Origin Theatrical

 

OKLAHOMA!

Rodgers & Hammerstein's first collaboration remains, in many ways, their most innovative, having set the standards and established the rules of musical theatre still being followed today.

Set in a Western Indian territory just after the turn of the century, the high-spirited rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys provides the colourful background against which Curly, a handsome cowboy, and Laurey, a winsome farm girl, play out their love story. Although the road to true love never runs smooth with these two headstrong romantics holding the reins, love's journey is as bumpy as a surrey ride down a country road. That they will succeed in making a new life together we have no doubt and that this new life will begin in a brand-new state provides the ultimate climax to the triumphant OKLAHOMA!

Cast Requirements: PRINCIPALS 3 Women 4 Men FEATURED 1 Woman 2 Men ENSEMBLE Large singing-dancing ensemble with numerous small roles CHARACTERS Aunt Eller Curly Laurey Ike Skidmore Fred Slim Will Parker Jud Fry Ado Annie Carnes Ali Hakim Gertie Cummings Ellen Kate Sylvie Armina Aggie Andrew Carnes Cord Elam Jess Chalmers Mike Joe Sam

Set Requirements: OKLAHOMA! takes place in the Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) just after the turn of the century. SPECIFIC LOCATIONS The Front of Laurey's Farmhouse The Smoke House A Grove on Laurey's Farm The Skidmore Ranch Skidmore's Kitchen Porch The Back of Laurey's Farmhouse

Genre / Style: Musical Comedy, Western

Rehearsal / Orchestral Material: Orchestration Package (16 Books) 1 PIANO CONDUCTOR SCORE 1 FLUTE (Doubling Piccolo) 1 OBOE (Optional English Horn) 1 CLARINET I-II (Clarinet I doubles Bass Clarinet) 1 BASSOON 1 HORN I-II 1 TRUMPET I-II 1 TROMBONE 1 PERCUSSION 2 VIOLIN A-B (Divisi) 1 VIOLA (Divisi) 1 CELLO 1 BASS 1 GUITAR (Doubling Banjo) 1 HARP Two Piano Arrangement (2 Act I, 2 Act II) Bandstration Books (21 Books) 1 Piano Conductor Score, Bandstration 1 FLUTE I-II (Both Doubling Piccolo with Opt Flute III) 1 OBOE 1 CLARINET I 1 CLARINET II 1 CLARINET III 1 ALTO CLARINET 1 BASS CLARINET 1 BASSOON 1 ALTO SAX I-II 1 TENOR SAX 1 BARITONE SAX 1 TRUMPET I 1 TRUMPET II-III 1 HORN I-II 1 TROMBONE I-II 1 TROMBONE III 1 BARITONE HORN 1 TUBA (Optional Divisi for two players) 2 PERCUSSION

Musical Numbers: Oh What A Beautiful Mornin, People Will Say We're In Love, The Surrey With The Fringe On Top, I Cain't Say No, Kansas City, All Er Nothin, Poor Jud Is Daid, Many A New Day...

Music by Richard Rodgers, Book & Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II

Awards:

1944 Pulitzer Prize
•Special Pulitzer Prize for Drama

1955 Academy Awards
•2 Awards for the Motion Picture of OKLAHOMA!
◦Music (Scoring of a Musical Picture),Robert Russell Bennett, Jay Blackton, Adolph Deutsch
◦Sound Recording, Todd-AO Sound Department, Fred Hynes, Sound Director

2002 Tony Awards
•1 Award for Best Actor (Featured Role—Musical), Shuler Hensley
•7 Nominations including Best Revival (Musical), Best Actor (Musical)

•Special Tony Award for the OKLAHOMA! 50th Anniversary

1999 Laurence Olivier Awards (London)

•4 Awards including Best Musical Production

1990 New York Drama League
•"Best Musical of the Century"

1999 Emmy Awards
•International Emmy Award

1998 London Evening Standard Awards
•Best Musical, London Evening Standard Award