OKLAHOMA! Hits The Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center 9/16-10/4

James A. Blackman III and Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities proudly present Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!  September 16 - October 4, 2009 at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center.  The production is helmed by the 2008 Ovation Award winning team from Miss Saigon: Director Stephanie Coltrin, Musical Director Alby Potts, and Choreographer Karen Nowicki.

The original Broadway production based on a stage play “Green Grow the Lilacs” opened in March 1943 at the ST. James Theatre. The production was a Box Office smash and ran for an unprecedented 2,212 performances.  It finally closed in May 1948 and was followed by a ten year national tour setting yet another record.  It was directed by Rouben Mamoulian and choreographed by Agnes De Mille starring AlfrEd Drake, Joan Roberts, and Celeste Holm.  A special Pulitzer Prize was awarded to Rodgers and Hammerstein in The category of Special Awards and Citations in 1944

The production enjoyed four Broadway revivals and a still famous movie starring Shirley Jones and Gordon MacRae.  After Oklahoma! The duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein went on to write nine Broadway musicals together but none would be as important to the development of musical theatre as this one!

The CLOSBC cast includes national and regional musical theatre stars Sarah Bermudez as Laurey Williams, Damon Kirsche as Curly, Nathan Holland as Ali Hakim, Annie Ramsey as Ado Annie, Gary Lee Reed as Andrew Carnes, Diane Vincent as Aunt Eller, Karl Warden as Will Parker and Sam Zeller as Jud Fry.

Ensemble includes: Jessica Bernard, Jeremy Bernar, Dane Biren, Brittany Blossom, Meki Michelle Blackwell, Leland Burnet, Craig Donnelly, Jasmine Ejan, Brad Fitzgerald, Corina Gill, Jessica Gisin, Juan Guille, Rhett Guter, Jenny Rose Hobbs-Hutzler, Trevor Krahl, Barrie Linberg, William Loufik, Melissa Mitchell, Mike A. Motroni, Jo Patrick, Charles A. Pelletier, Tiffany Renee Reid, Karie Seasock.          

Famous songs from Oklahoma’s glorious score include  —?"Oh What A Beautiful Morning," "Surrey With The Fringe On Top," "I Can't Say No," "Many A New Day," "People Will Say We're In Love," and "Out Of My Dreams."

Oklahoma!  is the 3rd production of the 2009 Season - the 18th Season

for the CLOSBC.  The last production of this season will be the holiday extravaganza Seussical the Musical in December. The newly remodeled Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center is located at the corner of Aviation and Manhattan Blvd. in Redondo Beach. For tickets and information please call 310-372-4477.

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