For the first time in its long history, York’s Grand Opera House is about to stage blockbuster musical Oklahoma!
And its cast will be the talented stars of the future.
Grand Opera House, York
Thu Aug 4-Sat Aug 6 @ 7.30pm; Sat matinee @ 2.30pm
£18.90
The show is being put on for this year’s Stage Experience, the annual, intensive two-week project for ten to 21 year olds.
They are directed by professional director and choreographer Louise Denison, and the musical director Adam Laird.
As well as budding actors, Stage Experience welcomes young and aspiring theatre technicians, who will work with the professional team on sound, lighting, set, props and costumes.
“The first show ever written by the Rodgers and Hammerstein team guarantees to be another blockbuster for our Stage Experience team,” said producer Clare O’Connor.
“It has something for everyone – a good story, big songs, catchy tunes, dance routines, and love interests – all of which will showcase the enormous wealth of talent in our cast and crew.”
We caught up with some of the young stars and asked them about their roles.
Conor Mellor
As Curly McLain, York actor Conor opens the show with Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’. The show centres around his attempts to woo farm girl Laurey Williams.
What have been the highlights of your theatrical career so far?
What’s it like to open a show like Oklahoma with the title number?
Why do audiences always take Curly to their hearts?
Which is your favourite moment of the show and why?
Caitlin Calgie
Caitlin, from Great Ayton near Middlesbrough, stars as Laurey Williams. She’s the headstrong young woman who gets into a tangle with another man before the inevitable happy ending with Curly.
What have been the highlights of your theatrical career so far?
Our House was my first and it was so much fun: the choreography and energy in West Side Story was amazing, while Oklahoma! has all those ingredients and more, which is why it has remained a favourite through the years.
To be playing Laurey – my first lead role – means that it will always have a special place in my heart from now on.
How would you describe Laurey, and how have you approached playing her?
I found Laurey’s character quite easy to relate to because, like me, she wants to be friends with everyone and not hurt or upset people. Which is why, even when her heart tells her that she should be with Curly, she still goes to the box social with Judd.
She promised she would and she sticks by that promise, despite her gut instinct, and I think that loyalty and sense of duty is really admirable.
How do you see the role of the female characters in the show?
Even today’s farmers are only able to be out in the fields for such long hours because they have the support of their wives/ partners back at home.
The strongest female character is Aunt Eller – she shares her knowledge with everyone else and is quite able to stand up for herself and be independent and I think that is a quality that she has passed onto Laurey. Having said that, there is a hint now and again that Aunt Eller would love to have a man sharing her life!
What’s it like being in the first production of Oklahoma! ever staged at the theatre?
What’s also amazing is that we are performing it in the same year when we discovered that the Queen loves the title song. As part of her 90th birthday celebrations, Her Majesty’s Top Ten Tunes was released and we learned that she loves listening to hymns and musicals – but that Oklahoma is her number one favourite!
It’s probably too late to invite her to come and watch but maybe we should send her a recording as a late birthday present!
Reece McMahon
Reece, also from York, plays Will Parker, a cowboy who hopes to marry Ado Annie – but first he must win her from love rival Ali Hakim.
What have been the highlights of your theatrical career so far?
How have you approached being a cowboy?
I played Willard in Footloose (2013), a similar yet more modern version of the role I’m playing in this show so it’s great that this time I really get to play on the old fashioned cowboy stereotype and have a lot of fun at the same time.
My favourite aspect is the Oklahoma dialect and accent, at first it’s a bit of a mouthful but once you get your head around it you can have a lot of fun playing with certain words and phrases.
Why do you think the show has endured all these years and still appeals to modern audiences?
It appeals to modern audiences because it follows a very traditional structure and ultimately explores themes that are very human and still relevant to us all to day, romance and friendship.
Throw in a couple of catchy and well known songs such as The Farmer and the Cowman, Oh What a Beautiful Mornin and obviously Oklahoma! that are brilliantly written and have wonderful vocal arrangements then you’ve naturally got a musical that will survive the test of time.