Hazen Players put on stage production of ‘Oklahoma’
April 30, 2009
By Jim Feehan
Oklahoma where the wind comes sweeping down the Renton Highlands.
Newcastle is a long way from Oklahoma, but in many ways the musical could be about the city’s pioneering past.
Set in Indian Territory in what is now the state of Oklahoma, the Rodgers & Hammerstein play depicts a community of pioneers at the beginning of the 20th century.
Sarah Hudson (left), Mason Catt, Laura Kooiman and Kayla Woodard perform a scene from Hazen High School’s production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s ‘Oklahoma.’ By Jim Feehan
“There’s something about those Rodgers & Hammerstein’s plays from the golden age of musicals,” said Brett Crueger, theatre arts director at Hazen High School. “Oklahoma is a true classic.”
About every third year, Crueger puts on a musical at the high school. In 2006, the Hazen Players performed “Pajama Game.” Four years earlier, they did “South Pacific.”
“We could have done ‘High School Musical’ or ‘Grease,’ which are great shows,” Crueger said. “But this is a classic musical, written for actors not teenagers. The music is fairly timeless.”
The 35-member cast takes on the big Broadway musical performing the show’s favorite songs, including: “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning;” Surrey with a Fringe on Top;” “People Will Say We’re in Love” and “Oklahoma.”
The play depicts the high-spirited rivalry between local farmers and cowboys. Set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906 (Oklahoma became a state the following year) it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance with farm girl Laurey Williams. In addition, a secondary romance centers on flirtatious Ado Annie and her long-suffering fiancé Will Parker.
The road to true love never runs smooth with these headstrong romantics holding the reins. They soon find that life’s journey is as bumpy as a surrey ride down a dust-filled Oklahoma road.
Cast members began auditioning in January. Leading up to the performance, they rehearsed nine to 10 hours weekly (three hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays) not counting memorizing lines on their own time, Crueger said.
“The biggest challenge is melding the movement and acting,” he said of the lavish musical.
The two lead characters in the play, Mason Catt, who plays Curly and Laura Kooiman, who plays Laurey, both hail from Newcastle.
“I have more fun showing off my singing ability in a musical,” said Catt. “I’m having to learn the dance steps to go along with my singing.”
Kooiman also is excited to be showing off her musical chops.
“This is my first chance to do a musical,” said Kooiman, who is also a soprano and has trained in ballet. “I like that we’re doing a classical musical that’s closer to opera.”
If you go
The Hazen Players present ‘Oklahoma’
- 7 p.m. May 1; 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. May 2
- Hazen High School auditorium
- 1101 Hoquiam Ave. N.E.
- Tickets: $10 adults,
- $7 students and seniors
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