Photo Flash: 'Oklahoma' Opening Night at Paper Mill Playhouse

To open their 70th Season, Paper Mill Playhouse takes a fresh look at this musical theatre classic. Arguably the most brilliant musical ever created, Oklahoma! changed the face of American musical theatre forever. 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.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! brings an all-star cast of Paper Mill favorites and brilliant newcomers to the Paper Mill stage.  Adam Monley (Curly) returns to the Paper Mill stage where he last performed in Romeo and Bernadette (2003).  On Broadway, Mr. Monley appeared in Mamma Mia and off-Broadway in Fanny Hill.  Brynn O'Malley (Laurey) most recently appeared on the Paper Mill stage in Meet Me in St. Lewis (2007). On Broadway she appeared in Sunday in the Park with George, Hairspray, and Beauty and the Beast.  Returning to the Paper Mill stage is Andrew Varela (Jud Fry) who was last seen in Paper Mill's production of Happy Days (2007), Pirates! (2007), and Romeo and Bernadette (2003).  Mr. Varela's Broadway credits include Sunday in the Park with George, Little Women, and Les Miserables.  Beth Fowler (Aunt Eller) last appeared on Paper Mill's stage in Steel Magnolias (2008). Ms. Fowler originated the role of Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast on Broadway and has also appeared in Inherit the Wind and Bells Are Ringing. Her performances in The Boy from Oz and Sweeney Todd each earned her Tony® Award Nominations.  Megan Sikora (Ado Annie) is making her Paper Mill debut.  Ms. Sikora has appeared on Broadway in Curtains, Dracula: the Musical, Wonderful Town, Wicked, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and 42nd Street.  Brian Sears (Will Parker) last appeared at Paper Mill in Hello, Dolly! (2006) and on Broadway in Grease.  John Jellison (Andrew Carnes) has previously appeared in Paper Mill's production of A Wonderful Life (2006).  His Broadway credits include All Shook Up, Passion, Caroline or Change, Anything Goes, and Oklahoma!. Joseph Kolinski (Ike Skidmore) has many Broadway credits including the original companies of Les Miserables and Titanic.   Jonathan Brody (Ali Hakim) has appeared in Paper Mill's production of Forever Plaid (1994) and has appeared on Broadway in Spamalot and Titanic.

Rounding out the Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! cast are: Ashely Adamek, J. David Anderson, Dan Bogart, Stephen Carrasco, Drew Franklin, Cynthia Leigh Heim, Anne Horak, Ryan Jackson, Danielle Jordan, Sam Kiernan, Kimberly Lemieux, Sabra Lewis, Lauren Marshall, Ryan Sandberg, Steve Schepis, Kiira Schmidt, Elizabeth Stacey, Samantha Sturm, Kyle Vaughn, and Ryan Worsing.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! is directed by Paper Mill favorite James Brennan who most recently directed Kiss Me, Kate (2008) for the Millburn Theatre. Mr. Brennan has created productions of Call Me Madam at the Goodspeed Opera House, On Your Toes and Noises Off at the Cape Playhouse on Cape Cod, and A Wonderful Life and She Loves Me at the Paper Mill Playhouse.

For more information please visit www.papermillplayhouse.org

Kimberly Lemieux and Steve Shepis

Drew Franklin, Kiira Schmidt, Ryan Jackson and Sabra Lewis

Mark S. Hoebee and Brynn O'Malley

Brian Sears and Adam Careo

P.J. Benjanin and Louisa Flaningam

Elizabeth Stacey, Kiira Schmidt, Danielle Jordan and Kyle Vaughn

Megan Sikora

Howard Hirsch, Pam Hirsch, Lee Kappelman and John Ryboch

Sam Kiernan and Matt Kiernan

Kristen and Ken Wenger

Mark W. Jones, Brian Sears, Keith Spencer and Harry Bradley

Anne Horak, Ashley Adamek, Jimmy Kilduff, Patrick Parker and Ryan Worsing

Laverne Burton and Mark W. Jones

Lisa Karlin and Samantha Sturm

Peter Hanson, Christian Bottorff, Amanda Mitchell and Mimi Intagliata

Beckie Stravers, J. David Anderson and Steve Smith

Andrew Varela, Susan Spencer and Roger Preston Smith

Richard Rockage, John Jellison, Alison Franck and Matt Kiernan

Jane Patterson, Daniel Bogart, Mark S. Hoebee and Jessica Bogart

Michelle Ragusa, Tom Richter, Cynthia Lee Heim, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Grody, Jonathan Brody

Adam Monley, Peggy Hickey and Kaitlin Mesh

Mark S. Hoebee, Peggy Hickey and Sabra Lewis

Patrick Parker and Jessica Bogart

Andrea Cibelli and Brett Moore

Laverne Burton and Mark S. Hoebee

James Brennan and Kyle Vaughn

Photos by Shayne Austin Miller