The Music Theatre Ensemble at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) will celebrate the 75th anniversary of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic “Oklahoma!” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26 and 27 and 2 p.m. Oct. 28 at SCF’s Neel Performing Arts Center, 5840 26th St. W.
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s first collaboration set the standards and established the rules of musical theatre still being followed today. Set in a Western territory just after the turn of the century, the rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys provides the colorful background against which Curly, a cowboy, and Laurey, a farm girl, play out their love story as Oklahoma is being named the newest state in the union.
Musical favorites include “Oh What a Beautiful Morning,” “The Surrey with the Fringe on Top,” and the classic, “Oklahoma!” The Pulitzer Prize winning musical ran for 2,212 performances in its original run that began in March 1943.
The production, presented through a special arrangement with R & H Theatricals, features 25 cast members under the direction of Melodie Dickerson, SCF’s director of vocal studies. Rex Willis, composition and guitar professor, is the music director for the 13-piece orchestra. Patricia Ross and adjunct dance instructor Kelly Burnette lead the choreography. Brandon Guzman, an SCF alumnus and recent graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theatre from the University of Tampa, will make a special appearance in the show.
General admission tickets are $12; student and staff tickets are $6. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit SCF.edu/Neel or call 941-752-5252.