Oklahoma!

Oklahoma! Musical

• The musical discussed in the text is Oklahoma!
• Laurey is scared of Jud Fry in the story.

Characters and Relationships

• Curly tries to make Laurey jealous by flirting with Gertie Cummings.
• Ado Annie becomes infatuated with the Persian peddler, Ali Hakim.
• Curly sells his saddle to raise money at the box social.
• Ali Hakim ends up marrying Gertie Cummings.
• Will Parker gets into a fight with Jud Fry at the wedding.
• Jud Fry dies after being stabbed by a knife during a fight with Curly.

Author and Compositional Style

• The author of the musical Oklahoma! is Rodgers and Hammerstein.
• Curly McLain is acquitted after a trial.
• Richard Rodgers generally wrote the music without lyrics to guide him.
• Oscar Hammerstein wrote the lyrics first.
• The musical style and form were dictated by the dialogue.
• Most songs of the era had a standard AABA form, but only a few songs in Oklahoma! follow this form.
• The biggest innovation in Oklahoma! was the integration of music, dance, and drama.

Stage and Production

• Aunt Eller was churning butter on stage.
• Curly and Laurey drive off in a surrey with a fringe on their honeymoon.
• The show marked a departure in Rodgers' compositional style.
• Oklahoma! was originally promoted as a musical comedy in Boston.
• The producers avoided scaring off audiences by not advertising it as a musical.
• Rodgers and Hammerstein paid attention to the characters' emotions and motivations when writing songs for the show.

Musical Numbers and Themes

• Songs like 'Many a New Day' and 'Out of My Dreams' provide insights into the characters' thoughts and feelings.
• When Laurey and Curly sing 'Let People Say We're In Love', it shows their acceptance of their relationship.
• The old practice of segregation between music and drama came to be seen as a violation of the new musical theatre aesthetic.
• The difference between book time and lyric time is the way the story progresses in spoken dialogue versus in song.
• The orchestra plays an important role in the show, setting the tone and mood.
• Writers began to pay closer attention to the integration of music, drama, and dance in the new musical theatre aesthetic.
• Oklahoma! brought a new level of integration and innovation to the musical theatre aesthetic.

Test your knowledge about the transformation of a beloved musical! Take this quiz to discover why the show initially named 'Away We Go' became the iconic 'Oklahoma.' Explore the unique elements that set it apart from traditional musicals, including atmospheric ballet sequences, a dramatic death scene, and a captivating plot. Challenge yourself and uncover the fascinating history behind this Broadway classic!