The Musical Theater Project to Celebrate 75th Anniversary of OKLAHOMA! with 'OH, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNIN' Concert

The Musical Theater Project (TMTP) will produce a new multi-media concert, "Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin': The Impact of Oklahoma!" for two performances on Saturday, October 14 (7pm) at Stocker Arts Center at Lorain County Community College, and Sunday, October 15 (3pm) at The Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square.

"Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin'..." is co-hosted by TMTP artistic director Bill Rudman and music director Nancy Maier and features Ursula Cataan, Lindsey Sandham Leonard, Joe Monaghan, Shane Patrick O'Neill and Fabio Polanco.

The first musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, Oklahoma! celebrates the 75th anniversary of its Broadway premiere this season. The musical's beloved score and story are a powerful reminder of what we as Americans have in common. The concert includes all of the show's famous songs and the fascinating account of its creation.

The original production of Oklahoma! was an unprecedented critical and popular success, running 2,212 performances - a record that wasn't surpassed until My Fair Lady 13 years later. Its 1955 film version, starring Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones, also triumphed, and the 1998 revival with Hugh Jackman proved its enduring popularity.

Says Rudman: "The show was the Hamilton of its day - a total game-changer. But the fact is, Oklahoma! is the single most influential musical in history, paving the way for everything that followed - even Hamilton. Beginning with Oklahoma!, our best musicals truly explored the lives of their characters, and every song and every dance had to contribute to the storytelling."

Stocker Arts Center is located at 1005 N. Abbe Road in Elyria on the campus of Lorain County Community College. Adult tickets are priced at $20. Tickets for children (age 18 and under) are priced at $10. Tickets are available through the Stocker Arts Center Box Office at 440-366-4040 or www.StockerArtsCenter.com.

The Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square is located at 1511 Euclid Avenue in Cleveland. General tickets are priced at $30-$55. Tickets are available through the Playhouse Square Box Office at 216-241-6000 or www.PlayhouseSquare.org.

"Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin': The Impact of Oklahoma!" is presented as part of "The Song Is You!" concert and cabaret season produced each year by The Musical Theater Project at a variety of locations.

"The Song Is You!" receives additional support from Robert Conrad, Lainie Hadden, Richard and Pat Pogue, the Kulas Foundation, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture and Ohio Arts Council.

A nonprofit organization founded in 2000, TMTP produces concerts, in-school residency programs, radio programming and recordings that foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of a uniquely American art form. To learn more about TMTP, call 216-860-1518 or visit www.MusicalTheaterProject.org.

Ohio Arts Council helps fund The Musical Theater Project with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Musical Theater Project also receives public support with local tax dollars from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, to preserve and enrich our region's artistic and cultural heritage.

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