Oklahoma! (musical)

Oklahoma! (musical)
Name	Oklahoma!
Music	Richard Rodgers
Lyrics	Oscar Hammerstein II
Book	Oscar Hammerstein II
Basis	Lynn Riggs's 1931 play Green Grow the Lilacs
Productions	1943 Broadway
Awards	Special Tony Award (1993)

Oklahoma! (musical). A landmark American musical theatre work with music by Richard Rodgers and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It is adapted from Lynn Riggs's 1931 play Green Grow the Lilacs. The musical premiered on Broadway in 1943, revolutionizing the form by integrating its songs and dance into the narrative to advance plot and develop character. Its success helped establish the Rodgers and Hammerstein partnership as a dominant force in 20th-century theatre.

Background and development

The project originated when the Theatre Guild sought a new adaptation of Green Grow the Lilacs. Richard Rodgers, previously partnered with Lorenz Hart, began collaborating with Oscar Hammerstein II after Hart declined due to health issues. The team aimed to create a truly integrated musical, drawing inspiration from the folk play elements of Riggs's work about Indian Territory in 1906. Key creative figures included choreographer Agnes de Mille, whose ballet sequences, like the famed "Laurey Makes Up Her Mind" dream ballet, became integral to the storytelling. The musical was originally titled Away We Go! before being renamed for its rousing act one finale.

Synopsis

Set in the Oklahoma Territory outside Claremore in 1906, the plot centers on the romance between cowboy Curly McLain and farmer Laurey Williams. Their courtship is complicated by the menacing farmhand Jud Fry, who also desires Laurey. A secondary comic romance involves cowboy Will Parker and the flirtatious Ado Annie Carnes, who is also pursued by Persian peddler Ali Hakim. Conflicts culminate at a box social auction and a farmhouse confrontation, leading to a trial and the hopeful union of the territory as the new U.S. state of Oklahoma.

Musical numbers

The score features songs that became American standards, seamlessly blending with the drama. The optimistic opening, "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'," establishes tone, while "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top" paints a lyrical fantasy. Romantic numbers include "People Will Say We're in Love" and the soaring title song, "Oklahoma." Comic highlights are "I Cain't Say No" sung by Ado Annie and "Everything's Up to Date in Kansas City" performed by Will Parker. The darker "Lonely Room" reveals Jud Fry's turmoil, and the celebratory "The Farmer and the Cowman" addresses community tensions.

Productions

The original Broadway production, directed by Rouben Mamoulian, opened at the St. James Theatre on March 31, 1943. The original cast featured Alfred Drake as Curly McLain, Joan Roberts as Laurey Williams, and Howard Da Silva as Jud Fry. It ran for an unprecedented 2,212 performances, winning a special Pulitzer Prize in 1944. Major West End and Broadway revivals followed, including a 1979 National Theatre production starring Laurence Olivier and a 2019 Tony Award-winning revival directed by Daniel Fish for Circle in the Square Theatre. Numerous national and international tours have been staged.

Critical reception and legacy

Upon its premiere, critics like Brooks Atkinson of The New York Times hailed it as a breakthrough. It is credited with inaugurating the "Golden Age of Musical Theatre" by demonstrating deep narrative integration. The original cast album by Decca Records was among the first of its kind. The work has received numerous honors, including a 1993 Special Tony Award for "50th Anniversary of a Classic." Its influence is seen in subsequent Rodgers and Hammerstein hits like Carousel and South Pacific, and it remains a staple for companies like New York City Center Encores! and regional theatres worldwide.

Adaptations

The principal adaptation is the Academy Award-winning 1955 CinemaScope film directed by Fred Zinnemann and starring Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones. A 1999 Royal National Theatre production was filmed for BBC television. The musical has also been presented in concert versions by organizations like the BBC Proms and the New York Philharmonic. Its songs and elements have been referenced and parodied across media, from The Simpsons to episodes of Glee, cementing its place in popular culture.

Category:American musicals