PREVIEW: Playhouse Stage Company set to open new production of Oklahoma!
07/01 - 08/02 @ Park Playhouse & GPAC
Playhouse Stage Company (PSC) makes their triumphant Albany co-sponsored return to the Park Playhouse in Washington Park with a bold new take on Rodgers & Hammerstein’s first musical, Oklahoma!
The original musical opened on Broadway in 1943, and is considered to be the first piece of American musical theatre, creating the template for modern musicals and later winning a Pulitzer Prize. For PSC, this is an opportunity to not only pay respects to a classic, but to do something different with it, as this production will be “both faithful to the original text, while still being fast-paced and fresh in its approach,” according to Producing Artistic Director Owen Smith.
For those who are not familiar with Oklahoma!, you can expect to laugh and to be moved. The musical is set in rural Oklahoma (naturally) as it seeks to gain statehood, revolving around two separate love triangles, a trademark feature of Rodgers & Hammerstein. This production features PSC standouts JJ Razzano and Emma Cornish in leading roles, with an additional 18-member cast and is choreographed by Playhouse Academy alumni and recent NYU graduate, Alexis Papelo. Furthermore, it features an entirely new bluegrass inspired orchestration written for this production by music director Brian Axford, which will be performed live by Albany Musicians Association players. Not to mention, the show is complete with period-accurate costumes and an expansive hand-painted set. The production is directed by Chuck Kraus, PSC’s Managing Director. With a crew like this, it is certainly not to be missed!
New for this year, free ampitheatre seating will be made possible in conjunction with the City of Albany for the first time in fifteen years. The production will start July 1st, running Tuesday through Sunday until July 26th (no show on July 4th). While shows start at 7:30pm, attendees are welcomed to save their places in the lawn seating area with blankets and chairs starting at noon each show day on a first come, first served basis. Otherwise, there are special front of house table seats available for purchase for $40, and center and side seating available for $35 and $30 each respectively. Additionally, from Thursday, July 30th through Saturday, August 2nd, you can catch the encore run at GPAC (at Guilderland’s Tawasentha Park).
Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.