From Theatre Royal Bath: Bath Operatic and Dramatic Society are set to stage Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic musical, Oklahoma! at the Theatre Royal Bath from Tuesday 4th February to Saturday 8th February. Full of wonderful songs, the rousing score features the famous title number Oklahoma!, alongside Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’, The Surrey With The Fringe On Top, I Cain’t Say No, Many A New Day and People Will Say We’re In Love.
One of the most popular and enduring shows in history, Oklahoma! is set in America’s Western territory, just after the turn of the 20th century, against a background of high-spirited rivalry between local farmers and cattlemen. The show perfectly integrates song, dance and story to tell the tale of farm girl Laurey and the two rivals for her affections, happy go-lucky cowboy Curly and the sinister farm-hand Jud. Laurey and Curly’s romantic journey, as bumpy as a surrey ride down a country road, contrasts with the comic exploits of brazen Ado Annie and hapless Will Parker in a musical adventure embracing hope, determination and the promise of a new land.
Oklahoma! was the first musical written by Richard Rodgers, who composed the music, and Oscar Hammerstein II, who wrote the book and lyrics. Based on the Lynn Riggs play Green Grow the Lilacs, the original Broadway production opened in 1943 and was an immediate box-office hit, winning Rodgers and Hammerstein a Pulitzer Prize.
Bath Operatic and Dramatic Society (BODS) present a cast of 35 local performers at the Theatre Royal, aged from 18 to 72 years, who hail from Bath, Bristol, Wiltshire, Somerset and Gloucestershire. Director Helen Halliday returns to Bath 25 years after playing Aunt Eller for BODS in their 1999 production of Oklahoma! Matthew Graham and Lydia McCotter play the roles of the romantic leads Curly and Laurey. Matthew has performed in many stage productions in Frome and Warminster, and Oklahoma! is his second show with BODS, after appearing in their 2023 production of Guys and Dolls. Lydia, who works by day as the Theatre Royal Bath’s Operations Manager, has been performing with BODS for 10 years with previous roles including Charity in Sweet Charity, Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire, Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof and the Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods.
Ed Corbishley and Sabrina Messer play the roles of Will Parker and Ado Annie. Ed, who works in the Box Office at the Theatre Royal, performs with a number of theatre groups in Bath, most recently playing Freddy Eynsford-Hill in My Fair Lady with Bath Light Operatic Group.
Oklahoma! features a professional orchestra conducted by Musical Director James Finbow. Completing the creative team is Harriet Lowe, who makes her choreographic debut.
Established in 1894 and originally called Bath Amateurs, Bath Operatic and Dramatic Society’s (BODS) illustrious history includes many acclaimed performances.
Oklahoma! appears at the Theatre Royal Bath from Tuesday 4th to Saturday 8th February. Tickets are available from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 01225 448844 and online at theatreroyal.org.uk
Dates: Tuesday 4th to Saturday 8th February 2025
Performances: Evenings at 7.30pm, Matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30pm
Tickets: £8 – £38 with concessions available – (Booking fee applies)
Box Office: 01225 448844, theatreroyal.org.uk