Photo Flash: Marriott Theatre Celebrates Opening Night of OKLAHOMA!

From the sun baked Oklahoma Territory at the turn of the 20th century comes the Broadway classic, Oklahoma!, beginning April 11 with a press opening on Wednesday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. Due to high demand, an additional week is now on sale through June 10. Featuring a powerful score by legendary duo Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, and based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs, Oklahoma! will be directed by Artistic Director and Jeff Award-winner Aaron Thielen (She Loves Me, Spring Awakening). Jeff Award nominee Alex Sanchez (Marriott Theatre: Newsies, Evita, On the Town, Mary Poppins) will choreograph, with Musical Direction and orchestrations by Jeff Award winner Ryan T. Nelson.

Breaking all Broadway box office records when it opened in 1943, Oklahoma! was the first collaboration between Rodgers and Hammerstein - the team who went on to create Carousel, South Pacific, The King and Iand The Sound of Music. Set in a Western Indian territory just after the turn of the century, Oklahoma! is the tale of the farm girl, Laurey, and the handsome cowboy, Curly. As they struggle to start a brand new life in a brand new state, Laurey learns what it means to follow her heart no matter the consequences.

Marriott Theatre proudly presents the 75th anniversary of Oklahoma! after their last production celebrated the show's 50th anniversary. Ted Chapin, head of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization, notes "R&H Theatricals has had a long and great history of working with Marriott Theatre. We have always counted on them to honor the legacy of the R&H classics by showing their audiences the power of what Rodgers and Hammerstein have written."

Oklahoma! stars Jennie Sophia as "Laurey" (Goodman Theatre: Brigadoon; Drury Lane Theatre: Les Misérables, Oliver), Brandon Springman as "Curly" (Marriott Theatre: The Bridges of Madison County, She Loves Me, Singin' in the Rain), Susan Moniz as "Aunt Eller" (Marriott Theatre: October Sky, La Cage aux Folles, Mary Poppins; Broadway/National Tours: Fun Home, Grease), Shea Coffman as "Jud Fry" (Marriott Theatre: Ragtime, Newsies, The Bridges of Madison County), Michelle Lauto as "Ado Annie Carnes" (Marriott Theatre: Ragtime; Royal George Theatre: Spamilton), Aaron Umsted as "Will Parker" (National Tours: Anything Goes, Mary Poppins, A Chorus Line), Ninos Baba as "Ali Hakim" (About Face Theatre: Significant Other and I Am My Own Wife, American Players Theatre: King Lear, Death of a Salesman, The Comedy of Errors), andTerry Hamilton as "Andrew Carnes," Evan Tyrone Martin as "Ike Skidmore," Elizabeth Telford as "Gertie Cummings", Benita Bünger as "Dream Laurey," Lucas Segovia as "Dream Curly," with Brandon Block,Miranda Borkan, DeShawn Bowens, Nick Cosgrove, Maxwell J DeTogne, Alejandro Fonseca, Noah Gouldsmith, Autumn Hlava, Maya Lou Hlava, Johanna Mckenzie Miller, Madison Piner, Zachary Porter, Ken Singleton, Kyra Sorce, Adrienne Storrs, Steven Strafford and Jessica Wolfrum.

The production will feature set design by Kevin Depinet, projection design by Anthony Churchill, costume design by Brian Hemesath, lighting design by Jesse Klug, sound design by Robert E. Gilmartin, properties design by Sally Weiss, and musical supervision and orchestra conducted by Patti Garwood.

The performance schedule for Oklahoma! is Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., with select Thursday 1:00 p.m. shows. Tickets now on sale through June 10, prices range from $50 to $60, including tax and handling fees. Call for student, senior and military discounts. On Wednesday and Thursday evenings there are a limited number of dinner-theatre packages available for purchase through the Marriott Theatre Box Office. To make a restaurant reservation, please call 847.634.0100. Free parking is available at all performances. To reserve tickets, please call The Marriott Theatre Box Office at 847.634.0200 or go to www.ticketmaster.com. Visit www.MarriottTheatre.com for more information.

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