The Orpheum Theater’s Red Carpet Series continues July 21st through the 23rd and July 29th and 30th with Rodger & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!
A co-production with the Prairie Players Civic Theatre, Oklahoma! was the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and dramatist Oscar Hammerstein’s second.
The duo is well known for their Broadway success from the 1940s and 50s such as, Carousel, The King & I, and The Sound of Music.
Performer Ellen Larson tells WGIL that Oklahoma really paved the way for musicals in America.
“Such importance for the musical world and setting the standard for what a musical is like,” Larsen says. “It was one of the first musicals without a bunch of showgirls and without a bunch of lights. It opens up with a woman churning butter on the stage and that wasn’t seen done at the time and it was at a time when people were really connecting with the American homelife and really just enjoying that American heartland.”
The Orpheum Theater will feature Oklahoma! July 21st, 22nd, and 29th at 7:30pm and July 23rd and 30th at 2:00pm.
For more information, visit the Orpheum Theater Box Office, or visit Galesburg Orpheum DOT O-R-G.
