Hale Centre Theatre's OKLAHOMA! Begins Tonight

People will say they're in love when they take their families to see Hale Centre Theatre's rendition of the iconic Rodgers and Hammerstein production, Oklahoma! Tickets are on sale now for the Midwestern masterpiece scheduled to run tonight, August 12 - October 3 in nearly 60 consecutive performances at the theatre in West Valley City.

"Oklahoma! is a spectacular musical that brings to life the classic story of America's expanding frontier and romance on the prairie," said Sally Dietlein, HCT vice president and executive producer. "Our unique theatre-in-the-round staging allows the audience to truly engage and connect with the performers on stage and feel like they're right on the prairie with Curly and Aunt Eller.

"We are privileged to have such an amazing group of local HCT professionals who magically transform our stage between productions," Dietlein said. "And the cast truly makes the music come alive with heartfelt renditions of Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin', People Will Say We're In Love and I Can't Say No! Parents and grandparents will want to bring their families to Oklahoma! It is truly a must-see from the literary treasury of American musical theatre."

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II composed the musical Oklahoma! based on Lynn Riggs' play, Green Grow the Lilacs. The 1943 Broadway production ran for five years and more than 2,200 performances. Oklahoma! was a ground-breaking musical, which set a new standard for the way American musicals would be created going forward. The iconic musical was revived on Broadway three times and was adapted into a film in 1955. It was nominated for dozens of awards and won many Academy, Tony, Drama Desk and Critics' Circle Theatre Awards.

HCT's Oklahoma! is double cast with talented Utah actors: LizAnne Chapman and Camille Van Wagoner as Aunt Eller, Elise Groves and Ashley Gardner Carlson as Laurey Williams, Adam Dietlein and Derek Smith as Curly Maclain, Jacob Theo Squire as Jud Fry, Heather McDonald and Kelly Coombs as Ado Annie Carnes, and Jack David Shapiro and Brock Dalgleish as Will Parker.

Sally Dietlein is producer of the play and David Tinney serves as the director and choreographer. Anne Puzey is the music director and Kacey Udy is the set designer. Tamara Baker is the costume designer and Krissa Lent is the hair and make-up designer with Trisha Ison as hair and make-up assistant designer. Adam Flitton is the lighting designer and Shane Steel is the sound designer. Michelle Jensen is the properties designer with production assistance by Jamie Sanduk.

Performance times are 7:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and matinees Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. No children under the age of five are permitted in the theatre. Ticket prices are $30 for adults and $16 for children ages five through 11.

For ticket information call 801-984-9000, go to www.hct.org, or visit the box office at 3333 S. Decker Lake Drive in West Valley City. For updates, contests and information on the current theatre season, follow Hale Centre Theatre on Facebook.