OKLAHOMA! to Close Little Theatre of Manchester Season

Little Theatre of Manchester closes its 2016 with one of the most beloved and iconic musicals of all time, OKLAHOMA!

OKLAHOMA! runs November 4-6, 11-13, and 18-20, 2016, at Cheney Hall, 177 Hartford Rd, Manchester. Friday and Saturday evening performances will be held at 8:00 pm and Sunday matinees will be at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $25-$29 with discounts available for both seniors and students. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 860-647-9824 or visiting www.littletheatreofmanchester.org. Press night for OKLAHOMA! is Friday, November 4, 2016, at 7:30 pm.

Set in a Western Indian territory just after the turn of the century, Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein's first collaboration is about high-spirited rivalries: local farmers and cowboys feuding over land and two romantic tug-of-wars. One is between a bright and confident cowboy named Curly and a hired hand named Jud, both in love with the strong-willed farm-girl Laurey. The second involves Ado Annie, the girl who "cain't say no," Will Parker, a funny and talented cowboy, and Ali Hakim, a traveling peddler-a trio that will provide plenty of laughs.

The LTM production is directed by Todd Santa Maria of Cheshire, whose LTM credits include The Laramie Project, Mame, Camelot, The Producers, Christmas Has Been Canceled, and Angels in America.

"This is a historical piece of American musical theater," says Santa Maria. "It was the first real book musical where songs advanced the plot. It served as the template for the formulaic musical, but I can't stress enough how universal this show is. The themes of gender and class, which permeate through this show, are still relevant today. I think audiences will be surprised how truly modern this show can be. Oklahoma! tells the story of people looking for love and relationships amidst the backdrop of a society in transition and gender/socio-economic inequality. Ultimately, what brings these characters together is their love for each other and their country."

The Cast of OKLAHOMA! (in alphabetical order):

Virginia: Alysa Auriemma (Manchester)

Laurey: Bailey Emerson (Manchester)

Ike Skidmore: Bill Emerson (Coventry)

Aunt Eller: Debi Freund (Bolton)

Jud Fry: James Galarneau (Manchester)

Gertie Cummings: Debbie Gustafson (East Hartford)

Ado Annie Carnes: Sarah Hayes (Simsbury)

Will Parker: Rodney K (Canton)

Fred: Chrisitan Loftus (Vernon)

Slim: Stephen Maher (West Hartford)

Curly: Michael McKiernan (Colchester)

Ali Hakim: Sal Uccello (Middletown)

Andrew Carnes: Scott Woodruff (Vernon)

Ensemble:

Alison Bogatay (Canton)

Don DiGenova (Tolland)

Brighid Docherty (Manchester)

Harry Evageliou (Ellington)

Sudie Evageliou (Ellington)

Derek Ferreira (Tolland)

Amanda Fox (Willington)

Ryan Fox (Willington)

Collin Grous (Tolland)

Paige McHenry (South Glastonbury)

Heidi Michaud (Vernon)

Niki Rittenhouse (Vernon)

Sherrie Schallack (Vernon)

Cecilia Stallone (Coventry)

Hannah Woodruff (Vernon)

Manchester Community College students can receive a free general admission ticket with a valid student ID, and Greater Hartford Arts Council Let's GO Arts! members are eligible for 2-for-1 tickets.

The Little Theatre of Manchester (LTM) was founded in 1960 for the purpose of producing community theater. Since its inception, LTM's volunteers have put on more than 650 quality performances that have been well-received and applauded by various members of the community. In the 1980s, the Little Theatre worked with the Town of Manchester in restoring Cheney Hall. In 1991, the extensive, award-winning restoration was completed and the state's oldest operating theater became the theatrical residence of the Little Theatre of Manchester. Today, programming is comprised of five main-stage theatre productions, numerous concerts, special events, and a range of other cultural, business, civic, and private functions. The Little Theatre is proud to serve a growing, annual audience of approximately 10,000, If you would like to connect with us and find out more, please visit us at www.littletheatreof manchester.org and you can find us on Facebook @LittleTheatreManchester to stay updated with all our events.