Photo Flash: Serenbe Playhouse's Gritty OKLAHOMA! Opens Tonight

The benchmark American musical classic OKLAHOMA! gets the Serenbe Playhouse treatment in a a bold and fresh new telling opening July 24th as the largest Playhouse production to date! Scroll down for a first look at the cast!

Brian Clowdus, Serenbe Playhouse Founding Executive/Artistic Director, helms the production as Director. "To put it frankly, this is not going to be your Grandmother's OKLAHOMA! So many times, productions gloss over the darkness and sexuality that made OKLAHOMA! ground breaking, and shall we say the corner stone of American musical theatre. Yes there are joyous dance breaks and humor to boot, but this production will be a fresh re-telling of the classic script digging into the darkness of Jud's story and the romantic tension and lust between characters. With our largest and most acclaimed cast to date, paired with a breath-taking environment, including an actual barn built in 1905 and live horses, this will truly be a production that will leave you saying I Can't Say No!"

This exciting new production boasts the talents of some of Atlanta's most celebrated performers. The cast is lead by 2-time Suzi Bass Award Winner Bryant Smith (Jud), Edward McCreary (Curly) and Kelly Chapin Schmidt (Laurey) forming the sordid love triangle that routes the tension and core of the plot. Comedic relief comes from the incredible supporting cast led by Suzi Bass Award Winner Lala Cochran (Aunt Eller), Steve Hudson (Carnes), Austin Tijerina (Will), Jessica Miesel (Ado Annie) and Tony Larkin (Ali Hakim). Long time collaborators of Clowdus: Bubba Carr (Choreography), Nicholas Silvestri (Music Direction) and Ryan Oliveti (Assistant Direction) round of the creative team. Carr's reinvented dream ballet promises to be one of the boldest new statements of this production.

With OKLAHOMA! being staged in front and in an actual barn built in 1905 the architecture could not be more appropriate as the classic musical takes place in 1908. We are partnering with Serenbe Trail Riding to bring actual horses and a surrey into the reimagined staging. The Design Team includes Kevin Frazier (Lighting), Jane B. Kroessig (Costumes), and 2 time Suzi Bass Award Winner Bobby Johnston (Sound.)

Show dates and times for OKLAHOMA! are Thursdays through Sundays at 8:30 pm, July 24th through August 10th. Tickets are $30 for General Admission and $25 for Students and $20 for Children under 13. OKLAHOMA! will be performed at The Hay Barn at The Inn at Serenbe, located at 10950 Hutchesons Ferry Road, Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268. For more information about Serenbe Playhouse and to purchase tickets, visit www.serenbeplayhouse.com or call 770.463.1110. You can follow Serenbe Playhouse on Facebook, @OnstageSerenbe on Twitter and SerenbePlayhouse on Instagram.

Photo Credit: BreeAnne Clowdus

The Cast of OKLAHOMA! at Serenbe Playhouse

The Cast of OKLAHOMA! at Serenbe Playhouse

The Cast of OKLAHOMA! at Serenbe Playhouse

The Cast of OKLAHOMA! at Serenbe Playhouse

The Cast of OKLAHOMA! at Serenbe Playhouse