Oklahoma!

What's the story?

MTP London is very excited to bring this much-loved Broadway musical to the Palace Theatre for our 25th Anniversary Season! 

Oklahoma! was the first hit musical for the legendary team of Rodgers and Hammerstein. Set near the town of Claremore just before Oklahoma achieves statehood in 1906, this musical is a delightful story of two young cowboys vying for the hearts of the women they love - with lots of laughter, song and high-energy dance along the way.

 Press Release [PDF]

Why Watch This Show? 

“Oklahoma! is one of the greatest musicals of all time, but we’re not doing it as a museum piece. Even though it is well-known, the story and music is always fresh and evocative. We have an enthusiastic and energetic cast who are finding the comedy in it. It’s everything that people would want from the show, with a youthful and modern energy. We are thrilled to have the largest cast musical on the Palace stage in years. We also have cast members who have been with MTP since its founding, such as local theatre legend Art Fidler, and youngsters who are making their stage debuts."  - Ceris Thomas, Director of Oklahoma!

Videos

Photos

Location

Palace Theatre
710 Dundas Street
London, Ontario

Parking:
Municipal Lots north of the Palace between Queen Street and Dundas Street (municipal rates apply)

Bus:
London Transit routes 2, 7 and 20 pass by the Palace Theatre

Box Office Phone:
519-432-1029

Box Office Hours:
Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm

Articles & Reviews

Oklahoma! - a well deserved standing O!
Donald's Dish Reviews
★★★★★ out of 5 stars
This Oklahoma! well deserved the standing ovation it got from its opening night audience. From the artistically designed sets, to the appropriate mood lighting, to the seamless set changes, everything translated into an evening of pure theatrical magic and perfection.

Review: Oklahoma
Arts & Humanities Students' Council (Western University)
★★★★1/2 out of 5 stars
I have had the privilege of seeing Oklahoma! six times and I can safely say that the quality of vocals in MTP’s production rivals any professional production I’ve seen. In all the productions of Oklahoma! I have seen, no other community theatre group rivals MTP’s quality. 

MTP's Oklahoma is delightful!
Kerry Hishon's Blog
There were some standout performances in this production; the actors playing Will Parker and Jud Fry were fantastic.  Those were my favourite performances of the production.  The actresses playing Laurey and Ado Annie were excellent vocalists and absolutely charming.  There were some outstanding dancers in the ensemble, as well as an enthusiastic group of rough-n-tumble cowboys and some lovely farm ladies too!

Oklahoma! Review
Theatre in London
Oklahoma! is one of those great classics of mainstream American culture that has been honoured and parodied so much that modern audiences may be offput by that status. However, to watch this play by the Musical Theatre Productions company is to experience a show with not only fine music, but also surprisingly effective comedy and drama in the bargain.

Giddy up, Oklahoma's com in' to town!
The Interrobang (Fanshawe College)
It’s not every day you see 45 people crammed on the stage at the Palace Theatre on Dundas Street. Oklahoma! director and choreographer Ceris Thomas has been working on the production since spring. The show opened November 14 and runs for 10 days. Thomas chose Oklahoma! for its timelessness and the significance of Musical Theatre Productions’ (MTP) 25th anniversary year.

MTP presents Oklahoma! A show you cain't say no to!
Scene Magazine
Musical Theatre Productions (MTP) is celebrating a quarter-century of bringing top-flight musicals to London with the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, Oklahoma!
 [PDF Version]

Art Fidler recalls the origins of London's Musical Theatre Productions
The Beat Magazine
Now, 25 years later, I’m singing in the chorus of Oklahoma!  Something I helped to create in our community is still there for me to be part of in older years. I’m happy and proud too, of all of us who started MTP and have struggled to keep it alive over 25 years of ups and downs.

Palace finds fun in old rivalries
The London Free Press
The largest cast to hit the Palace Theatre in a long time was put together by Musical Theatre Productions for Oklahoma!, which opens in preview Thursday and continues until Nov. 24.

Providing opportunity in community theatre for 25 years
London Community News
What would eventually become Musical Theatre Productions (MTP) was created to nurture the talent of local performers and give them multiple venues and opportunities to showcase their talents.

Podcast #14 with Special Guests Joe Recchia and Andrew Rethazi from Oklahoma!
The Lovers, The Dreamers and You Podcast
We talk about the massive creative endeavour that is Oklahoma! presented by Musical Theatre Productions and coming soon to the Palace Theatre.  Ceris is directing so the tables are turned as we talk about the motivations behind the show and the challenges it presents.  Tune in for an in depth discussion of set design in theatre and the challenges presented to a musical director on such a classic show.

Cast and Crew

Cast

Curly: Joshua Clemenger
Laurey Williams: Meaghan Sider
Jud Fry: Dale Hirlehey
Will Parker: Patrick Bowman
Ado Annie Carnes: Lucy Morgan
Ali Hakim: Greg Mizon
Aunt Eller: Joanne Grivich
Andrew Carnes: Dean Gregory

Cora: Jennifer Bishop
Violet: Brittany Cane
Poppy: Alysha Child
Charlotte: Lisa Cousins
Kate: Laura Dearing
Elizabeth: Sara DeVrieze
Minnie: Larissa Duguay
Myrtle: Min Fidler
Lily: Sophie Floris
Gracie: Emily Greer
Ellie: Katie Grivich
Dahlia: Lia Karidas
Alice: Kezia Kirkham
Justina: Neve Kirkham
Carrie: Maya Lacey
Iris: Becky Lenko
Opal: Bonnie Matthisen
Mabel: Emma McCormick
Clara: Tara Portiss
Annie: Camila Ramirez
Eva: Emma Ratcliffe
Daisy: Shae Solomon
Gertie: Terrington Thibert
Viola: Kesia Whelen
Ike Skidmore: Joel Dell
Cord Elam: Art Fidler
Oscar: Kevin Grivich
Wilfred: Ben Guest
Slim: Michael Heath
Joe: Jonathan Houghton
Jesse: Jaime Nuttall
Johnny: John Reid
Rick: Andrew Richarson
Ernest: Dylan Rock
Ed: Braeden Soltys
Hank: Matt Stewart
Fred: Dylan Timmins

Artistic Team:

Producer: Kristina Baron-Woods
Director/Choreographer: Ceris Thomas
Musical Director: Andrew Rethazi
Stage Manager: Stephanie Molloy
Productions Manager: Joe Recchia
Lighting Design: Mark Mooney
Sound Design: Rob Richardson
Costume Designers: Becky Lenko, Kim McCuaig
Head of Props: Jamie Kim
Head of Construction: Tom Smyth
Assistant Director: Adam Zess
Assistant Choreographer: Katie Ferri
Assistant Stage Managers: Jamie Kim, Tom Smyth
Sound Operator: Jeremy Hayes
Lighting Operator: Carrie Cooper
Set Construction: Tom Smyth, Bob Gerow, Fred Hasler, Richard Skidmore, and Art Sendas
Scenic Painting: Jennifer Bishop, Lia Karidas, Bryce Kirkham, Kevin Kirkham, Kezia Kirkham, Neve Kirkham, Bonnie Mathieson, Rick McCormick, Joe Recchia, Andrew Rethazi, Andrew Richardson, Carrie Soloman
Rehearsal Pianist: Eli Pasic
Combat and Weapons: Shrew’d Business
Fight Captain: Kezia Kirkham, Michael Heath
Dance Captain: Camila Ramirez
Social Media & Marketing: Kenny Khoo
Program Design: Chris Costello
Show Web Master: Luke Bainbridge

Orchestra:

Conductor/Musical Director: Andrew Rethazi
Flute: Tina De Luca
Clarinet: Tony De Luca
Trumpet: Emily Bellman
French Horn: Ben Leibovitz
Violin 1: Kelvin Mun
Violin 2: Nicolas Carlucci
Cello: Mike Cotton
Keyboard 1: Eli Pasic
Keyboard 2/Guitar/Banjo: Jeff Lupker
Percussion: Dereyk Goodwi

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