The Thacher Masquers present the Rogers and Hammerstein classic.
After months of long hours of practice and preparation, the Thacher Masquers brought the Rogers and Hammerstein classic Oklahoma! to the Milligan Center stage. The elaborate set design, featured in the U.S. National Tour made famous by the cast starring Hugh Jackman, transformed the stage into the frontier land of a budding new territory in the West, Oklahoma. The story follows the trials of farm girl Laurey and cowboy Curly who are young and in love in pioneer land.
In her director's note, Tracey Williams Sutton remarked, "Oklahoma! is the very first musical written by the team of composer Richard Rogers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The show is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play Green Grow the Lilacs...The original Broadway production was a huge success, running for 2,212 performances, and went on to numerous revivals, national tours, and an Academy Award-winning 1955 film... The beauty of the work is largely due to the inspiring score, and the fact that the numbers are fully integrated into a well-made story with serious dramatic goals that are able to evoke genuine emotions other than laughter."
With over 75 students in the cast, crew, and orchestra, this production may set a record for number of students involved. The crowd delighted in every aspect of the production, from the expertly placed set pieces, to the melodic songs, to the drama and humor of the on stage performance.
The students weren't the only ones putting in long hours to bring this production to life. Their work was bolstered and augmented by the efforts of director Tracey Williams Sutton, music director Greg Haggard, choreographer Gallia Vickery, and technical director Cal Jensen CdeP 2006. These dedicated faculty members started with casting way back at the end of the fall term and worked diligently all winter to bring together this production to the stage. The countless hours of rehearsal led to two great nights of performance, in which the cast, crew and orchestra should take great pride.
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