Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!” Sweeps into UC Davis
As part of the UC Davis Centennial celebration, the girl who can't say no, the surrey with the fringe on top, and poor dead Jud Fry will come to life on the Mondavi Center’s Jackson Hall stage, weekends May 2–10, as the UC Davis Departments of Music and Theatre & Dance mount a joint production of “Oklahoma!,” one of the best-loved musicals of all time. Based on the play “Green Grow the Lilacs” by Lynn Riggs, “Oklahoma!” represents the first teaming for composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, who together were awarded a special Pulitzer Prize for their efforts and went on to craft a string of famously popular Broadway musicals during the 1940s and 50s.
With popular tunes like “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’,” “Surrey with the Fringe on Top” and, of course, the title song, “Oklahoma!” continues to enjoy frequent staging throughout the world and into the 21st century. Granada artist-in-residence Mindy Cooper directs and choreographs this production, with graduate conducting student David Moschler serving as musical director and leading the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra.
This presentation of “Oklahoma!” may represent the largest undertaking between the Departments of Music and Theatre & Dance to date. More than 300 rehearsal hours have gone into the production, with an additional 150 hours dedicated to the planning and construction of props alone. The cast of 31 and the orchestra of 35 are staffed primarily by
UC Davis students.
Advance tickets for “Oklahoma!” are $20/24/28 for adults and $12/16/20 for students and children, with special discount pricing for the opening weekend matinee (see below). Purchase tickets via the Mondavi Center box office online at MondaviArts.org, by phone at 530-754-2787 or 866-754-2787 (toll-free), or in person. Tickets are also available at the door on the day of show for an additional $2 per ticket. Accommodations for persons with disabilities are available upon request.
In a related event, Professor Jon Rossini will give a pre-performance dramaturgical talk on the history and influence of this musical in the Mondavi Center’s Studio Theatre on May 3 at 1 p.m. This special event is free to ticket-holders to any performance of “Oklahoma!”
For complete event information, to receive a Department of Music season brochure, or to join the department mailing list, call 530-752-7896, send an e-mail to musicmail@ucdavis.edu or visit music.ucdavis.edu/events.
• Barbara K. & W. Turrentine Jackson Hall
Robert & Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts
• Sat., May 2, 8 p.m.
Fri., May 8, 8 p.m.
Sat., May 9, 8 p.m.
Sun., May 10, 2 p.m.
$20/24/28 adults; $12/16/20 students, children
• Sun., May 3, 2 p.m.
$12/14/16 adults; $8/10/12 students, children
• 530-754-2787
866-754-2787 (toll-free)
MondaviArts.org