Archive: Arts & Entertainment

The Hangar Theatre continues its 2008 Mainstage Season with the beloved American musical Oklahoma!, from July 10 through 26. Oklahoma! was the first of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s many musical masterpieces (South Pacific, The King and I, The Sound of Music) and played a pivotal role in defining musical theatre.  Since opening on Broadway in 1943 with a record-setting run of more than 2,000 performances, Oklahoma! has won a Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award, an honorary Grammy, and an Academy Award for the 1955 film adaptation.

Broadway choreographer/director Dan Knechtges will set the stage ablaze as he brings fresh energy to this time-honored classic.  Interim Artistic Director Robert Moss promises to “bring imaginative new insights…that will make it seem as if you have never seen Oklahoma! before.”  Moss said that the production will be not only joyous but also “meaty and thoughtful.” Based on Lynn Rigg’s play, Green Grow the Lilacs, the classic tale takes place at the turn of the 20th century in the Oklahoma territory where there’s spirited competition for land, love and a changing country.  At the center of the story is a young woman named Laurey, and the two men who love her, Jud and Curly.

Oklahoma! is about America in transition and in Knechtges’ eyes, the necessity of community to “fulfill the optimism of what America can be.”  That same spirit exists in America today, especially in an election year.  Oklahoma! challenges us to reconsider our priorities in order to create the country that we desire.  Knechtges is no stranger to the Hangar stage.  He served as choreographer for Hangar productions of Cats, Hello, Dolly!, The Sound of Music and he directed The Wiz.  Knegtches’ talents stretch far beyond the shores of Cayuga Lake.  He has choreographed on Broadway in 110 in the Shade, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, in the film Palindromes and for Fat Boy Slim’s music video, “It’s a Wonderful Night”.  Most recently, Knechtges earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Choreography in the Broadway production of Xanadu.

The hit songs from Oklahoma are among the most popular of our musical heritage: Oklahoma!, Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’ and People Will Say We’re in Love.  Musical Director John Bell, an Ithaca College alum, will bring to the music the energy of “vivid characters whose wants and needs are very real and extremely relevant.” 

The cast of Oklahoma! is a strong mix of Hangar faithful and new talent from around the country.  Playing the role of the independent Laurey Williams is Piper Goodeve, who received a Syracuse Area Live Theatre (SALT) Award nomination for her role as Sheila in last year’s production of Hair.  Goodeve recently earned a Drama League nomination for “Distinguished Performance” for her role as Anne in the world premiere of Anne of Green Gables at the off-Broadway Lucille Lortel Theatre.

Another member of last year’s Hangar production of Hair, Joanna Krupnick, plays the gullible and flirtatious Ado Annie.  Krupnick is a 2008 graduate from Ithaca College’s Musical Theatre B.F.A. program where she was seen in the Full Monty and Grease. Whit Baldman leads a cast of hopeful suitors as Curly McLain and is “thrilled to make his Hangar Theatre debut playing one of his biggest dream roles.” Baldwin is a Florida State University graduate with many regional and national roles.  Mark Leydorf, who plays Jud, is thrilled to return to Ithaca and the Hangar, where he appeared in Of Mice and Men in 2004. Other credits include the recent Broadway revival of The Ritz at the Roundabout; Mamma Mia! in Las Vegas

Other cast members include Joseph Breen as Will Parker, Judy McMahon as Aunt Eller, and Dan Kiely as Carnes.  Rounding out this talent is an ensemble including Jonathon Burke, Abby Church, William James Daniels, Jonathon Day, Lena Gail Dowdell and Jessica Hartman.

To recreate the classic Wild West setting of the Oklahoma territory, a design team of nationally recognized professionals was assembled.  Scenic Designer Beowulf Boritt, the winner of a 2007 Obie award for Sustained Excellence in Set Design, has worked extensively at the Hangar with previous productions including The Sound of Music, South Pacific and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  With other credits on and off Broadway, Borritt’s most recent work includes his second year with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.

Sound designer Don Tindall returns to the Hangar, bringing his unique perspective as not only a theatrical designer but also a studio designer and music composer.  Costume Designer Jen Caprio returns for her eighth season with the Hangar.  Caprio designed the costumes for No Child… and Bad Dates earlier this season.  Finally, Lighting Designer Aaron Spivey is new to the Hangar and has worked with Borritt and Caprio in the off-Broadway hit Wanda’s World.  Other design credits include Broadway productions of The Coast of Utopia and Grease. 

Oklahoma! will appear at the Hangar Theatre in Cass Park from July 10 through 26. The production is made possible with the support of corporate sponsor Tompkins Trust Company and media sponsors Q Country 103.7, Lite Rock 97.3, and 870 WHCU. 

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