After the huge success of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in March 2016 and The Pirates of Penzance in September 2015, Tyne Theatre Productions (formerly known as Friends of the Tyne Theatre & Opera House) present Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! this November.
Proceeds from the production will contribute towards the preservation and restoration of the unique Grade 1 listed Victorian opera house on Westgate Road, Newcastle. This will continue to fund the initial phase of refurbishment that the two previous productions have made possible, including the reupholstering of hundreds of seats in the auditorium and the decoration of the Bistro Bar.
The first collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein, Oklahoma! is in many ways, their most innovative, having set the standards and established the rules of musical theatre still being followed today.
Set in Western Indian Territory just after the turn of the century, Oklahoma! follows the love story of handsome cowboy Curly and charming farm girl Laurey, with the high-spirited rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys providing the colourful background for the two headstrong romantics.
The triumphant Oklahoma! premiered in 1943 and became a box-office smash, later enjoying award-winning revivals, national tours, foreign productions and an Academy Award-winning 1955 film adaptation. The musical features many well-known tunes, including Oh What a Beautiful Morning, The Surrey with the Fringe on Top, People Will Say We’re in Love, and of course, Oklahoma!
Tyne Theatre Productions’ presentation of Oklahoma! is set to be a grand production, with a large cast and a large orchestra playing the original full orchestration.
Mike Wilmot, Trustee for the Tyne Theatre & Opera House Preservation Trust says “After the amazing success of Sweeney Todd, Tyne Theatre Productions are delighted to announce their production of Oklahoma! We will be delivering a classic interpretation of this grand work with a large cast and large live full orchestra playing the original orchestrations. We are delighted to announce that Parkdean Resorts will once again be sponsoring our production. This provides vital support and allows a large proportion of ticket sales to go towards the restoration of the beautiful and unique Grade 1 listed Victorian opera house.”
Joanne Johnson, Director of Tyne Theatre & Opera House says: “We were thrilled with the success of Sweeney Todd in March and can’t thank the Tyne Theatre Productions volunteers enough for their hard work and dedication. It’s fantastic that they will be putting on another production in 2016, and I have no doubt that it will be an incredible show.”
Tickets for Oklahoma! are available now from: www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk
Tickets: £13 Full price, £10 Concessions, £8 Limited View (plus booking fees when booking online and over the phone)
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