The University of North Carolina School of the Arts does a painstaking recreation of Oklahoma as it premiered in 1943. www.playbill.com/news/article/...
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am a native Tulsa, Oklahoman. I have seen the 1955 movie, I have seen countless productions, including the London West End stage production with Maureen Lipman and Hugh Jackman. I am in tears from utter joy for having the privilege to enjoy this. It is a real treat to see a faithful facsimile of the original staging, the original Agnes DeMille choreography. This is the absolute best Oklahoma! I have ever seen in my 69 years and I don't think it will ever be surpassed. I think the passion and youth of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts putting their entire heart and soul into this production has made in unsurpassable. Congratulations! You have made this Okie truly happy!
Well, they haven't quite got the voices of back then, rather those according to the teaching fads of the past decades - that bag of glued-together tricks & quirks that the curse of the microphone allowed to thrive, which simply wouldn't have been _heard_ in 1943. But that's about the hardest part to recreate & I'm not expecting miracles, as they (99.99% of them) don't/can't teach it anymore (nor the theater _speaking_ as a base before that). As a voice nerd, that part is still a bit disappointing to me, though ;)
On opening night in 1943 many of the seats were unsold. The theater sendt people out on the streets to give free tickets to servicemen, most of them on a brief leave before going to prepare for D-Day or fight in the Pacific. That first night was the LAST TIME in over 3 years that there was an unsold seat to Oklahoma! To the boys in WWII this play was a taste of why they were fighting.
This was fabulous. I absolutely cannot believe this was a student production! It’s as good an Oklahoma! as anybody could possibly want. They nailed the entire show. Not a single clinker, and the entire cast stepped up. The best thing about this production is how, in their completely professional performances, these Millennials delivered a show in the satisfying style of the classic Broadway musical genre of the 1940s. I’ve seen performances of this groundbreaking musical before, but none of them before this one gave me the feeling that I was experiencing the thrill of being transported to the opening nite of this show, 80 years ago. This production truly demonstrated what was so groundbreaking about Oklahoma!
Please never remove this from RU-vid! I show it to my high school Drama and Speech classes and have them write a formal critique. Absolutely amazing show.
I watched this is 2022, a timeless production. As someone who frequents Broadway, this production was wonderful! The acting, the orchestra, everything about it was top notch.
I am 82 years old and have seen OKLAHOMA many times through the years,in theaters -schools -dinner clubs -etc.-etc...So when I began to watch I thought " Ill just watch for a few minutes" Well I was glued to my TV through the whole performance ! "wow " is all I can say... I was only 6 when it was first performed and we did not live in New York but I bet it was not that much better then what you ALL did ....Thank you for a most enjoyable time.......
My appreciation for Oklahoma grows as I get older. One thing to keep in mind about a recreation of the historical '43 production is, of course, that it can't recreate the historical moment itself - and a highly fraught one it was. Many in the audience during the early years of the show's original run were servicemen passing through New York City - and lucky enough to get a ticket - before shipping out to fight the war in Europe. Many would not return.
Sobering food for thought. I've been lucky enough to meet two original cast members, Celeste Holm and George Irving who was drafted soon after opening night.
Thoroughly enjoyed watching this restoration production! What a sentimental, nostalgic tribute to the 1943 world premiere. Hurrahs and hoorays to the cast, orchestra, crew, staff, and supporters! Not just any entity has John Mauceri and Terrence Mann helming such an exuberant, historic labor of love. I was born in 1952, and Rodgers and Hammerstein's catalog were part of my upbringing's eclectic soundtrack. The timeless spirit of "Oklahoma!"'s groundbreaking original Broadway production is brilliantly captured and it induced my eyes to glisten, especially during this remarkable restoration's sensational curtain call.
This was a true joy from beginning to end! It is hard to believe that this was not a Broadway production, from the sets and costumes to the amazing performers and orchestra. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. ❤
The two women leads were very good, but Kyle Gugielmo as Curly and Braxton Molinaro as Jud were super! Charles Osborne (Will) can really dance, and Adam Levinthal (Ali Hakim) was great comic relief. Best production I've seen of this Rodgers & Hammerstein classic!
It is many years since I saw Oklahoma. This authentic performance is an absolute treat. It is made even more enjoyable and authentic by the cast being young enough to portray the storyline believeably.
For all the critics below, the only thing this production got wrong was the fact that Alfred Drake(Curly) did not wear his hat in Act 1. This was noted by Joan Roberts, who was the original Laurie and was present at the opening of this production. Both Joan Roberts and Celeste Holm(the original Ado Annie) were invited to the show and applauded on stage. They were both 93 in 2011, when this was done.
My sincere thanks for performing this historic musical in its authentic form. Recently it has been “modernized” for today’s audiences, but that effort has stripped the show of its personality and flavor, taking the joy out of the performance. I applaud your bravery in embracing the original-what a pleasure for your audience. Your orchestra and cast were outstanding. Curly had the perfect voice for the role-beautiful!
The best production of Oklahoma that I've ever seen! The acting in the production is outstanding, and the dancing is superb (especially in Farmer and the Cowman)
I love, love ,love this production. The history behind it, the great acting and wonderful orchestra, it was perfection perfected. I watched the movie version many times and thought it was great, now this has overtaken it in every way. Many thanks to those that put it on RU-vid so we could all share in this wonderful performance.
This is a treasure, not only as entertainment, but for students of the history of American Musical Theater. Having a "fresh, modern look" at old classics is worth exploring, but I have to say touring revivals I've seen of Oklahoma were missing the heart that is in this production, apparent in every aspect. I'm very moved (and Oklahoma is not even my favorite musical). Bravo!
Thank you so much for this incredible production. It was sheer joy to watch and congratulations to all the super talented students involved, including everyone behind the scenes. It brought back unforgettable memories for me of a wonderful amateur production I was in as part of the chorus, at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London in 1994 for Applause Young Variety Club of Great Britain - when I was aged just 23, which was a great experience. This has the very same energy. Bravo!
What can I add to all the appraisal already given here? As a 61-year old Dutch man having been fond of Oklahoma since his 16th I find this production better than ... the well-known movie with Shirley Jones etc. And what a baritone Curly is...
I have loved the music from Oklahoma all my life and this production brings a tear of joy to my eyes. It is simply wonderful and many thanks to everyone involved in this production. Everyone is fantastic.
I'll be damned.... This was fantastic. The original Oklahoma, revived. How they were able to pull this off, I haven't the foggiest idea, but they did it and did it well.
That was so brilliant . Curly and Will were perfectly cast. The costumes were recreated in every detail. The orchestra, the choreography, sound, camerawork and editing all terrific. Amd Laurie and her aunt were great. I just loved every second of part one and two. University of North Carolina School for the Arts congrats on a flawless production. Every aspect was top drawer. 💯
I had to look a few of them (Jud/Will) up and yup! One's in L.A., one's in NYC, both doing really, really well as professional actors/directors/writers.
This is incredible!!! Not only a trip back in a time machine but the perfect antidote to the recent Broadway production which I feel was a spit in the face of Rodgers and Hammerstein (my humble opinion. I'm a purist). If only all the classic golden-age shows could be treated with the same respect. My highest compliments to all involved!
What a wonderful all around performance 🎭! Singing was beautiful, the acting perfect and the dancing 🕺 💃 terrific. The presentation was professional 🤩! The orchestra as good as any I have ever heard !! I really enjoyed watching !!! Thank you 😊
Glad to see University of NC School revive Oklahoma! How pleasant to view a wholesome musical with good values, no profanity,Violence and be enjoyably entertained! BRAVO!
I have loved the Musical Oklahoma for many years and now at 77 I truly enjoyed this Production. The orchestra was wonderful to listen to, and all who perform in this wonderful musical known as Oklahoma. I continue to listen to this performance over and over again, love everything about it.
This was a wonderful production. I grew up listening to this album as my father was stationed in Oklahoma during WW II, and my parents got engaged there when my mother took the train from the east coast. Their song was People Will Say We’re In Love. Almost 50 years later, when my mother had to put my father in a nursing home, a pianist was playing that song the first day she brought him there. It’s a timeless story and produced by you beautifully.
This work was outstanding. If you hadn't said it was a college production I would have believed it was a professional road company. I played Andrew Carnes in a dinner theater production now thirty something years ago. I've always loved this show.
An outstanding recreation of Oklahoma, the way it opened on Broadway, the way it was meant to be, with a full orchestra that was true to the R&H score. This production is better than most Broadway revivals especially the awful reimagined version of 2018? That was Carrie meets Oklahoma, with a blood covered Laurie and Curly at their wedding after Curly shoots Judd in cold blood at point blank range for know reason. The newlyweds then sing the title song Oklahoma covered in blood to disparage the USA and gun violence, certainly not Rodgers and Hammerstein's intentions. They turned over in their graves. Unlike that last mockery of Oklahoma, the UNCSA is perfection with a cast to rival any professional cast. Well done, to all involved in this magnificent recreation. My favorite actor here was the one who played Ali Hakim. Actually, he was better than Eddie Albert in the movie version. Thank you for posting this work of art.
I've loved Oklahoma as a film my whole life and it was a show much beloved of my late Parents and Grand Parents also. But, this triumph of a production - so professional I completely 'forgot' (as it were) that this was a University production by students, which stands testament to the enthusiasm and tremendous effort invested by all - detail really matters - and the wonderful end result. I'm so glad you uploaded this to RU-vid, so I can save it by means of Favourite bookmark and come by to see it again. When I now think of Oklahoma, I will now for always think of this stage production, with grateful thanks. It moved me to tears and has been an enormous joy to see. Well done all!
WONDERFUL! I have worked in musical theater for over 40 years, and have been in 3 different productions of Oklahoma. And, I have seen a dozen + different productions. But, this is by far one of the best I have ever seen. My very first soundtrack of Oklahoma was a portfolio of 10 78rpm's that consisted of 1 song on each side, along with snippets of dialogue from the very first cast of this wonderful show. Simply loved this production, and so happy that they chose to perform the reproduction. It makes it worth all of the hard work that was put into the show. Again, well done & bravo for such an amazing production. You can never go wrong with a Rodgers & Hammerstein show.
The Hugh Jackman version is my personal favorite but this one is a bit more accurate with regard to the original. Plus it was done on a smaller budget. Both well done though but you gotta watch Hugh Jackman's version is you haven't seen it. He did a great job
I would love to see a full version of the 1979 revival with Laurence Guittard as Curley. I worked on the fly crew of the Stanford Ram’s Head production of OH CAPTAIN! He played Captain Henry St. James. Backstage, people who saw the Broadway show with Tony Randall told us we were better.
@@jeffreyhunter4966, a murderous scoundrel is a murderous scoundrel. We're told in the plot what happened. There is no forgiveness for that, especially after he continually used threats, harassment, and even attempted to murder Curly not once, but twice; and that's not even mentioning the fire he started which burned down that farm 5 years prior to the events in the musical. Also, where does Jesus in any way fit into this story? Sure, Jesus can forgive Jud, but the truth of the situation is that the man was horribly flawed. Let me ask you this: when you're almost killed twice by the same person, can you forgive that person? Honestly and truly, can you?
@@jdstearman And don't forget the Bartlett family murders (Act 1, Scene 2). Jud didn't actually "confess" to them, but he left the implication hanging pretty heavily in the air. Much in the way Ted Bundy "confessed." Jud's a great character, but I can't say I like him very much.
GREATEST AMATEUR PRODUCTION EVER ON THE WEB SINCE THE ORIGINAL 70 MILLIMETERS MOVIE IN STEREOPHONIC 6 TRACKS AND TECHNICOLOR ORIGINAL RELEASE! BRAVISSIMO!!!!!!! A REAL PLEASURE FOR EYES AND EARS NO WAY! Emmanuel from Paris France
This is a remarkable achievement as I feel as if I’ve stepped back in time. As any theater student knows, Oklahoma! set a new path for musical theater. However, its fresh and innovative concept may not always reach audiences of today. I especially like the authenticity of its design...even the color pallet originated from the forties. It’s rather like viewing a restored print of a technicolor film. Brilliant!
I've seen Oklahoma! in the early 90s when I was a teenager, the musical not the movie. Although I learned English in school back then it wasn't enough to really understand everything. I thought the tunes were great and the title song stayed with me ever since, a nice thing to whistle or sing when a morning is, in fact, beautiful. Now 30 years later for whatever reason this production came to me by the almighty youtube algorithm and I watched it again. Y'all are amazing. And now that I actually understand the lyrics: what a disturbing story!?! All these years I thought it's just a bunch of happy tunes. Holy macaroni. Loved it. Greetings from Germany.
I know this show was written during tumultuous times but unfortunately, the way our country is now, I wish they would have play lighthearted musicals. It makes me happy and takes me away for a short time from thinking of the the issues of today
I was also in tears that people will have faith in the original creators for a change. The original is a miracle. Frederic Lloyd General Manager of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company replied to my letter in the Savoyard. He said "the Company is not a museum". This is a lack of understanding of stagecraft. A reconstruction of an original production just proves when they knew what would work and it works decades even centuries later. Congratulations to everybody! John Wilson (conductor) is meant to have made an audio recording with the masterly original orchestrations to be released soon.
My sentiments entirely, Carousel is my favourite also, I wonder if they have any DVDs of other productions for sale? This is the best stage version of any musical I"ve ever seen.
It would certainly be wonderful to have a loving, respectful re-creation of the original production of *Carousel,* especially since the movie version of that work omits significant parts of the score, which Rodgers said was his favorite among all his works.
I loved the show. I've known the music of Oklahoma all my life, but this is the first time I've ever seen an entire production of it. There is an amazing amount of talent here, every bit of it enjoyable!
Extraordinary, authentic performance. I have had the opportunity to perform this seminal work many times in orchestras and wind ensembles. Flute. Bravo Maestro Mauceri and to the fine orchestra and cast.
This an awesome production.It was wonderfully cast. I just gotta say I feel sorry for Judd. Did you see how is eyes welled with tears during "Poor Judd"?
Excellent performance love the pedaling man and jud Dancing was top class Not a step out of place just brilliant performance from all the players congratulations to all sets destiny Worthy of Being on broadway All the best for feilxstowe England Suffolk 10 longfield feilxstowe
Amazing performances by this young cast! Wish I could pinpoint the more outstanding ones but I loved them all but I thoroughly enjoyed the facial expressions of the guy who played Will! He was on character throughput! Saw Oklahoma at the Circle in the Square theatre and was thrilled by its innovative production but these youngsters totally captivated me! Bravo!
Yes, I agree. I followed one young guy in the background. Throughout, he was with it, acting the part. Blue trousers orangey shirt. Something I wish I had done when young.
I absolutely loved the show and believe that it was as good as a Broadway cast. I’m quite sure that the actors may even be on Broadway now given this was posted 7 years ago.
Apparently the actual production was in 2011, 12 years ago now. So I am sure many of this brilliant cast are in professional careers in theatre or other entertainment streams.
The Curly in this production has an amazing voice, indeed, the cast in general was wonderful...especially that that were all less than 21 yo. I see Equity in many a future on that stage!
@@jdstearman The dream ballet has always been danced by real ballet dancers, not the singing actors, even the film version. It's built into the show that way and has specific music covering the transition.
BRAVO! In France none university does it that way, yu're the best no way! BRAVO super BRAVO I must say! MERCI BEAUCOUP for this incredible outstanding rendering! Emmanuel from Paris France
Bravo to ALL involved. Superb productions from the costumes to the sets to the wonderful musicians and actors and dancers.Delightful and heartfelt on every level.
Congratulations to everyone involved in making such an awesome production! I'm an Oklahoman and know this musical quite well and have seen many productions already. This ranks as one of the tops on my list. Thank you for doing it as was originally done.
The state of Oklahoma dumped its old state song for "You're Doing Fine Oklahoma" as soon as the musical opened on Broadway during WWII and folks from Oklahoma, many of them servicemen, were in the audience.
Congratulations!! This is a GREAT production of "Oklahoma". I feel as if I had been transported in time to over 80 yrs ago when it debuted on Broadway. Thank you for restoring the original choreography of Agnes DeMille; The dedication to this production by the cast is unparalleled to modern productions that are more interested in glitz and pop. Thank You for your dedication to preserving the original production. Cheers from NYC!!!
I’m blown away that THIS was a college production .. Everyone involved should be proud of their accomplishment here ! Boston University, are you watching ??
Wow! Incredible! Masterful! My Goodness… A College Production?!! What! Good enough for Broadway! Incredibly talented students..I forgot I was watching a college production it’s that good I didn’t see a misstep anywhere. Pardon me gotta go…Watch it Again. Fabulous. Fantastic.
