Oklahoma at Heritage High School
When the colorful band of cowboys, farmers, and frontier women on Heritage High School's stage Friday night sang out “You’re doing fine, Oklahoma!”, they were definitely speaking for the audience, too.
A groundbreaking musical for its time, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! was among the first ever to develop character through song. The show opened in 1943 and was a huge success, running for 2,212 performances and winning a number of awards and nominations. It tells the story of Curly (Brandon Spann) and Laurey (Christi McCarthy), two young lovers kept apart by the dangerous farm-hand Jud Fry (Christian Meudt).
Crates, boxes, a big blue farmhouse, and a pleasant farmland backdrop were all part of a set--designed by Jack Martin and Garrett Hill--that was instrumental in creating this small, early 20th century Oklahoma town. Filling this world was a cast of vibrant and energetic students, who brought life to the town, as evident in the number “The Farmer and the Cowman”, a song that showed underlying tensions between the various townsfolk.
As Curly, Spann portrayed a charismatic and sharp young man with a cheerful disposition, as evidenced in the opening song “Oh What a Beautiful Mornin' ”, kicking off an evening of consistently strong vocal performances. Christi McCarthy portrayed his romantic interest, Laurey, a stubborn yet endearing young lady. She demonstrated her impressive vocal range and clarity in songs such as “Many a New Day” and “Out of My Dreams”, as well as an authentic heartland accent, which remained consistent whether she was speaking her lines or singing. Though some actors weren't as believable in their portrayals of young affection, Spann and McCarthy were quite convincing in their duet “People Will Say We’re in Love”.
Heritage High School’s production was bolstered by a number of strong actors and actresses, including Christian Meudt as the unpleasant Jud Fry. Meudt’s raw, gruff delivery and stiff mannerisms combined with sensitive vocal work to convey a layer of depth rare among adolescent performers. Especially in “Lonely Room”, his sweet, clear baritone reveals a gentler side to Jud. Raymond Calderon, as Persian peddler Ali Hakim, was a reliable comedian throughout the show, using his accent and over-the-top expression to draw laughs.
A number of featured performers and tech elements also gave life to Oklahoma! Allison Perhach, in the role of Dream Laurey, was a superb and elegant dancer in the “Dream Ballet”, a number that she also choreographed. Devon Isaac, another choreographer for the show, played Gertie Cummings, a young girl in love with Curly who is cursed with an extremely annoying laugh. The lights, designed by Jessica Rich, were spot on and enhanced the southern feel of the show with a number of creative elements, including a string of hanging lights that illuminated the stage for a portion of the second act.
Heritage High School’s Oklahoma! told a universal story of young love and country living, with a relatable cast of characters and the believable world they created.
by Mitchell Buckley of Westfield High School
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Imagine a single spotlight shining down upon on one of America’s most iconic cowboys, Curly McLain--hoping to win the affection of Laurey Williams--as he sings “Oh What a Beautiful Mornin’”. And don’t forget the spirited Aunt Eller, the vivacious Ado Annie and her man Will Parker. Mix it all together and you’ve got Oklahoma! as presented by Leesburg’s Heritage High School.
Based on the play Green Grow the Lilacs by Lynn Riggs, this timeless classic composed by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein debuted on Broadway in March 1943 and was a huge hit at the box office. Set against the backdrop of Oklahoma’s quest for statehood in the early 1900‘s, Oklahoma! tells the story of Curly and Laurey’s romance.
Christi McCarthy shined as the ingenue Laurey Williams. McCarthy’s angelic voice was pitch perfect and her captivating portrayal of Laurey was spot on. Brandon Spann played the male lead, Curly McLain. His energy was infectious and his vocals resonated with passion. Their duets were endearing and mesmerizing, especially in their duet “People Will Say We’re in Love.” The two actors had dynamic chemistry on stage, making their portrayals of their distinguished characters seem natural and believable.
Hannah Johnson clearly had a good grasp of Ado Annie’s character, charming the audience with her enthusiasm and lively vocals. In the role of Judd Fry-his vocals advanced far beyond his years-was Christian Meudt: each note was sung with pure perfection, each line delivered with clear motivation. Meudt and Johnson gave standout performances.
The always anticipated "Dream Ballet" was a medley of superbly combined dances, featuring choreographer Allison Perhach as Dream Laurey. Her dancing capability and the precision of her every move were stunning to watch. In addition to her fancy footwork, Perhach had fabulous facial expressions throughout. The Dream Ballet also featured an ensemble of dancers who never fell short of expectations.
Heritage High School’s production came to life with the energy and charisma produced by the entire cast as well as the pit band. The vocals meshed in perfect harmony, and everyone was in step throughout the elaborate dance numbers. The production even incorporated a children’s ensemble to join in on the big ensemble numbers such as “The Farmer and the Cowman” and the title song, “Oklahoma.” The enormous ensemble, though not flawless, never lost focus.
Though scene changes could have gone a bit more swiftly, in general, Oklahoma's technical elements-such as the simple but effective set, designed by Jack Martin, Garrett Hill and David Bates--added to the country feel of the production. The costumes were fabulous and fitting for the time period.
You just “Can’t Say No” to Heritage High School’s Production of Oklahoma!
by Margaret Murphy of Fairfax High School
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Caught up in the whirlwind of young love, pretty farm girl Laurey Williams seems destined for a happy, if uneventful marriage to cowboy Curly McLain- until it's revealed that Jud Fry, a farmhand, has an obsessive interest in her. Welcome to "Oklahoma!". Heritage High School took a traditional approach to this upbeat, emotionally compelling musical, and made it memorable through the skill and dedication of their many talented performers.
Based on the 1931 play “Green Grow the Lilacs” by Lynn Riggs, and opening in 1943, “Oklahoma!” was the first musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein, and today it's a popular choice to produce in schools. The musical chronicles Laurey's and Curly's romance, and the complications that ensue when Jud makes things dangerous for the happy-couple-to-be. In a hilarious sub-plot, Laurey’s free-wheeling friend Ado Annie is forced to make a decision between her wild ways and her love, Will Parker.
Heritage High School exhibited a wealth of talented performers. Christi McCarthy shone as Laurey. Her clear and obviously well-trained soprano was near pitch-perfect throughout the night, and her stage presence and thoughtful character choices gave her portrayal of Laurey a sense of realism. Chemistry simmered between McCarthy and Brandon Spann (Curly) during “People Will Say We’re in Love,” a humorous, yet ultimately very touching number that showed off the incredible vocal skill of these two performers. Spann’s performance was witty, believable, and indicative of incredible talent.
Christian Meudt,as the lecherous Jud Fry, was excellent. His emotional commitment was touching, bringing humanity to an otherwise despicable character, while his rich voice was a pleasure to listen to. His performance of “Pore Jud” was memorable and emotionally moving, the standout number of the night. Tyler Schulze was charming as Will Parker, displaying incredible skill as an actor, vocalist, and, perhaps most impressively, as a dancer. Especially in "Kansas City", his energetic movement and clear vocals were excellent. Throughout the production, the magnetism of Schulze and Hannah Johnson (Ado Annie), as well as their patent chemistry, made their relationship believable and fun to watch. Johnson was bubbly and spirited, with a powerful belt, and her hilarious commitment in “Can’t Say No” incited laughter throughout the audience.
Heritage High School’s technical crews assisted skillfully in the execution of an incredible production. While the makeup was somewhat exaggerated, it aided in visibility and characterization of some actors. The sets, including the quaint Williams family farmhouse, Jud's eerily realistic smokehouse turned home, their town's fairgrounds were realistic and simple, effectively transporting the audience into the Oklahoma territory.
This production's choreography was simply impeccable. Allison Perhach created numerous incredibly impressive dance numbers. The “Dream Ballet”, for which she was also principle dancer, was especially artistic, symbolic, and emotionally moving. The dancers at Heritage High School gracefully executed countless lifts, flips, and turns, while always maintaining synchronization. Furthermore, their dancing was expressive and emotional; the elements of dancing and acting were fused flawlessly.
“Oklahoma!” is a classic musical which requires a skillful and creative production team. The performers at Heritage High School made this tale new again with their passion for their roles and were a joy to watch.
by Siena Richardson of McLean
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It truly is a beautiful morning in the American West. For Heritage High School's production of Oklahoma! captured the spirit of the farmer and the cowman in deference to the lyrical stylings of Rodgers and Hammerstein, the two well-known playwrights who went against the mold to create a musical play such as this. Based upon Lynn Riggs' stage play Green Grow The Lilacs, Oklahoma! was unique in concept for reasons most notably including the opening of the show with a single character singing, rather than a big, showy number, and the integration of each musical number into the plot, rather than many discursive numbers for entertainment only. For Heritage High School, the production, which is largely an ensemble piece, was carried forward by the energy of the full group onstage.
The play being largely about character relationships, it is appropriate that the major strength of this production was the interactions between characters. Curley (Branndon Spann), and Laurey (Christi McCarthy), portrayed a believable relationship as Laurey continually pushes away Curley's attempts to win her over. McCarthy's singing voice and style, in particular, were extremely appropriate to the style of the piece. Curley's interactions with Jud Fry (Christian Meudt), the lumbering farmhand who also seeks after Laurey, were also well-executed and believable. Not only that, but their voices blended harmoniously in their number "Poor Jud," where Curley attempts to dishearten Jud by describing how much respect everyone would have for him if Jud hung himself. The differing qualities of their voices, Spann's light and sometimes brusk, and Meudt's rich and resonant, created an engaging contrast for the audience.
One character in the production, though, is responsible for the connectivity of the entire company. Aunt Eller (Laura Wride) created a very real persona as a matriarchal community figure, and her actions and interactions held the ensemble together. Though the energetic quality of her performance declined along with the rest of the company in the second act, her realistic portrayal nonetheless remained a strong influence on the quality of the piece overall.
Lighting effects were used purposefully and effectually throughout the show, and transitions were usually smooth. A few flubs in the microphone execution failed to detract much from the experience in general, as actors projected their voices well enough to compensate. The set, generally simplistic, added some affect to the production, but the changes, done by ensemble members, were generally lengthy. Despite this, the pit orchestra, which was lively and well-practiced, covered transitions well with music.
One sequence of the show stood out as the most highly dramatic and impressive moment in the production. The Dream Ballet, which ends Act One, was tightly choreographed, rehearsed, and performed as a manifestation of Laurey's inner confict. The featured dancer (Allison Perhach) who portrayed Laurey's dream of herself displayed incredible technical skill in her movement. Overall, Oklahoma! was an effort of portrayal which brought together the ensemble and audience in a lively production that was both technically strong and realistic in portrayal.
by Aaron Fellows of Albert Einstein High School
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With bales of hay, vibrant colors, and a little help from the “Surrey with the Fringe on Top”, Heritage High School transported their audience to 1906, Oklahoma Territory in their sparkling rendition of Rogers and Hammerstein’s debut musical Oklahoma!
Oklahoma!, written in 1943, was likely the first “book musical”, where the script was written first and the music created to suit the story. It was enormously successful, running for five and a half years on Broadway and while the Tony Awards were not around in 1943, it was awarded a special Pulitzer Prize in 1944.
It is the story of farm girl Laurey (Christi McCarthy) and her romance with a self assured Cowboy named Curly (Brandon Spann), and another romance between Ado Annie (Hannah Johnson) and Will Parker (Tyler Schulze). The chemistry between the two couples was palpable. McCarthy captivated the audience with her stunning soprano and Spann as Curly oozed confidence and charm as he serenaded her. Johnson and Schulze were the epitome of a sweet, innocent romance and their energy soared throughout the entire show.
However, it was Christian Meudt as Jud Fry who stole the show. He walked a very fine line in the role traditionally viewed as the “evil” character. His rendition of “Pore Jud is Daid” and “Lonely Room” evoked empathy for his loneliness, but simultaneously repelled the audience as his ambitions for possessing Laurey were revealed. His rich bass blended beautifully with Spann’s tenor, making the duet an impressive piece of musicianship.
Another element of note was the near perfect rendition of the Dream Ballet. Choreographed by Allison Perhach, she also performed as Dream Laurey. It was an impressive piece and her execution was flawless. The choreography clearly displayed the theme of possession in the musical and the predicament of women in the “wild west”.
The ensemble was large and this sometimes hindered the production when the stage was very overcrowded. However, every single audience member was one hundred percent committed to the show and it was evident in all of the big ensemble numbers. The set was beautifully constructed although the scene changes were too long. The sound was well done for much of the show, excepting some instances where it was too loud and there were several microphone mishaps. All in all Heritage produced a very enjoyable, well done version of one of the most successful musicals of all time.
by Julia Timko of Albert Einstein High School
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Heritage Drama says a great big Oklahoma hello in their fast-moving, energy bursting production of Oklahoma!
The original Broadway production of Oklahoma made its debut in 1943. The story takes place in 1906 in the Oklahoma Territory where the cowman and the farmer should be friends! The story centers on the story of romance between independent and strong-minded farm girl Laurey and the heart-breaking and handsome Curly. It also features the unpredictable love story of Will Parker and his frisky fiancée, Ado Annie, whose father demands 50 dollars in cash for his daughter.
This production was overall strongly enlivened by a consistently engaged ensemble and a well-balanced orchestra that persistently enhanced, yet never overpowered the happenings on stage.
Beginning with her first entrance, Christi McCarthy who played Laurey, had a striking stage presence and her characterization of Laurey was very fitting and authentic. At times I saw a very Snow White like element from Laurey. Brandon Spann who played Curly had strong chemistry with Laurey such as during their heartwarming performance of “People Will Say We’re In Love”. Curly also had another wonderful song with Jud, played by Christian Meudt who kept the audience on edge and his portrayal and dedication to his character was extremely notable.
The harmonizing throughout the show was fantastic and the choreography was acrobatic and attention catching. The singers did a wonderful job of watching the Pit Band Director and staying together with the orchestra at all times. The Dream Ballet was a very strong scene in this production. Allison Perhach who played Dream Laurey had not only beautiful dancing but also maintained her character persistently through precise acting and body movements. Carnes played by Josh Radcliffe was very humorous in “The Farmer and the Cowman”. His characteristic singing and facial expressions was hard to miss.