CHRISTIE DALLEY - North County Staff | Posted: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 11:00 pm
The Rodgers and Hammerstein favorite, "Oklahoma" will be presented by the American Fork and Highland Arts Councils on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday at 7:30 p.m. at the American Fork Amphitheater, 845 E. 700 North.
The cast of more than 50 includes Mason Lefler as Curly, Emma Bullock as Laurey, Jacob Shamy as Jud Fry, Chase Grant as Will Parker, Brooke Hess as Ado Annie, Eileen Snow as Aunt Eller, Robert McMillan as Ali Hakim, and Stephen Pratt as Andrew Carnes. It is directed and choreographed by Josh Long with musical direction by Katie Tenney with assistance from Merrilee Hunter.
Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, students and children. A family pass is $25. Tickets are available at the American Fork Fire Station, city administration building, Highland City Hall and Kohlers.
It includes such enduring songs as "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'," "The Surrey With The Fringe On Top," "People Will Say We're In Love" and "Oklahoma." This was the first Rodgers and Hammerstein collaboration, starting the most successful creative partnership in the history of musical theater.
Producer Kittie Tenney said the arts councils from the two cities are cooperating to put on this production in the amphitheater.
"Unfortunately Highland has no place to put on a performance and American Fork High School's auditorium is being remodeled," she said. "Besides the schools are so difficult to schedule. The amphitheater is a lovely backdrop for our production. Working together also helps to combine budgets to get better sets and costumes."
She said the two arts councils are about to have more cooperative efforts.
Tenney said they chose to do "Oklahoma!" because she believes the community appreciates old-fashioned musicals.
"As well as the budding romance there are also important issues brought up with this play." she said. "One of the main characters is Jud. The play deals in part with how his negative behavior impacts the other characters."
American Fork Arts Council director Lori England explained how the two communities began working together.
"Kittie Tenney of Highland called me and said they didn't have a place in Highland to put on a play," she said. "We haven't got a theater person any more, so it seemed like a great idea."
England said American Fork and Highland have often been involved in the same productions, although it has been on a less formal basis.
"I have always worked with Highland people," she said. "They are in every play we do. We complement each other."
She outlined some of the benefits of having the two cities work together.
"We share some of the costs, like for costumes and sets," she said. "She (Tenney) paid the royalties in last year's budget. We will figure out all the costs so we can pay evenly.
"I am going to Home Depot and getting things for the set-builders. We will split all the costs. It is a wonderful idea."
This story appeared in North County on page A1.