5. ^ Information from Capa.com
  6. ^ Who's Who in the Theatre, 11th edition, 1952. See also The Times review, May 1, 1947. Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
  7. ^ Chronicle of the 20th Century, entry for April 14, 1947: "Southampton, The luxury liner RMS Queen Elizabeth runs aground. Events 43 BC - Battle of Forum Gallorum: Mark Antony, besieging Julius Caesar 's assassin Decimus Junius Brutus in Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Maiden voyage At the start of World War II the Queen Elizabeth had been launched and was still in the process of fitting out " See also article by Dr Anthony Field in The Stage newspaper, January 9, 1997. The Stage is a weekly British Newspaper founded in 1880 available nationally and published on Thursdays Events 475 - Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar
  8. ^ Information about this production, including a full cast list
  9. ^ Interview with Hensley regarding the production

External links

The Internet Broadway Database ( IBDB) is an online Database of Broadway theatre productions and their personnel
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