Event

OKLAHOMA!

Oklahoma! takes place in western territory in the early 1900s when cattlemen and farmers were fighting over fences and water rights. In the middle of that controversy are two more rivalries.

Laurey, an Oklahoma farm gal is courted by boisterous cowboy Curley and by menacing, obsessive farm hand Jud Frye. Fearing that Jud will do something terrible to Curley, Laurie accepts Jud's invitation to the box social. But it's Curley who rescues Laurie from Jud's unwanted advances, and in so doing wins her hand. Counterpointing the serious elements of the story is a comic subplot involving Ado Annie, her erstwhile sweetheart Will Parker and traveling salesman Ali Hakim.

Oklahoma! was the first collaboration between Rodgers and Hammerstein. It was the first musical to tell a story with music, dance and lyrics, The show forever changed the form of musical theatre. Oklahoma ! broke all box office records when it opened in 1943. It won the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1944 and was the longest running musical at that time, holding the record for 15 years.