The Madill High School Drama program presented Rodgers’s and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!” on May 5 and 6, 2022. This was the first play they were able to produce since 2019 and was also the first stage experience for these students.
“Oklahoma!” consists of two acts and is a romanticcomedy musical. The play is set in Claremore, Okla. around 1906.
The story is about Laurey Williams and the love triangle involving her and the two men who love her. A cowboy named Curly McLain and a farmhand named Jud Fry fight for Laurey’s love which ultimately ends in the death of Jud Fry.
A secondary romance buds during the love triangle - Ado Annie must pick between cowboy Will Parker and snake oil merchant Ali Hakim. Parker wins the love of Annie due to Hakim moving back to his home.
The main cast characters include Armando Gonzalez as Curley McLain, Abby Zang as Laurey Willams, Sierra Whitaker as Aunt Eller, Chance Whitman as Will Parker, Flower Valeriano as Ado Annie, Ben Perkins as Jud Fry, Jesus Garcia as Ali Hakim, Lillian Johnston as Gertie Cummings, Stevie Love as Ike Skidmore, and many more students as supporting cast.
Zang is a junior at Madill and was praised for her singing and acting in the performance. Zang said she loved being on stage and compared her drama group to a family.
“If an opportunity ever arises in acting, I’ll probably take it,” Zang said.
Lori Hartin is the Speech coach at Madill, and she also was the director of “Oklahoma!” She watched the play as a kid and said she loved directing it. Hartin said she wants to encourage more students into the drama program and make it the best program possible.
“My students have learned a lot and I am so glad that our district was able to give them not only the memories but the experience of performance,” Hartin stated.