This year’s musical is coming up. Next week, March 15 to the 17, Houghton Lyric Theatre will present Oklahoma!, concluding over two months of hard work and long rehearsals. The musical features the story of the wayward romance of cowboy Curly and farm girl Laurey amidst a rivalry between their family and friends.
“Audiences can look forward to gorgeous singing and fabulous choreography—there are some big dance numbers, choreographed by Professor Rebekah Brennan! We will have a fantastic pit orchestra, conducted by Dr. Armenio Suzano,” said Amanda Cox, Lyric Theatre director.
In addition to her excitement for the musical itself, Cox commented on her time working with the other people involved in its production. “Working on Oklahoma! has been a wonderful experience,” she said. “It is a large, lavish and fun musical, and the cast and crew have had so much fun putting it together.”
Natalie Kyvik ‘20 remarked on the relationships she built with her fellow cast members, saying “The Oklahoma! cast is one big family, and I think people are going to see that close-knit bond reflected through our performance, making it an all the more special experience.” These friendships were especially impactful given her background as a science major, which typically separated her from the musical side of campus. Kyvik said, “At first it seemed like it would be a collision of worlds, but I have come to realize just how at home I feel whenever I step into a rehearsal.”
Junior Lauren Grifoni expressed her excitement that students from all backgrounds and experience levels were involved in the program. While the scale of Oklahoma! made it the more exciting, Grifoni explained it also presented its own set of difficulties. “I think the greatest challenge in this show is the size of the production. We have a large cast, a full set, elaborate costuming and an orchestra so it’s a lot to put together,” she noted. “There is also a lot of more advanced choreography than we’ve done in previous productions which is really exciting.”
In order to bring the production to where it is, the cast has had to work a lot as individuals, in addition to as a group. “We all have the responsibility of bringing our characters to life and taking on the responsibility to learn our roles to the best of our ability,” Grifoni said, then added, “It’s a lot of work outside of rehearsal as well.”
Sometimes the cast had to be inventive for how they fit in their unofficial rehearsals. “During College Choir tour, a bunch of us actually sat in the back of the tour bus and ran lines together so we wouldn’t get too rusty,” recalled Michaella Aliperti ’19. “It’s really cool to be doing this with my friends, and to be a part of something bigger than myself.
Despite the time commitment, Derek Chase ‘19 was excited for his role in the musical. “Playing the villain, I have to maintain the creepy aura that makes it,” he commented. “However, I’m the kind of person who just wants to have fun and laugh, So it’s a fun challenge for me!” Chase also mentioned that he’s appreciated the opportunity to “do some boxing and knife fighting and all the kinds of things childhood me was obsessed with.”
Everyone will have the chance to see how it will all come together next week at 7:30 p.m. in Wesley Chapel. Students interested in attending can purchase tickets for the discounted price of $8.
“We’ve been putting in so many hours of rehearsals we can’t wait to share it with everyone,” said Grifoni. “There are many surprises in store, but I won’t spoil any! You have to come see for yourself.”