Who's the best Laurie in Oklahoma?

[MrMidwest]

Shirley Jones just sticks with me always. I think part of it is that she really was so young and not a 35 year old playing the role.

Who do you like the best in the part for vocals and acting?


Many a new face will please my eye

[Musicaldudepeter]

I think Christine Andreas was pretty spot on in the 1979 Broadway revival. She got a Tony nomination for it too.

Josefina Gabrielle played the role in the 1998 London revival and its 2002 Broadway transfer, but I don't rate her in the role. Her dancing was superb but her singing left a lot to be desired. Also, she spent the whole show like a big moaning kid who didn't get her way in the candy store.

[wildcat]

I'll vote for Christine Andreas.

[joeybiltmore1]

The late 70's Broadway revival with Christine Andreas remains my favorite recording of Oklahoma!. I didn't see the production but she sounds like absolute perfection as Laurey.

That is the best Oklahoma recording across the boards IMHO - Laurence Guittard and Martin Vidnovic sing like baritone gods as Curly and Jud, Christine Ebersole and Harry Groener find all the fun in Ado Annie and Will, the wonderful Bruce Adler tears it up as Ali Hakim, and the great Mary Wickes lends her legendarily wry wisdom and humor to Aunt Eller. The ensemble featured a very young Jessica Molaskey.

[EricMontreal22]

While some disagree, I really liked the Laurie int he video of the UNC original production recreation.

I agree that, on CD, the 1970s recording is nearly impossible to beat.

[Musicaldudepeter]

Yes and one of the reasons the score sounds so sumptuous on the '79 recording is that that production had the original 1943 music director/conductor, Jay Blackton. He knew that score inside out, and he knew how Richard Rodgers envisioned it.

[Skip2]

Andreas for Broadway

Jones for movie

[jv92]

I love the 1979 revival recording. Surely, the best OKLAHOMA! on record.

[AC126748]

I'm guessing none of us are old enough to have seen Joan Roberts, but I bet she was pretty damn special live. I absolutely love her voice and am glad I got to see her perform in FOLLIES.

I've always loved Andreas on the 1979 cast recording. Many complain that her sound is too vibrato-heavy, but I adore it.

Josefina Gabrielle is a first-rate dancer and an okay singer/actress. I always assumed the reason that she was cast in the London revival because it was dance-heavy. I'm still surprised they decided to bring her over to Broadway, as there are many talented triple-threats in New York who might have sang and acted the role better.

Eleasha Gamble, in the Arena Stage production, was an absolute delight.

[MrMidwest]

Christine Andreas - People Will Say We're in Love

[sondheimfan2]

Add my vote for Christine Andreas and the '79 revival - my first Broadway show!

[americanboy99]

Rewatched that "People Will Say.." recording, and WOAH I had forgotten how perfect Andreas is in that role. Nails that dialogue into the song- perfect combo of spunky flirtation and ingenue.

I would love to see a lush, appropriately cast professional production of this show ASAP.