Kelli O'Hara to Star in Lyric Theatre's Oklahoma! in June

Kelli O'Hara, who was recently seen in Reprise!'s staged concert production of Sunday in the Park with George, will play Laurey in the Lyric Theatre's upcoming production of Oklahoma! - the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic that shares a name with the state in which the Lyric is located.

O'Hara, who is from Oklahoma, will star as the musical's spirited heroine from June 26th to June 30th, at Oklahoma City's Civic Center Music Hall.  More casting will be announced.

Nick Demos will direct the production, which will feature choreography by Demos, CeCe Farha, Lynn Cramer, Ashley Stover Wells, and Amy Reynolds-Reed.  Joel Levine will handle the musical direction.

"Who will take Laurey Williams to the box social? That simple questions is played out by the hearty, pioneering men and women of the American west. Aunt Eller, Curly McLain, Jud Fry, Ado Annie, and Will Parker are but a few of the characters who take us all on the journey to statehood," state Lyric Theatre notes on the groundbreaking 1943 musical.

O'Hara received Tony nominations for her performances as Babe Williams in The Pajama Game opposite Harry Connick Jr. and as Clara Johnson in The Light in the Piazza at Lincoln Center Theater.  O'Hara's previous Broadway appearances include Jekyll & Hyde, Follies, Sweet Smell of Success, and Dracula.  Other credits include Jekyll & Hyde on tour, and My Life with Albertine.  She can also be seen in the film The Dying Gaul and heard on the recent PS Classics cast recording of "Dream True."

Visit www.lyrictheatreokc.com for more on the Lyric Theatre and its upcoming season.

Photo of Kelli O'Hara by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.