‘Oklahoma!’, biggest show at Center Theatre in years
DOVER-FOXCROFT – The Center Theatre for the Performing Arts is producing Rogers and Hammerstein’s classic musical “Oklahoma!”
According to Patrick Myers, the Center Theatre’s executive director, it will be the biggest musical at the theatre in years. “Oklahoma!” not only has a large cast, but also features a live pit band.
“Thanks to the generosity of a local sponsor, we were able to bring in a live pit band directed by Deb Maynard,” Myers said. “It’s always wonderful when we can have a live band to accompany our actors, but we haven’t been able to since 2017.”
To accommodate the band, the theatre removed 30 seats and put them into storage. They’ve also made other exciting changes for the show.
“For the first time we’ve extended our stage by about four feet to make room for the actors, set pieces and choreography. It was a large investment in time and materials, but it will make for a very special experience for everyone that attends,” he said.
“Oklahoma!” was first the first musical written by the duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs‘s 1931 play, “Green Grow the Lilacs.” Set in farm country outside the town of Claremore, Indian Territory, in 1906, it tells the story of farm girl Laurey Williams and her courtship by two rival suitors, cowboy Curly McLain and the sinister and frightening farmhand Jud Fry. A secondary romance concerns cowboy Will Parker and his flirtatious fiancée, Ado Annie.
Tickets for the production range from $6 to $16 and can be purchased by calling the Center Theatre at 207-564-8943, visiting centertheatre.org or stopping in at the box office, 20 East Main St. in Dover-Foxcroft, between the hours of noon and 7 p.m. The production would not be possible without the support of local sponsors including Maine Biosensors; Win Win Thrift Store; the Piscataquis County Ice Arena; Ideal Energy Solutions; Bob’s Farm, Home, and Garden and Country View Homestead.
The Center Theatre for the Performing Arts is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to engage and inspire by making arts, education and entertainment accessible to its rural communities.