NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

5/22/2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES- The NSU Summer Theatre will present the musical "Oklahoma" June 19-22 and 24-29 at 7:30 p.m. in the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium. Tickets are $10 with festival seating.

The play will be the final one directed by Dr. Jack Wann at Northwestern. He will retire on June 30.

"Oklahoma" has been called "the best musical of the 20th century," capturing a special Pulitzer Prize for drama, two Academy Awards as a film, a special Tony Award in 1993 and four Olivier Awards including Best Musical in 1999.

The play was the first collaboration by Rodgers and Hammerstein and remains in many ways their most innovative, setting the standards and establishing the rules of musical theatre still being followed today. "Oklahoma" is set in a Western Indian Territory just after the turn of the century. The high spirited rivalry between the local cowboys and farmers provides a colorful background against which Curly, a handsome cowboy, and Laurey, an engaging farm girl, play out their love story.

The cast for "Oklahoma" has been announced by director Dr. Jack Wann. Members of the cast include James Palmer of Mansfield as Curly, Karen Burns of Alexandria as Laurey, Levi Petree of Youngsville as Will, Robin Rose of Natchitoches as Ado Annie and Annie Fackler of Natchitoches as Aunt Eller.

The cast also includes Ross Schexnayder of Baton Rouge as Ali Hakim, Meghan Shea of Covington as Gertie, Wanetah Walmsley of Leesville as Vivian, Dale Higginbotham of Natchitoches as Carnes, Eric Engelhardt of Natchitoches as Jud, Michael Hilton of Natchitoches as Cord Elam, Rochelle Cooper of Luling as Ellen, Rebecca Jennings of Folsom as Kate, Courtney Young of Natchitoches as Armina and Harvard Taylor of Shreveport as Ike Skidmore.

Also in the cast are Kimmie Allen of Natchitoches as Aggie, Heather Smith of Gretna as Sylvie, Dezmond Meeks of Pineville as Fred, Bryan Lee of Cochran, Ga., as Slim, Jaylon Porter of Natchitoches as Bett and Jenny Prudhomme of Natchitoches as Hannah.

Other members of the cast are Loren Johnson of Natchitoches as Dottie, Elaine Johnson of Natchitoches as Martha, Brian Jarreau of Baton Rouge as Sam, Dallas Bird of Natchitoches as Joe, Tabatha Roy of St. Gabriel as Tess and Kasey Joubert of Natchitoches as Nell.

Richard Rose is the musical director and Don Guy is the designer. Alicia Guy is the choreographer and Linda Higginbotham is the accompanist.

For ticket information, call (318) 357-6891.

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