posted March 31, 2008
Macomb, IL – Cowboys, farmers and romance collide on the stage of Macomb High School's Fellheimer Auditorium, 1525 S. Johnson, when students perform the award-winning musical Oklahoma! April 4, 5 and 6.
Oklahoma!, written by the legendary duo of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, opened on Broadway in 1943 and quickly established itself as one of the biggest hits in theater history. The musical was transformed into a 1955 Academy Award winning film, and has enjoyed a number of revivals and productions over the years, including a record-breaking 1998 West End run starring actor Hugh Jackman as Curly.
Music enthusiasts will enjoy the opportunity to hear Oklahoma!'s original show-stopping songs, including "Oklahoma!," "People Will Say We're In Love," "Oh What a Beautiful Mornin'," "The Surrey With the Fringe On Top," "Kansas City," "I Cain't Say No," "Many a New Day," "It's a Scandal! It's a Outrage," "Pore Jud is Daid,", "Lonely Room,", "Out of My Dreams," "The Farmer and the Cowman," and "All Er Nuthin'."
The musical is set in 1906 near the Oklahoma Territory town of Claremore. The plot centers on the budding romance between cowboy Curly McClain (played by MHS junior Josiah Ulm) and farm girl Laurey Williams (senior Ali Morrison), a love-match complicated by the natural animosity between farmers and ranchers over fences and water rights. The relationship is challenged further when Williams' curmudgeonly farmhand, Jud Fry (senior Derek Hammond), enters the fray for Williams' heart. The conflict comes to a head during a box social that turns into a winner-take-all battle.
Oklahoma! also contains a romantic subplot of the struggle between cowboy Will Parker (sophomore Ben Burdick) and peddler Ali Hakim (junior Joe Deveraux) for the heart of Ado Annie Carnes (senior Mary Ann Carlson), a beautiful young lass who "Cain't Say No" to suitors.
The cast also features senior Jennica Danner as Laurey's Aunt Eller and senior Brendan Best as Ado Annie's father, Judge Andrew Carnes. Senior Makayla Trotter (Gertie Cummings), senior Sean Kirwan (Cord Elam), and senior Cody Roberts (Ike Skidmore) round out the lead roles.
Therese Pircon (Kate), Josh Keck (Fred), Lindsay Walkley (Vivian), Tevin Jordine (Slim), Ashley Stear (Ellen), Emma Anderson (Virginia), Chris Martin (Jess), Callie VanHootegem (Armina), Kyle Pickett (Chalmers), Grace Ashenhurst (Aggie), Rafael Obregon (Mike), Erica Lawver (Sylvie), Alexis Fulkerson (Ginny), and Roxana Obregon (Carrie) serve as supporting actors.
The chorus and lead understudies include Emma Anderson, Jackson Axley, Amanda Axley, Maggie Clerkin, Amy Connelly, Alyssa Detrick, Laura Deveraux, Gabby Filipink, Chelsea Hadsall, Shauntia Jones, Hope Kirwan, Alexis March, Diane Olsen, Laurissa Pearson, Meghan Pickett, Shannon Roon, Katie Shrode, Andi Sinele, Lizzy Standard, Lauren Switzer, Kellie Thornton, and Samantha Wilson.