Rodgers and Hammerstein Oklahoma! at SHSU

OKLAHOMA! is presented through special arrangement with R & H Theatricals: www.rnh.com.

Oklahoma! is charmingly and thoroughly American! It pulses with the promise of a land on the verge of transformation. Based on Lynn Riggs’ 1931 play Green Grows the Lilacs and set in the Oklahoma Territory outside of Claremore in 1906, the musical is full of dramatic themes. Working to come together despite our differences, putting community values ahead of our own self-interests, respecting and cherishing those with whom we share this land. The themes of the show rang as true for Rodgers and Hammerstein and the audiences of 1942 as they do for contemporary audiences today.

Oklahoma! remains one of the ground breaking musicals in the history of musical theatre. It was the first musical written by the dynamic team of composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II and it epitomized the development of the “book musical” where the songs and dances are fully integrated into the story telling. Before Oklahoma!, musicals focused on humor with big production numbers, novelty acts and specialty dances but little dramatic development. With Hammerstein crafting the lyrics as a fundamental part of the story, the songs could develop and intensify the story telling. The fifteen-minute "dream ballet" choreographed by Agnes de Mille was the first of its kind using dance to forward the plot and reflect the internal, emotional struggle of one of the leading characters. Both the music and the dance evolved to create powerful and ground breaking story telling.

Call the BOX OFFICE at 936.294.2339 or purchase your tickets online. General admission tickets are $15. Discounted tickets are priced at $12 for senior citizens or those with a Bearkat One Card.

The Erica Starr Theatre is located in the University Theatre Center at 1740 Bobby K. Marks Drive and 17th street between the Newton Gresham Library and the James and Nancy Gaertner Performing Arts Center.

MEET DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER - Kyle Craig-Bogard

Assistant Professor, Kyle Craig-Bogard is in her second year at Sam Houston as dance instructor and choreographer in the Department of Theatre and Musical Theatre. Kyle’s performance and choreographic career has spanned the globe. Her Broadway and NYC performance credits include The Most Happy Fella, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular and Easter Show. Regionally, she performed in the national tour of Guys and Dolls, at the Goodspeed Opera House in On the Town, at Maine State Music Theatre in Titanic, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Victor/Victoria, and The Sound of Music, and at Hartford Stage Company in the original production of Martin Guerre. Additionally, Kyle danced in the 2003 and the State Farm Industrial. Through these shows and others, she has had the honor and the pleasure to work with such great choreographers as Christopher Chadman, Liza Gennaro, Michael Shawn, Tony Stevens, Linda Haberman, Robert Longbottom, John Dietrich, Dennis Callahan and Richard Stafford.

MEET THE CAST

Ensemble

Swing

Noah Blessing

Dance Captains

Asia Kreitz
Emma Nichols-Payne

PRODUCTION STAFF

Music Director, Dr. Laura Avery
Associate Music Director, Dr. Eric Gundersen
Rehearsal Pianist, Dr. David Fleming
Fight Choreographer, Kevin Crouch
Fight Captain, Patrick Kerstens
Stage Manager, Kali Grau
Assistant Stage Managers,  Michael Larson and Kaylee Sarton
Costume Design, Kristina Hanssen
Light Design, Eric Marsh
Scenic Design, Nic Graves
Sound Design, Andrew Harper
Props Master, Charly Topper
Technical Director, Craig Brossman
Assistant Technical Director, Malcolm Nichols
Costume Shop Supervisor, George Curry

ORCHESTRA

Percussion, Joe Beam
Guitar/Banjo, George Heathco
Trumpet 1, Edgar Jaime
Trumpet 2, Holly Cook
Trombone 1, Ben Osborne
Trombone 2, James Lee
Flute, Graham Tobin
Oboe, Season Summers
Clarinet 1, Ray Gonzales
Clarinet 2, Mike Mattner
French Horn 1, Shannon McCranor
French Horn 2, Jonathan Craft
Violin 1, Zachary Montasser
Violin 2, Emilio Arredondo
Viola, John Randolph
Cello, Ed Harper
Bass, Alan Simmons