Yippee-Yai! Yippee-Yai! On Sunday, September 21, Paper Mill Playhouse -- one of the nation's most respected and beloved regional theatres -- celebrated its Platinum 70th Anniversary by kick-starting its season with the American classic, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! directed by favorite James Brennan with choreography by Peggy Hickey.
Filled with hootin'-n-hollerin', Oklahoma! (1943) tells of the timeless love-story between a lithe and witty farm girl and a handsome cowboy, amidst a high-spirited rivalry between local farmers and cowmen. The soaring score includes wonderful standards "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning," "Surrey with the Fringe On Top" and "People Will Say We're In Love."
Stars Brynn O'Malley, Megan Sikora, Adam Monley, Brian Sears and Jonathan Brody, toasted the occasion by chatting with BroadwayWorld!
The doe-eyed Brynn O'Malley (Laurey) last graced the Paper Mill stage in Meet Me in St. Louis (2007). She recently appeared in the Sunday in the Park with George Broadway revival; other Bway credits include Hairspray and Beauty and the Beast...
Eugene Lovendusky: You were beautiful tonight. Paper Mill saw you not long ago in Meet Me in St. Louis, where you were carried-off in a trolley... And tonight, you’re carried off in a surrey! You’re building quite a reputation of grand exits!
Brynn O'Malley: Apparently! The first job I had a Paper Mill was Baby, and we had a bed that was possessed, which would actually move around the stage. It was in the early days of wi-fi, and people were worried. It started to move on its own. I’m getting used to large mechanical objects moving me!
Eugene: How’s it feel to be back at Paper Mill?
Brynn: It’s a home away from home. It’s such a special theatre to work at. I’m glad it’s still here. My first real, nice-paying professional gig after moving to New York was Baby at Paper Mill. It was very humbling to be playing a lead during Meet Me in St. Louis. I thought: “Wow! I was here before as an understudy in the ensemble!” I was working with Carolee Carmello, LaChanze, Chad Kimball, Michael Rupert and Norm Lewis. It was amazing. To be back here playing this part – it’s unexpected and lovely.
Eugene: What’s your history with Laurey?
Brynn: I played Laurey my senior-year in high school... It’s interesting to come back to it. I had a few moments during this run where I thought back to the last time I played this role: I was planning on attending college for musical theatre… What was I going to do with my life? Would I be able to make it? Now, for me to have work where I’ve worked, and come back to one of the best regional theatres in the country… you learn a lot doing this role again. It’s definitely different being in your 20s playing a teenager like Laurey. You have a different understanding of what it is that she wants…
Eugene: You sing some gorgeous songs... and your duets with Adam!
