2008 Woodie Awards
O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A! Oklahoma, YEOW!
Lakeland College and UW-Sheboygan plow new ground
Crystal Iverson and Chris Tourtellott
Issue date: 9/23/04 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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The musical, based on the play Green Grow the Lilacs, follows the residence of the Indian Territory at the end of the 1800's as Oklahoma gains its statehood. Within the town, there is an ongoing rivalry between the farmers and cowboys of the land. The women of the territory act as the rickety bridge between the battling [and I do mean BATTLING] men. The side stories of the show also involve strong rivalries of their own. Laurey (Alyssa Seifert), the musicals' heroine, is forced to make a choice of the heart while Curly (Brent Buechel) and Jud Fry (AJ Grulkowski) fight for her affection- to the death.
The second, more comedic love triangle involves a peddler, Ali Hakim (Jason Hernandez), who gets frightened into marrying a girl that cowboy Will Parker (Dave Bourgeois) comes back to town to win over. Stuck in the middle, Ado Annie (Angela Wenig) can't seem to say no to either one of them when they start to talk "purdy" to her.
The show is filled with numerous famous songs such as "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'," "I Cain't Say NO," "People Will Say We're in Love," and, of course, "Oklahoma!"
Chuck Krebs, Director, wanted to give the effect of being back in 1943 when the show originally opened on Broadway. Costumes for the show, over 100 dresses, hats, boots, and even chaps were rented from a professional costumer in Milwaukee. Footlights were created for the stage by Light Designer Ross Brusky from the John Micheal Kohler Arts Center. Backdrops were also rented for the background of the set, each costing thousands of dollars. The set was very minimal, only having two movable set pieces in the entire show. Cast members sometimes felt open and exposed on a stage with barely any set, but it kept their focus on the intense moments of the show.
The first act closes with a "Dream Ballet" sequence that is not usually performed due to the complexity it. Finding enough dancers trained in pointe ballet is also a difficult task. The ten minute ballet was choreographed by Jessica Mueller, a local kindergarten teacher and dance instructor.
The directors of the show are faculty of both UWS and Lakeland. Director Chuck Krebs and musical director Paul Sucherman are both UWS faculty. The Lakeland faculty members collaborating on the project are choirmaster Janet L. Herrick (though on medical leave for one year, was allowed to work behind the scenes on Oklahoma!) and the new band director, Dr. Walter Rich. Also involved is recent Lakeland graduate Micheal Eberhardy, who was the assistant director.
Lakeland students and recent graduates in the show are AJ Grulkowski (Jud Fry), Jessica Boor, Crystal Iverson, Samantha Pool, Micheal Gartman, Ryanne Froh and Sarah Rassmusen.
Oklahoma! took the stage at the Stephanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts on September 17th at 8pm and had performaces throughout the weekend on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.
Hopes are high as alliances are growing stronger between the two colleges. Plans are already being discussed to collaborate once again in the production West Side Story. This theater year, UW Sheboygan will be putting on The Foreigner (Nov 12-21st), Grease (March 4-12th), In the Mood (April 22-May1st), and A Tale Of Two Cities (May 5-8th). There will be open auditions for community members in October for The Foreigner, and in January for the other three. Lakeland will be putting on Taming of the Shrew and Kiss Me Kate this year. Auditions were held September 21 and 22 for Kiss Me Kate, and auditions for Taming of the Shrew are tonight in the Bradley Center. If you are interested and have not auditioned, you are welcomed and encouraged to talk to Dr. James Crawford, head of the Lakeland theater department.