OKLAHOMA! Opens 6/17 for Summer Run at Cumberland County Playhouse

Nathaniel Hackmann and Britt Hancock, both skilled veterans of national theater tours, join some exceedingly talented Tennesseans - Nicole Bégué Hackmann, Jason Ross, Daniel Black and Leila Nelson - in Cumberland County Playhouse's summer musical Oklahoma!, running June 17-September 3 at the venerable Crossville venue.

Set in Oklahoma Territory in 1906, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical - which is credited with reinventing and reinvigorating the genre of American musical theater - sings of cowboy Curly McLain's romance with farm girl Laurey Williams, played by newlyweds Nathaniel Hackmann and Nicole Bégué Hackmann. Nate has just recently returned from a year's stint the national tour of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, while Nicole starred this week completed her run opposite Jason Ross in CCP's My Fair Lady. 

Hancock, now playing the sinister farmhand Jud Fry in Oklahoma!, was part of the national tours of The Drowsy Chaperone and The Producers, and was the winner of the 2010 First Night/Broadway World Nashville Award as best actor in a musical for his performance in The Playhouse's production of Brigadoon.  Playhouse favorites Daniel Black and Leila Nelson play key comedy roles Will Parker and Ado Annie, with the versatile Jason Ross as Ali Hakim.  Carol Irvin leads the cast of 35 as Aunt Eller.

Oklahoma was the Rodgers and Hammerstein's first big hit musical, hitting Broadway in 1943, becoming a box office smash that ran for over 2,000 performances, setting the record for longest Broadway run until My Fair Lady topped it in 1956. Playhouse founder Paul Crabtree made his Broadway debut as Will Parker, beginning a long career with The Theater Guild. 

CCP's 2011 production is directed by  Jim Crabtree, with the able assistance of Nicole Begue Hackman, Britt Hancock and choreographer Leila Nelson. The show's scenic design is by nationally renowned theatrical designer Joe Varga.

Also onstage this summer at CCP is Duck Hunter Shoots Angel - starring Jason Ross, Bobby Taylor, Michael Ruff and Daniel Black in a revival of  Donald Fann's 2010 production,  through July 14. The musical hit Little Shop of Horrors, starring Greg Pendzick, Lindy Pendzick and a giant, theater-filling man-eating plant named Audrey II, play until August 6. Opening July 22 is Bob Kander and Fred Ebb's Chicago.

For further information and details about the run of all the shows at Crossville's Cumberland County Playhouse, visit the company's website at www.ccplayhouse.com. For reservations, call (931) 484-5000.