Theatre Wesleyan, one of the longest running theatres in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, will be commemorating the 75th anniversary of the landmark Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, OKLAHOMA!, with a brand-new production perfect for the entire family. The limited engagement will be presented at the W.E. Scott Theatre (3505 West Lancaster) from Thursday, April 19 through Sunday, April 22, 2018.
One of the most beloved and innovative Broadway musicals of all-time, OKLAHOMA! is set in a Western Indian territory just after the turn of the century. The high-spirited rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys provides the colorful background against which Curly, a handsome cowboy, and Laurey, a winsome farm girl, play out their love story.
Although the road to true love never runs smooth, with these two headstrong romantics holding the reins, love's journey is as bumpy as a surrey ride down a country road. That they will succeed in making a new life together, we have no doubt, and that this new life will begin in a brand-new state provides the ultimate climax to the triumphant OKLAHOMA!
The production marks the first time in over 50 years that Theatre Wesleyan will be producing a musical from the seminal Rodgers & Hammerstein catalog; the aforementioned production of Carousel was produced in 1963, directed by Mason Johnson. OKLAHOMA! continues Wesleyan's annual spring musical tradition, which began in 1955 with a production of Finian's Rainbow.
In conjunction with Texas Wesleyan University's Alumni Reunion Weekend, the annual Afterglow event will be held following the Saturday, April 21 performance; the event will also be held at the W.E. Scott Theatre. Alumni and guests may register for reunion events, including the performance of OKLAHOMA! and the Afterglow event by visiting the Alumni Relations website (www.txwes.edu/reunion).
The diverse cast of OKLAHOMA! consists of nearly 30 Texas Wesleyan University students, many with previous experience performing in the DFW area, all pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre. The cast includes Holli Price (Aunt Eller), Richard Givans (Curly), Reagan Fraze (Laurey), Tobin Griffin (Jud), Alfredo Tamayo (Will Parker), Crystal Salazar (Ado Annie), Tristen Brown (Ali Hakim), Kevin Dawson (Andrew Carnes), Malik Offor (Ike Skidmore), Alastair Sigala-Ramirez (Cord Elam), Bria Huckaby (Gertie). The ensemble includes William Bull, Gabe Crowley, Torris Curry, Amanda Fitzgerald, Alexandra Flurry, Brianna Hunter, Mariah Dawn Kuhn, Darin Martin, Jasmine Mesre, Kimberly Owen, Skylar Peters, Michelle Phillips, Ryan Simon, Kristian Thomas, and John Traxler. The child ensemble includes Hunter Hall, Madeline Potter, and Penelope Potter.
Spearheading the production team is director, Jeanne Everton, with musical direction by Michael Plantz and choreography by Stephanie Locker-Hall. The team, also consisting of Texas Wesleyan University students and faculty, includes Kaitlin Hatton (Stage Manager), Flower Avila & Lauren Garza (Assistant Stage Managers), Bryan Stevenson (Scenic & Lighting Design), José Torres (Assistant Scenic Design), Christina Carter (Assistant Lighting Design), Rayven Harris (Sound Design & Engineer), Karen Potter (Costume Design), Jasmine Mesre & Amanda Fitzgerald (Assistant Costume Design), Alastair Sigala-Ramirez (Properties Design), Jacob Rivera-Sanchez (Publicity Design & Illustration), and Jorge Flores (Technical Director).
The Texas Wesleyan Student Theatrical Experience Fund (STEF), a partnership with Texas Wesleyan University's Student Government Association and Theatre Wesleyan, since 2016, allows TXWES students to be able to see Theatre Wesleyan productions at no cost to them. Service organizations for the performing arts, including the Theatre Development Fund (since 1968), which inspired STEF, have allowed and enabled attendance of unique theatrical experiences for everyone, including students, at discounted rates.
Tickets to all performances of OKLAHOMA! are now available at the Theatre Wesleyan website (www.txwes.edu/theatretickets). For more information regarding group ticket sales at a discounted rate, please contact the Box Office at 817-531-4211 or via email at theatre@txwes.edu. The show is presented by special arrangement with The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization.
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Theatre Wesleyan, one of the longest running theatres in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, will be commemorating the 75th anniversary of the landmark Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, OKLAHOMA!, with a brand-new production perfect for the entire family. The limited engagement will be presented at the W.E. Scott Theatre (3505 West Lancaster) from Thursday, April 19 through Sunday, April 22, 2018.