OKLAHOMA! to Open 100th Annual Season at Apollo Civic Theater, 2/28

Get out of your "Lonely Room" this weekend and take your "Surrey with the Fringe on Top" over to the Apollo Civic Theater to see Oklahoma!, the first show of the 100th Annual Season.

Directed by Bob Leblanc, musically directed by Chris Godfrey and choreographed by Rebecca Rose, Oklahoma!, hailed as one of the first truly American musicals, is a classic story of love, jealousy and eternal optimism. In the Oklahoma territory in 1906, farm girl Laurey and cowboy Curly share a mutual attraction, but are too stubborn to admit it. Throw mentally-unbalanced farm hand Jud into the love triangle, while Laurey's flirtatious friend Ado Annie has to choose between two men of her own, all while the territory is ratified into statehood, and get ready to enjoy one of the penultimate American musicals.

"It's just a good time. It's some of the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein. You have your moments and issues, like Jud and Curly not getting along, but in the end it is just a really good time" said Megan West, who plays Ado Annie.

Besides ranking as one of the all-time musical theater standards, Oklahoma! also marks a milestone for the Apollo Civic Theater. After opening in 1914, this is the 100th annual season for the Apollo Civic Theater, and Oklahoma! is the first production the members of the Apollo Civic Theater are performing to celebrate.

"The best aspect of the show has been working with the director. I think he is wonderful and he has such a vision for the show. He has done the show before multiple times and just knows Oklahoma!" said West.

The cast of Oklahoma! features Sandy Cookus as Aunt Eller, Connor Newlon as Curly, Kim Herman as Laurey, Dan Henderson as Will Parker, Glenn Patterson as Jud Fry, Bob Fuegi as Andrew Carnes, Paul Cabell as Ali Hakimm, Cari Parkinson as Gertie, Chris Steele as Cord Elam, Larry Marcille as Dream Curly and Cassi Rose as Dream Laurey. The ensemble features Elizabeth Buscher, Adrien Inman, Fran Inman, Ellie Jones, Viola Johnson, Wendy Lee, Jeffrey Marcum, Shari Martin, Letitia Parkinson, Meg Peterson, Ron Rockwell, Phil Welser and dancers from the Rebecca Rose Dance Studio.

Oklahoma! runs February 28, March 1, 7, and 8 at 8:00 PM and March 2 and 9 at 2:30 PM. Tickets are $15 for Friday and Saturday evening shows and $12 for Sunday matinees. Student tickets are $7 for all performances. The Apollo Civic Theater is located at 128 East Martin Street, Martinsburg, WV, 25402. For more information about upcoming performances, please visit http://www.apollo-theatre.org/

Photo Credit: Lovely Pixels, Courtesy of Apollo Civic Theater

To post a comment, you must register and login.