Now playing at the Woodlawn Theatre is ‘Oklahoma!’ the story of Laurey Williams, a farm girl who is courted by two rival suitors, the confident cowboy Curly McLain and the unstable farmhand Jud Fry, all while Oklahoma is on its way to becoming a state. It opened on February 22 with much acclaim and runs until Sunday March 17. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday at 7:30p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. There will be a special Saturday matinee show on March 9 at 2p.m., with no evening show that day. Tickets are available online or by calling the Box Office at 210-267-8388.

‘Oklahoma!’ is set in 1906 Western Indian Territory and begins when cowboy Curly McLain (Chris Fuglestad) is looking forward to a brand-new day, “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning,” as he wanders into Laurey Williams’ (Amanda Golden) yard. The two tease each other back and forth while Laurey’s Aunt Eller (Rebecca Trinidad) watches their playful banter. Meanwhile, cowboy Will Parker (Kevin Cox) has returned from a visit to the modern Kansas City, “Kansas City,” bedazzled and filled with souvenirs and tells everyone about his experiences. Laurie is torn between Curly and Jud Fry (Brian Hodges) and has accepted an invitation from Jud to a social just to spite Curly. She purchases “smelling salts” from Ali Hakim (Ivan Ortega), a Persian peddler, in the hopes that it will help her sort out her feelings and while under its spell,“Dream Ballet,” she realizes that Curly is the man for her. At the social, the rivalry between the local farmers and the cowboys boils over, “The Farmer and the Cowman,” until Aunt Eller breaks it up by firing a gun. After the drama at the lunch box auction designed to raise money for the school house, Curly and Laurey finally end up together. They get married and everyone rejoices in celebration of the territory’s impending statehood, “Oklahoma!”

This being Rodgers and Hammerstein’s first musical, it has withstood the test of time and has become a classic for good reason. It has humor, heart and romance as well as dark and shocking moments when Jud confronts Laurie about her feelings for him. The dance numbers are so infectious and toe-tapping fabulous that guests will be sure to be singing “Oklahoma” well past the end of the show. Amanda Golden and Chris Fuglestad have the necessary onstage chemistry to portray Laurey and Curly while the set and costumes transport the audience to the early age of cowboys and square dances. The dream ballet sequence is gorgeous , kudos to Jeremy Rhom and Emily Rhom for a job well done. Show highlights include “Kansas City,” “Lonely Room” when Jud’s dark side is explored and “The Farmer and the Cowman” during the town social. Sometimes the dialogue is hard to understand due the accents but that is just part of its charm. Overall, “Oklahoma” is a fun musical with plenty of singing and dancing that will appeal to all ages. But please, try not to boo Brian Hodges during his curtain call, he is just an actor playing a part.

Upcoming promotional performances:
Pride Night – Friday March 8, 25% off tickets with code: PRIDE
ASL (American Sign Language) Night – Saturday March 16, 25% off tickets with code: ASL