By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Thomas More Prep-Marian students will be performing the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic musical “Oklahoma!” this weekend.
Show times are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. All tickets are $8 and are on sale now at www.tmp-m.org and will be available at the door.
If you are unfamiliar with the classic, it is a love story set outside of Claremore, Oklahoma, in 1906 featuring spirited songs, dance and comedy.
Travis Grizzell, director, said he chose “Oklahoma!” because coming off of the school’s last two musicals, “The Little Mermaid” and “Into the Woods,” it was a return to a classic musical. He also thought the musical would fit the student talent pool.
“It worked out well with the other two musicals in our community this fall as well,” he said. “People were treated to the music of Abba in FHSU’s ‘Mama Mia,’ and they can also discover a wonderful new show in Hays High’s ‘Bright Star’ and also revisit a golden age show in our ‘Oklahoma!'”
The challenges for this musical are the same as all the others the school has produced.
“There tends to be a perception that because a show is older or better known, that you can just crank it out easier than some others,” Grizzell said. “It’s a musical, so it still has a lot of props, multiple costumes, hours of dance and music rehearsal and a lot of set for our shared venue space. When you take all of that on and match it up with our students’ availability, it gets pretty hectic.”
He said this cast brings energy and ownership to this show. He added he has had more student help on the production side of this show than probably any other musical he’s directed.
“They’re a combination of new, young actors and older actors that have been chompin’ at the bit for that lead or featured role,” Grizzell said. “The kids are putting their heart and soul into this, making it their own and leavin’ it all on the stage each night. I think that’ll come across well for our audience.”
He said he would encourage community members to get out and attend these shows and support our local performing arts.
“I would like to add that you may think you know ‘Oklahoma!,’ but the beauty of live theater is that every single show is different,” Grizzell said. “I encourage all your readers to get out and attend these shows and support our local performing arts. It’ll be a great time, and we look forward to seeing everyone this weekend!”
Below is a cast list.
OKLAHOMA!
AUNT ELLER – ALEX HERRMAN
CURLEY – LANE WERTH
LAUREY – KAITLYN BURD
IKE SKIDMORE – KOOPER HUDSONPILLAR
FRED – AAKASH PATEL
WILL PARKER – DYLAN WERTH
JUD FRY – BEN PFANNENSTIEL
ADO ANNIE CARNES – ANNIE WASINGER
ALI HAKIM – PAUL BRULL
GERTIE CUMMINGS – MADISON FOSS
ELLEN – HAILEY CASEY
KATE – MADELYN SEILER
SYLVIE – HAYLI MEIER
ARMINA – WHITNEY BEFORT
AGGIE – MAGGIE BRULL
ANDREW CARNES – LUCAS KRAUS
CORD ELAM – HUNTER FLAX
JOE – AIDAN NORMANDIN
MIKE – NICKLAS HELGET
VIVIAN – ABBY PEELER
VIRGINIA – MAGGIE BAALMANN
JESS– JASMINE ROBLES
REBECCA – MORGAN OLMSTEAD