2018 Study Guide. Oklahoma! Music by Richard Rodgers, Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II

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1 2018 Study Guide Oklahoma! Music by Richard Rodgers, Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II Boys and Girls Like You and Me Is a song that was cut from the original score of Oklahoma!. While the number will not be restored to OSF s adaptation, Hammerstein s lyrics are worth noting. They celebrate the steadfast courage it takes to find and keep love. They walk on every village street, They walk in lanes where branches meet, And stars send down their blesings from the blue. They go through storms of doubt and fear. And so they go from year to year, Believing in each other as we do, Bravely marching forward two by two. Boys and girls like you and me Walk beneath the skies. They love just as we love With the same dream in their eyes. Songs and kings and many things Have their day and are gone. But boys and girls like you and me We go on and on. wikimedia commons This is the 75th anniversary of Rodgers and Hammerstein s Oklahoma!. It first opened on Broadway on March 31, It was a huge hit with audiences and ran for 2,212 performances. The show offered a much welcome break from the realities of what was going on in the nation at the time. The United States was Rodgers and Hammerstein in the middle of World War II and the idea of unity and coming together provided hope in an otherwise bleak time. In addition to featuring gender-conscious and genderintentional casting, this production of Oklahoma! seeks to represent an LGBTQ+ community that is underrepresented in American musicals. For example, OSF has intentionally changed the genders of the characters of Curly and Ado Annie. In this production, Curly, traditionally a male character, has been changed to a female character and will be played by a woman. The role of Ado Annie, traditionally a female character, is now a male character called Ado Andy, and the role will be played by a man. OSF was able to make these changes because of the approval and support of Ted Chapin, the head of the Rodgers and Hammerstein estate, as well as members of both Rodgers and Hammerstein s families.

2 Before seeing/reading the play 1. The groundbreaking musical Oklahoma! was first produced 75 years ago. Richard Rodgers wrote the music and Oscar Hammerstein wrote the lyrics. Research the history of both men, how they came to work together on Oklahoma!, and what elements made the show so transformative. These and other websites provide information: columbians/rodgers_hammerstein.html 2. The musical Oklahoma! is based on the play Green Grow the Lilacs, written by a man named Lynn Riggs in Theresa Helburn was the producer who was instrumental in getting Green Grow the Lilacs adapted into the musical. In fact, a lot of the dialogue and characters in Oklahoma! are pulled directly from the original play. Research Green Grow the Lilacs, Lynn Riggs and Theresa Helburn. These and other websites provide information: Costume rendering for Aunt Eller. 4. Oklahoma! takes place in 1906 in what was called Indian Territory. We learn in the musical that the Territory is about to join the Union and become the state of Oklahoma. Research the history of Indian Territory and the years that led up to it becoming a state. These and other websites provide information: entryname=indian%20territory 5. Oklahoma! is set near the town of Claremore. Claremore is referred to several times throughout the show. Research the history of Claremore, its importance to the Territory in the 1900s. What services were offered that would be necessary for folks who lived out of town? These and other websites provide information: entry=cl002 Costume renderings for Dream Ballet. 3. Agnes de Mille choreographed all of the original dances in Oklahoma!. The Two-step and Ragtime were types of dance that were growing in popularity in the early 1900s. In addition to these dances, one of the most famous dance numbers from the musical is known as the Dream Ballet. Research Agnes de Mille and the dance mentioned above. What was so innovative about this ballet sequence? These and other websites provide information: There is a song in Oklahoma! called The Farmer and the Cowhand that tries to convince the farmers and cowhands (sometimes called cowmen, cowboys or ranchers) that they should try to get along. Research how both these groups of laborers used the land and why there was such tension Costume rendering for Will Parker.

3 between the two. These and other websites provide information: html com/2016/06/14/oklahoma-the-farmer-the-cowman-andwhy-they-couldnt-get-along/ After seeing/reading the play 1. What do you think are the major themes and messages that Rodgers and Hammerstein are trying to tell with this story? How does this production of Oklahoma! contribute to these themes? In what ways is this musical still relevant to today s audience? How are the play s themes of acceptance and community reflected in the production? 2. In the first scene, why does Laurey decide to go to the box social with Jud instead of Curly? Why does Laurey distrust Curly s charm? What are the feelings that Laurey is struggling to sort out? 3. What are the ways that Curly chooses to woo Laurie? How does it work for Curly? How does Laurey react? Costume renderings for Curly and Laurie. 7. Ali Hakim is a Persian man who works as a traveling peddler. Research the origin of the Persian people. What is the history of a traveling peddler? What services did they provide? These and other websites provide information: What are the power dynamics between Jud and Curly in the smokehouse scene? Who has the upper hand and when? What is Curly s objective in confronting Jud? What does Curly learn about Jud? What is revealed about Jud? 5. Jud accuses folks of treating him badly. He says to Curly that people are Always makin out they was better then me. Treatin me like dirt. In what ways is he accurate? In what ways does he bring this on himself? In what ways does he remove himself from the community? 6. Based on your research and what you saw in the Dream Ballet, what do you think is the importance of including it in the play? What insights did you learn about the characters during the dream sequence? What prejudices come to light? What do we learn about Laurey s hopes and fears in the Dream Ballet? Why does she decide upon waking to still go to the social with Jud? Costume rendering for Ali Hakim. 8. We hear one of the main characters sing about a surrey (also referred to as a buggy or rig) that some folks are going to get to take to a box social. What is the importance of picnic baskets (also referred to as hampers) at a box social? Research what a surrey, box social and hamper are. These and other websites provide information: Costume rendering for Jud.

4 After seeing/reading the play continued 7. What does the song The Farmer and the Cowhand say about dealing with conflict within a community? 8. What is the significance of the box social to the community? In the auction, what is the significance of Laurey s hamper to Jud? To Curly? To Laurey? To Aunt Eller? Why does Curly choose to go to such extremes to win Laurey s basket? 9. Who in Oklahoma! do you consider to be an outsider? How do others treat them? How does the treatment of these characters change throughout the play? 10. Why do you think the choice was made to have Ali Hakim continue to correct people s pronunciation of his last name? What is the significance of Ado Andy finally pronouncing Ali Hakim s name correctly? 11. Based on what you saw during the final fight between Curly and Jud, do you think that the judge accepting the self-defense plea was just, or should there have been a full trial? Why? 12. Why do you think Ted Chapin, president and chief creative officer of the Rodgers and Hammerstein estate, and members of Rodgers and Hammerstein s families gave their blessing to the changes that were made in this production? 13. How does casting a woman as Curly and a man as Ado Andy affect the storyline of the musical? What are the specific moments in the play that have a different resonance due to the casting choices? What are the different resonances? How does the production illuminate the idea of acceptance and love in its many forms? Costume rendering for L il Liza Skidmore. Costume rendering for Ado Andy. Gender-Conscious Casting The act of selecting an actor to play a role fully aware of the impact gender identity can have on its portrayal. Gender-Intentional Casting The act of purposefully selecting an actor of a specific gender to play a specific role for a purpose (or, for the purpose of shifting the meaning of some text with a change of gender balances). Surrey with fringe

5 Set design for Oklahoma! by Sibyl Wickersheimer. shivaree An event that often occurred after a frontier wedding celebration. During a shivaree, participants would gather outside the place where the newlyweds were staying and harmlessly haze them. They might sing, yell, bang on pots and pans, demand money or a drink if the couple refused to come out and join them, or any other shenanigans they could think of. Cowhand and Cowboy Terms Bronc Buster A cowhand who could tame wild horses. Contrary to myth, not all cowhands could ride any horse. This special skill and horse sense earned them the esteem of their peers and better wages. continued Steer Roping or Calf Roping A rodeo event that features a calf and a rider mounted on a horse. The goal of this timed event is for the rider to catch the calf by throwing a loop of rope around its neck, dismount the horse, run to the calf, and restrain it by tying three legs together, in as short a time as possible. The event derives from the duties of actual working cowboys, which sometimes required catching and restraining calves for branding or medical treatment. Steer A castrated male cow that is raised and fed well to provide meat. Calf A young cow or bull that is under a year old. Members of Oregon Shakespeare Festival Education created the 2018 Study Guide for Oklahoma! These suggestions were designed for students and teachers but may be enjoyed by audiences of all ages. They may be used without restriction for educational purposes. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is not responsible for the content of any website listed above. Oregon Shakespeare Festival. No part of the 2018 Study Guide for Oklahoma! may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system, for professional or commercial purposes without permission in writing from Oregon Shakespeare Festival Education.