REVIEW: THE TONY AWARD-WINNING REVIVAL OF RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S OKLAHOMA NOW PLAYING THROUGH JANUARY 23, 2022

THE CURTAIN RISES AGAIN!

RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S OKLAHOMA!

NOW PLAYING AT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S 

CIBC THEATRE

THROUGH JANUARY 23, 2022

 Running time: just under 90 minutes, no intermission.

COVID protocol: all patrons must show proof of vaccination and remain masked at all times.

REVIEW:

By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

What's the matter with Oklahoma? It's full of small town idiots, loose women, and insular locals. It's also a great place to get away with murder in front of the entire town's population, as long as the victim's an outsider and the killer's kin. Daniel Fish's creative and confounding new take on Oklahoma is well worth a look, but don't expect big square dance numbers, 1906 frocks, and the happy go lucky western most think of when they hear that Oklahoma's on stage. This is not your parents' musical. After the show I overheard a woman say "I didn't hate it... I didn't love it." and that seems to be the consensus. 

If you adore traditional takes on the smash hit musical “Oklahoma!” and are resistant to dark, edgy adaptations, you definitely want to give this one a pass. For those familiar with and tired of the hokeyness of the frontier fav that's been a high school musical staple for generations, go already. This new adaptation ingeniously adds a unsettling undercurrent, and a whole new take, without changing a tune or word of dialogue. I loved the multicultural diversity of this production, the unique casting choices of small men and big women, and the creative reimagining that doesn't just think outside the box, but invents a whole new way of packaging this show.

“Oklahoma!” opened on Broadway for the first time on my birthday, March 31st, but in 1943, a couple decades before my birth. It was the first major Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II collaboration, and ran for an astonishing 2,000+ performances. Of course the world has changed immensely since 1943 and even more so since 1906 when the play is set. Oklahoma was still a territory awaiting imminent statehood, women's rights were unheard of, cars were a new marvel, and guns were mandatory. This revival fixes some of the dated feel of the piece with modern costume choices, amplified instruments on stage, a modern dance dream scene, dramatically slow line reads, full blackouts where the audience just hears dialogue, and surreal video closeups shot in real time on stage. 

The perspective shift makes this firmly Laurey's story, and it's a joy to see Sasha Hutchings shine in the role. Barbara Walsh is also a standout as Aunt Eller. On the positive side, I liked the low key opening scene, where everyone is hanging out, shucking corn, drinking beer, and prepping for the party later that night. This establishes the small town vibe, personalities and relationships of the townsfolk without the usual big Broadway musical hoopla and over choreographed scenes. It's the perfect setup for what's to come, and makes the second act violence and complicity all the more jarring, because it feels more authentic to small town life both then and now. We loved the center stage placement of the musicians, as opposed to hiding them in the orchestra pit. Including the musicians as colorful, local characters seems more organic and engaging. 

The dissonance of harsh chords, yelled lyrics, and plenty of pauses makes this revival the antithesis of the original in many ways, yet it unearths the creepy underbelly of the plot that was there all along. I have seen Oklahoma many times over the years, by professional companies and high school teens, and I always thought of it as a lighthearted comedy, period piece, with the romance of the wild frontier. This time around I was left with the sneaking suspicion that our infatuation with the innocent charm of small town America, rugged individualism, and our glorification of guns is now and always has been a thin veneer over a rotten, festering core. 

I took my 18 year old daughter, who had never seen Oklahoma, to the show and she enjoyed the first act, but balked as the second act took a deep dive into a disturbing nightmare scape. She outrightly hated the dream scene, which was a solo interpretive dance more reminiscent of The Exorcist than of Rodgers & Hammerstein. The lone dancer wore a shiny nightshirt with Dream Baby Dream emblazoned across the whole front and my daughter quipped that "It looks like something from the Target deep discount rack that no-one would buy because the shirt's ugly and the saying's huge and stupid." But, hey. Maybe that's the point. 

 

On a more positive note, I've rarely seen so much post show conversation happening, and isn't that really a core part of the social element of theatre arts? In addition to entertainment, theatre has the unique power to make people think, expose our hypocrisy as a society, and create empathy and even change. Love it or hate it, Daniel Fish's Oklahoma sparks dialogue exceedingly well.

In some ways this new Daniel Fish take is the perfect Broadway musical for our times. Our post-covid world, and particularly the rural southwest, is sick, bitter, broken, and more misinformed, impoverished, and mistrusting of outsiders than ever. Maybe the big takeaway is that basic human nature hasn't changed all that much in the past century. Then and now, beneath the patriotic Americana of line dancing locals in cowboy hats, lies a roiling, ugly underbelly that shouldn't be romanticized or even worse, ignored. 

Bonnie is a Chicago based writer, theater critic, photographer, videographer, actress, artist and Mama. She owns two websites where she publishes frequently: ChiILLiveShows.com (adult) & ChiILMama.com (family friendly). 

Broadway In Chicago is delighted to announce the opening of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s OKLAHOMA! The critically acclaimed, Tony Award-winning production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s OKLAHOMA! will play Broadway In Chicago’s CIBC Theatre (18 W. Monroe St.) for a limited engagement. Tickets are on sale now for performances through January 23 at  www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Directed by Daniel Fish, this is OKLAHOMA! as you’ve never seen or heard it before—reimagined for the 21st Century, and now the Tony Award winner for Best Revival of a Musical.

Direct from an acclaimed run on Broadway comes an OKLAHOMA! that looks and sounds like America today. The Daily Beast raves “Forget your traditional idea of OKLAHOMA!. Daniel Fish’s daring, utterly absorbing re-interpretation is different—brilliantly so.”

OKLAHOMA! tells a story of a community banding together against an outsider, and the frontier life that shaped America. Upending the sunny romance of a farmer and a cowpoke, this production “lets us experience Rodgers and Hammerstein’s greatness anew.” (The New Yorker). Without changing a word of text, this visionary production allows the classic musical – and our country – to be seen in a whole new light.

Funny and sexy, provocative and probing, “A smashing OKLAHOMA! is reborn. Daniel Fish’s wide-awake, altogether wonderful production is thrilling!” (The New York Times).

“This is the OKLAHOMA! that was there all along.” (New York Magazine).

The cast includes Sasha Hutchings (Oklahoma! Broadway, original Broadway cast of Hamilton) as Laurey Williams and Sean Grandillo (Deaf West's Spring Awakening) as Curly McLain, joined by Christopher Bannow (Oklahoma! Broadway) as Jud Fry, Sis ("Pose”) as Ado Annie Carnes, Hennessy Winkler as Will Parker, Benj Mirman (Oklahoma! Bard SummerScape) as Ali Hakim, Barbara Walsh (Falsettos, Company, Oklahoma! National Tour in 1981) as Aunt Eller, Hannah Solow (The New One) as Gertie Cummings, Patrick Clanton (School of Rock, Sister Act tours) as Mike and Ugo Chukwu (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”) as Cord Elam. Mitch Tebo (Andrew Carnes) and Gabrielle Hamilton (Lead Dancer) also reprise their roles from the Broadway production. Gillian Hassert, Cameron Anika Hill, Hunter Hoffman, Scott Redmond, Gwynne Wood and Jordan Wynn join the cast as understudies.

OKLAHOMA! features music by Richard Rodgers and a book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, based on the play Green Grow the Lilacs by Lynn Riggs, with original dances by Agnes de Mille.    

The revival’s creative team includes John Heginbotham (New Choreography), Daniel Kluger (Orchestrations/Arrangements) Nathan Koci (Music Supervision) and Andy Collopy (Music Direction), with casting by Taylor Williams and Borna Barzin. Laura Jellinek (Scenic Design), Terese Wadden (Costume Design), Scott Zielinski (Lighting Design), Drew Levy (Sound Design), and Joshua Thorson (Projection Design) round out the creative team. The production stage management team includes Andrew Bacigalupo, Rachael Wilkin and Jordan Wynn.

OKLAHOMA! is produced by Eva Price, Level Forward, Abigail Disney, Barbara Manocherian & Carl Moellenberg, James L. Nederlander, David Mirvish, Mickey Liddell & Robert Ahrens, BSL Enterprises & MagicSpace Entertainment, Berlind Productions, John Gore Organization, Cornice Productions, Bard Fisher/R. Gold, LAMF/J. Geller, T Narang/ZKM Media, R/F/B/V Group, Araca/IPN, St. Ann’s Warehouse, and Tamar Climan.  

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Wednesday, January 12 at 7:30PM

Thursday, January 13 at 7:30PM

Friday, January 14 at 7:30PM

Saturday, January 15 2:00PM & 8:00PM

Sunday, January 16 at 2:00PM & 7:30PM

Tuesday, January 18 at 7:30PM

Wednesday, January 19 at 2:00PM & 7:30PM

Thursday, January 20 at 7:30PM

Friday, January 21 at 7:30PM

Saturday, January 22 at 2:00PM & 8:00PM

Sunday, January 23 at 2:00PM

 

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s OKLAHOMA! are on sale now and range from $27 to $98 with a select number of premium tickets available. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. For more  information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

 

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 21 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining more than 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, Auditorium Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.

COVID-19 Protocol: 

Audience members are required to be masked and show proof that they are fully vaccinated. Those with exemptions, including children, must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Vaccine cards and negative COVID-19 test must be shown along with a photo I.D. and valid ticket. No home tests are accepted and due to COVID-19 protocol, children under 2 are not allowed into the theatre. No food or beverages will be served or allowed in the theatre. For further information including types of vaccines or testing details visit BroadwayInChicago.com/COVID19. 

For more information, visit  www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

 

Got Your Fall Tickets For Broadway In Chicago Yet?

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar: 

Broadway In Chicago is back with productions opening October 5th. Tickets are on sale now for touring shows from fall through January 2022. Check out the fabulous picks below and more at www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Broadway In Chicago Box Office hours are currently Monday-Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. but they'll change as productions begin.

“Our audience’s health and safety is our top priority and as such you will experience many changes. We have enhanced our air handling and filtration throughout the theatres, incorporated new sanitation technologies, and have reduced all touchpoints including initiating mobile ticketing and making mobile Playbills available. And together with our audience COVID 19 protocols, we are committed to audiences being safe and healthy,” said Lou Raizin, President of Broadway In Chicago.

Audience members are all required to be masked and show proof of vaccination. For those with exceptions, proof of a negative COVID 19 test is required. All Broadway In Chicago schedules, productions, and protocols for attendance will continue to be reviewed as further guidance and recommendations are provided by the CDC, Illinois State, and Chicago Departments of Health. For the latest health and safety procedures and guidelines, visit BroadwayInChicago.com/COVID19.

Join the celebration as the curtain rises again and head over to the Broadway In Chicago Box Office to get your tickets for these upcoming shows:

RENT 25th ANNIVERSARY FAREWELL TOUR

October 5 – 10, 2021
CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St. 

For a quarter of a century, RENT has inspired us to choose love over fear and to live without regret. This Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning phenomenon has become more than a musical – it’s a cultural touchstone and a source of joy and strength for millions. RENT’s 25th Anniversary “Farewell Season of Love” is your FINAL CHANCE to experience this celebrated touring production – so don’t miss it!

ALTON BROWN: LIVE! BEYOND THE EATS

October 16, 2021 – Two Performances Only!
CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St.
Production Photos available here.
Alton Brown is hitting the road with a new culinary variety show. Audiences can expect more comedy, more music, more highly unusual cooking demos, and more potentially dangerous science stuff. Prepare for an evening unlike any other and if Brown calls for volunteers... think twice.

WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME

October 26 – November 21, 2021
Broadway Playhouse, 175 E. Chestnut St.

Playwright Heidi Schreck’s boundary-breaking play breathes new life into our Constitution and imagines how it will affect the next generation of Americans. Fifteen-year-old Heidi earned her college tuition by winning Constitutional debate competitions across the United States. In this hilarious, hopeful, and

achingly human new play, she resurrects her teenage self in order to trace the profound relationship between four generations of women and the founding document that shaped their lives.

BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL

November 2 – 7, 2021
CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St.

Long before she was Carole King, chart-topping music legend, she was Carol Klein, Brooklyn girl with passion and chutzpah. She fought her way into the record business

as a teenager and, by the time she reached her twenties, had the husband of her dreams and a flourishing career writing hits for the biggest acts in rock ‘n’ roll. But it wasn’t until her personal life began to crack that she finally managed to find her true voice.BEAUTIFUL tells the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. Along the way, she made more than beautiful music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation.

PARADISE SQUARE – Pre-Broadway Premiere!

Nov. 2 – Dec. 5, 2021
James M. Nederlander Theatre (24 W. Randolph)

The creators of such landmark shows as Ragtime, Spring Awakening, The Laramie Project and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical bring PARADISE SQUARE to Chicago for a strictly limited engagement, prior to Broadway. New York City. 1863. The country is divided over immigration, racial tensions, and political ideology. The chaos of the Civil War rages on in the heart of the Five Points slum. But in this neighborhood, something extraordinary is occurring. Free born Blacks and those

who escaped slavery are living, working, and intermarrying with newly arrived Irish immigrants. A new music and dance flourishes. A new culture is created from an accidental society. 2021 Tony Award nominee Joaquina Kalukango (the star of lastyear’s Broadway hit Slave Play) leads the dynamic cast of this timely and compelling new musical.

Disney’s FROZEN
November 19, 2021 – January 22, 2022
Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St.

From the producer of The Lion King and Aladdin, FROZEN, the Tony®-nominated Best Musical, is now on tour across North America, and the critics rave, “It’s simply magical!” (LA Daily News). FROZEN features the songs you love from the original Oscar®-winning film, plus an expanded

score with a dozen new numbers. An unforgettable theatrical experience filled with sensational special effects, stunning sets and costumes, and powerhouse performances, FROZEN is everything you want in a musical: It’s moving. It’s spectacular. And above all, it’s pure Broadway joy.

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 21 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining more than 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, Auditorium Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.

Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Twitter @broadwaychicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago