OKLAHOMA!

                                                         Sasha Hutchings & Sean Grandillo

The Kimmel Cultural Campus at the Forrest  Theatre is presenting the Philadelphia Premiere of the reimagined OKLAHOMA! through  March 20, 2022. Directed by Daniel Fish,  this reimagined creation is not your father’s Rogers & Hammerstein’s OKLAHOMA! Except for one number in Act Two, gone are the big dance productions BUT a wholly new concept in dance numbers replaces them. It might take a bit of getting used to initially but if nothing else it certainly is interesting. The same can be said of the choral pieces. A few have the whole company singing must most of the songs are solos which highlight the talent of the cast. The musicians, seated onstage instead  of in a pit, emit a down-home country feel before the first note is played as they are dressed in jeans and checkered shirts. The instruments include banjo, cello, guitar, fiddle, and bass. Curly, the cowman portrayed by Sean Grandillo, plays the guitar, and sings several numbers. He is trying to win the heart of farmer Laurey, portrayed by Sasha Hutchins who is not sure whether or not to give him the time of day. She is also considering the attentions of  her farmhand, Jud. There are dark moments in this production both physically and metaphorically. When  Curly suggests suicide to Jud and then sings Poor Jud is Dead the stage is completely dark. Ado Annie, portrayed by Sis, steals the show with her rendition of I Can’t Say No. There are many memorable moments in the presentation including frequent opportunities to laugh. For more information or tickets, call 215-893-1999 or visit online at www.kimmelculturalcampus.org. Tickets may also be obtained in person at the Academy of Music box office or the Forrest Theater box office 1114 Walnut Street.