Class Preparation
- Read Chapter 3 ("Away We Go") of Purdum's Something Wonderful. Also read the part of Chapter 9 ("Beyond Broadway") about the making of the film of Oklahoma! (pages 235-243).
- If you are so inclined, watch (or at least sample) the complete 2017 "restoration" production of Oklahoma! by the North Carolina School of the Arts. Available on YouTube: Act One, Act Two
- London's National Theatre 1998 revival, directed by Trevor Nunn and starring Hugh Jackman, filmed in 1999, is available for free through Amazon Prime if you are a member and subscribe to Broadway HD. (It may also be available for rental; it is definitely available for purchase on DVD or Blu-Ray.) In my opinion Mr. Jackman is a good Curly, but some of the cast members' ACK-SENTZ are a little heavy at times.
Handouts
- Class Slides
- Oklahoma! Lyrics (4 songs)
Links to Materials Referenced in Today's Presentation
- Hugh Jackman singing “Oh What a Beautiful Mornin’” on YouTube.
- Cast of the Oklahoma! revival at the 2019 Tony Awards, featuring Ali Stroker singing "I Cain't Say No" and the whole cast singing "Oklahoma!"
- Jesse Green's NY Times article on "People Will Say We're in Love" (with musical examples).
- If you have access (via Amazon Prime) to the 1998/99 London production with Hugh Jackman, the opening number occurs at 00:02:48, and the scene between Curly and Jud is at 1:07:27. Shuler Hensley's performance as Jud of "Lonely Room" is at 1:23:00. The scene continues after the song.
- In the NC School of the Arts 2011 production of Oklahoma!, the scene between Curly and Jud is here.
- The complete Act 1 Dream Ballet from the film of Oklahoma! is available here.
- The entire audio of the 2019 revival's cast recording is available on YouTube, including the electric guitar "Dream Ballet."
- Audra McDonald provides a 30 second preview of “Carousel in Concert.” As I mentioned in class, the singing is wonderful in this not-fully-staged production.
- The rousing performance of "Oklahoma!" from the NC School of the Arts reconstruction is here.
Links to Additional Materials
- In class on 5/28, a fellow student referenced this a production of a “same-sex” Oklahoma! she had seen in Oregon. This article from the NY Times describes that production (as well as several others). Laura Collins-Hughes (2018). “In This Oklahoma!, She Loves Her and He Loves Him.” New York Times, August 15, 2018. LINK This PDF contains photos from the article
Class Evaluation
What Worked?
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Improvements?
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