May 29, 30, June 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 2011
Oklahoma! was directed by Jenny Estill, who grew up performing in this magical space playing many lead roles. After college and other life experiences, she came back to work on the other side of the production table. Here are her thoughts from her Director’s Notes:
“Oklahoma! is one of the most performed and best loved musicals in history. . . . Its fame and familiarity are so great that they can obscure several important things about this show. The first is that Oklahoma! is widely regarded as the first major musical wherein all elements – music, lyrics, and choreography – work together to advance plot and character development. Unlike his previous projects, Richard Rodgers waited to compose the music until Hammerstein had written the lyrics so that the songs flowed naturally from the storyline.”
“To this was added the visionary choreography of Agnes DeMille, whose commitment to clear storytelling prompted one of the show’s most famous innovations – the so called “Dream Ballet”. It was a risky way to end the first act: conventional wisdom called for an upbeat showstopper to bring audiences back after intermission. The creative team opted instead for a nightmare told in classical ballet, which guides the audience through the tangled undergrowth of Laurey’s subconscious and arrives, as she does, at a clear understanding of her deepest hopes and darkest fears.”
“It was also difficult for me to see why, sixty years and countless productions later, we should mount this all-too familiar show once again. As I looked more closely, however, I found many reasons: strongly drawn, engaging characters, a beautiful and intelligent score, danger, humor, and a darn good love story. It is also a perfect play for the natural grandeur of the Kitsap Forest Theater; Lynn Riggs’ Green Grow the Lilacs, on which Oklahoma! is based, is above all a love song to the vast, boundless beauty of sky and prairie. Finally, this is a play about hope in the face of struggle and uncertainty, and such a play is always worth performing.”
Oklahoma! also brought back Cooper Harris-Turner to the theater after a hiatus of several years to play the role of Curly. As an interesting side note, Cooper played Peter Pan against director Jenny Estill's Wendy in the Forest Theater's 2005 production of Peter Pan. Laurey was played by new Player, Sylvie Baldwin and Aunt Eller was played by long-time player Cheryl Phillips (who also played Aunt Eller in our 1980 production of Oklahoma!)
Sylvie shared her thoughts about playing Laurey in a blog post. Here is an excerpt: "Oklahoma, from Laurey's perspective, is a story about self realization. A young spitfire, whose days of hard work on the prairie have made her independent and adventurous, she is grappling with surrendering herself to love. 
The vulnerability of exposing one's true feelings is difficult for anyone, but particularly Laurey, who, as a teenager, is still trying to sort out who she is and where she is headed in her life."
Guy Caridi choreographed the show, and Gail Foster music directed. Debbie Valenta added her talent to the piano and Margie Kluth was the costumer. Will Gray and Scott Baker designed and built Laurey’s house which was the centerpiece of the set.
A first time audience member wrote: “First but not last time we will be to the Forest Theater. Oklahoma! was WONDERFUL. Thank you for a very enjoyable afternoon!” Mary M.
1957 attended the 8 shows.
