Sooner Theatre to present ‘Oklahoma!’

NORMAN — Fifty-five teens are spending a month of their summer delving into the classic tale that also happens to feature our state.

"Oklahoma!," featuring students entering eighth grade through 2017 high school seniors, runs Thursday through Sunday at Sooner Theatre, 101 E Main St.

Set in western Indian Territory just after the turn of the century, the high-spirited rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys provides the colorful background against which Curly, a handsome cowboy, and Laurey, a winsome farm girl, play out their love story.

"I was fortunate to spend a good number of years at Discoveryland in Tulsa, performing this show, and it’s one of my favorites. I thought for years that we would do it here at the Sooner Theatre, and I am thrilled that we are doing it with our students,” said Jennifer Baker, executive director for Sooner Theatre.

“It is so well written, really challenges them as actors, singers and dancers. I think it is wonderful that all of these performers from Oklahoma will have this on their resumes. They should just for its merits as a production, but also because it is such an iconic representation of our state."

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with 2 p.m. matinees Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

A pie auction will follow the opening night performance, with 25 pies up for auction to the audience. Auctioneer Gene McKown will lend his talents to the auction.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at soonertheatre.com, by calling Sooner Theatre at 321-9600 or by stopping by the theater from 10 a.m. to noon and 2-5 p.m. through Friday.

Sooner Theatre is a nonprofit providing performing arts education and entertainment to Norman and surrounding communities. Support for the production was provided in part by Oklahoma Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Norman Arts Council, the city of Norman and Studio Series sponsor, Republic Bank & Trust.

Sooner Theatre is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For more information, go to soonertheatre.com or call 321-9600.

[PHOTO PROVIDED] Cast members from Sooner Theatre’s production of “Oklahoma!” pose for a photo in a surrey. Harrison Roth as Will Parker kneels on the side of the surrey, while from left, seated, are Morgan Breedlove as Laurey and Jace Appling as Curly. Ashlea Stewar...