Archive: News

Running to Places Theatre Company (R2P) is bringing the great American musical Oklahoma to the State Theatre, July 13-15 with performances at 7pm on Friday and Saturday, 2pm on Sunday. Often considered the masterpiece of legendary collaborators Rodgers and Hammerstein, the show is a story of love and hope on the frontier at the turn of the 20th century and features favorites such as 'Oh What a Beautiful Morning,' 'Surrey with the Fringe on Top,' 'People Will Say We're in Love,' as well as the title song.

"Oklahoma was groundbreaking for its time, and has endured for 70 years for good reason," says R2P Co-Artistic Director Gail Belokur. "Oklahoma was the first musical of its kind—incorporating songs that are tightly integrated with the plot and character arcs as well as the evocation of emotions beyond laughter.' Created not that long after the demise of vaudeville, the show is still just as fresh and vital today.  While there is all the comedy and romance families would expect from this classic crowd-pleaser, there are deeper themes and complex moments to satisfy audiences who want more than surface-only entertainment."

The play tells the story of the blossoming love between farm-girl Laurey (Sarah Beckwith) and Curly the cowboy (Josiah Rawlings). Not only must they overcome the divide that separates them, but also Laurey must decide how to deal with the attentions of gruff farm-hand Jud (James Palmer). Director Joey Steinhagen believes that, "Jud is often oversimplified as a two-dimensional monster, but this character is arguably the most complicated and fully developed of the show. He has some truly moving and heartbreaking moments." Comic relief is provided by another love-triangle between the flirtatious Ado Annie (Hayley Evanoski), dimwitted cowboy Will Parker (Matt Avery), and the womanizing peddler Ali Hakim (Felix Fernandez-Penny).

The artistic team brings some new faces to the R2P family, notably Costume Designer Lilly Westbrook. Westbrook has been on the staff at Ithaca College's Department of Theatre Arts for 25 years managing the costume shop and teaching costume construction. Although her daughter has been involved in R2P productions in the past, this is the first time Westbrook herself has taken a leading role.

"Lilly brings passion, vision, and an incredible level of professionalism to the table," says Steinhagen. He smiles as he recollects having Westbook as a teacher at IC. "We were both a bit younger then." Steinhagen credits Westbrook for articulating many of the themes that other members of the team have worked to highlight in their respective areas, such as the contrasts between earth and sky, the stability of the farmstead and the freedom of the cowboy.

According to Belokur, "Tyler [M. Perry, Scenic Designer] and David [Arsenault, Lighting Designer] are both IC grads themselves and have done beautiful work in bringing those ideas to the stage. We're delighted that we've be able to fully realize the vision of these talented designers – and we have our generous community locally and beyond to thank."

v8i24