Oklahoma! (musical)
Oklahoma! is a musical play first performed on Broadway in 1943. The music was composed by Richard Rodgers and the words to the songs were written by Oscar Hammerstein.
This was the first collaboration (working together) by Rodgers and Hammerstein but they made several more successful musicals together.
Oklahoma!, a song from the musical, is also the state song of Oklahoma. Other famous songs from the musical include:
- Oh What a Beautiful Mornin'
- The Surrey With the Fringe On Top
- People Will Say We're in Love
The story is set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906. A cowboy Curly McLain is in love with a farmer girl Laurey Williams. Jud Fry, a farm hand, is also in love with Laurey. The play also includes the story of another cowboy, Will, and his girlfriend, Ado Annie.
The play was made into a film in 1955.
The musical, and actors in the musical, have won many awards:
- 1944: A special Pulitzer Prize award was given to Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II for Oklahoma! in the category of "Special Awards And Citations - Letters"
- 1947 Theatre World Award (Dorothea MacFarland)
- 1955 Academy Award
- Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture (for Robert Russell Bennett, Jay Blackton, and Adolph Deutsch)
- Best Sound, Recording (Fred Hynes)
- 1980 Theatre World Award (Harry Groener)
- 1993 Tony Award: Special Tony Award - Oklahoma! (50th Anniversary)
- 1998 Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Musical
- 1998 Evening Standard Award for Best Musical
- 1999 Laurence Olivier Award
- Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical - Shuler Hensley
- Outstanding Musical Production - Oklahoma!
- Best Theatre Choreographer - Susan Stroman
- Best Set Designer - Anthony Ward
- 2002 Tony Award - Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Shuler Hensley
- 2002 Theatre World Award - Justin Bohon
- 2002 Drama Desk Award
- Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical - Justin Bohon, Shuler Hensley
- Outstanding Choreography - Susan Stroman
