Bellevue Little Theatre Presents OKLAHOMA! Now thru 9/28

Bellevue Little Theatre, 203 W. Mission in Bellevue, will open its 2014--15 season, the theatre's 46th, tonight, Sept. 12. with the classic Rogers and Hammerstein musical, "Oklahoma', Production dates are Sept. 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 21, and 26, 27, 28.

Curtain is at 7:30 pm on Friday and Saturday evenings, and 2 pm on Sunday afternoons. Reservations are strongly recommended and may be calling 402-291-1554 between the hours of 10 am and 4:30 pm Monday thru Saturday.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $9 for students, with valid ID.

Dr. Laureen Pickle will direct this production; Sara Mattix is musical director; Kerri Jo Watts is choreographer, and Mark Reid is stage manager. Sandra Thompson is producer.

Other staff members are Joey Lorencz, lighting designer; Shawn Djernes and Pam Matney, sound designers. Matney is also in charge of props.

Director Pickle designed the set, and construction is being done by Tom Fleckten and Chris Ebke, with Tom Miller in charge of scenic painting. Ibsen Costume Gallery is costumer for this production, and John Hatcher is fight choreographer.

Appearing are:
Mark Harman-- Curly
Angela Fick--Laurey
Kay Clark--Aunt Eller
Megan Kelly--Ado Annie
John Turnbeaugh--Will
Austin Learned--Ali Hakim
Chris Ebke--Jud Fry
Mary Trecek--Gertie
Kevin Olsen--Ike
Thomas Fleckten--Cord Elam
Jim Farmer--Andrew Carnes
Dream Laurey--Kara Penniston
Dream Curly--Jeremy Sczepaniak.

Dancers:
Meghan Adair
Amanda Biller
Gigi Hausman
Victoria Menear
Sophia Seger-Pera
Kara Penniston
Lauren Anderson
Phyllis Cremonini
Ann Stergiou

Cowmen:
Ben Adams
Eric Cavanaugh
Kevin Mikuls
Dan Vickenburg

Farmers:
Max Haufle
Tyler Kliegl
Jimmy Nguyen
Steve Pera
Dan Whitehouse

Ensemble:
Kim Alger
Emma Creamer
Patsy Doughty
Dee Dee Gwaltney
Jessie Kellerman
Karen Lemer
Maria Naylon
Samantha Quintana
Paige Wolfe

Children:
Hannah-Kate Kinney
Austin Lempke
Hannah Lempke
Emma Mattix
Clara Pohlman
Grant Schneider
Ryann Watts
Avery Wolfe

"Oklahoma" opened on Broadway in 1943 and has seen Broadway revivals as well as a glorious movie. This classic, the first written by Rogers and Hammerstein as a team, is set in 1906 against a backdrop of impending statehood for Oklahoma; The conflict between cowmen and farmers is presented through music, with the songs and dance masterfully integrated into the story--something which was new to musical productions.

So many familiar melodies are featured in this production that it's hard to highlight only a few. The title song "Oklahoma" presents a tribute to the new state, and "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" is perhaps the most familiar---but we can't forget "People Will Say We're in Love", "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top", and "I Can't Say No'.

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