Save the Date for Granby Memorial High School's 'Oklahoma!'

Submitted by Clark Pfaff

The Granby Memorial High School’s Drama Club is pleased to present its spring production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic musical: Oklahoma!

 This famous musical has it all — a romantic storyline, big dance numbers, beautiful sets and costumes, a professional orchestra, and such classic songs as "Oh What a Beautiful Mornin'," "Oklahoma," and "Surrey with the Fringe on Top."

The cast is a group of talented students from Granby Memorial High School under the direction of Michael Morgan. Asked about the appeal of the show Morgan replied: “Oklahoma! is a crowd pleasing musical with so many recognizable songs. You will leave the show with a smile on your face and a song in your heart.”

Oklahoma! tells the story of two cowboys as they follow their dreams and hope to make it big in the Oklahoma territory in 1906. Each cowboy has to compete with another suitor for the women they love. Curly McLain is a cowboy who falls for the headstrong farm girl, Laurey Williams, who admires him; but they both have trouble admitting their feelings for each other. At the same time Judd, the hired hand at Laurey's farm, tries to come between them.  Cowboy Will Parker has strong feelings for Ado Annie but she can’t decide between Will and Ali Hakim, a businessman peddler.  As the romance between Curly and Laurey grows so does the tension between the farmers and the ranchers, giving the audience a glimpse into daily struggles of nineteenth century pioneers.

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s original Broadway production opened on March 31, 1943, and ran for a then unprecedented 2,212 performances. They were awarded a special Pulitzer Prize award for Oklahoma! in 1944.  Oklahoma! had award-winning revivals, national tours and an Academy Award-winning 1955 film adaptation.

The cast is made up of these GMHS students, with Alex Uhl as Curly, Madison Pfaff as Laurey, Kellie Comer as Ado Annie, Justin Ranicar as Will Parker, Becca Hayes as Aunt Eller, Aidan Borsecnik as Ali Hakim, and Neil Mitchell as Judd Fry. Other cast and crew include: Sarah Pizzanillo, Allie Sica, Brynne Fritjofson, Caroline Marzo, Jenna Snyder, Ally Storch, Emily Uhl, Meaghan Doucette, Kassi Melkey, Sarah Toth, Lexi Grimald, Mike Drennan, Brianna Haggerty, Samuel Cote, Tristan Longely, Ethan Sweetland, Daria Johnson, Meg Bennet, Kevin Thompson, Sean O'Neal, Tess Borsecnik, Morgan Papile, Sophie Ackerman, Becca Everett, Emily Cote, Katie Yanchak, Jay Hall, Will Edwards, Sue Hall; Lighting Crew: Nils Fritjofson, Jeremy Ray, Ella Ackerman, Theo' Tessier, Davis Lapointe, and Sage Janser.  

There are three performances of Oklahoma!  There is one performance on Friday night March 15th at 7 p.m., and two on Saturday March 16th at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for Adults, $8 for students. (Senior Citizens that are members of the Senior Center and show their ID receive free admission.)

For ticket reservations and questions, please contact gmhsdrama@gmail.com