Need to get out of Crownsville? Our friends at the Annapolis Chorale have just the ticket.
Straight from Broadway
Broadway returns to Annapolis when J. Ernest Green conducts The Annapolis Chamber Orchestra and members of the Annapolis Chorale in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!” on February 12-13 at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. Joining Mr. Green for this production is a stellar cast of guest artists, including audience favorites Troy Clark (Curly) and Ashleigh Rabbit Sekoski (Laurey), who enchanted audiences in last season’s “Brigadoon.” Joining them are Katie Hale (Ado Annie), Jason Buckwalter (Will Parker), Molly Moore Green (Aunt Eller) and Tim King (Ali Hakim). This production also features dancers from the Ballet Theatre of Maryland, who will perform the beautiful “Dream Ballet,” and members of StageWorkz ensemble. Members of the Annapolis Chorale will also appear.
Live Arts Maryland’s “Broadway in Annapolis” productions are a signature combination of beautiful staging and great singers performing with an orchestra and chorus. This mix allows the audience to hear the musicals and their composers intended, with a full orchestra – something rarely heard anymore on New York stages.
With music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, this classic changed the face of American musical theater when it premiered in 1943. “Oklahoma!” was a smash hit and a critical success, running on Broadway for 2,212 performances and winning multiple Tony Awards for the original and subsequent revival productions. The 1955 movie version starring Shirley Jones and Gordon McRae won two Academy Awards. With such memorable songs as “People will say We’re in Love,” “Surrey with the Fringe on Top,” “Cain’t Say No” and “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning,” audiences leave the theater humming after every performance.
Catch “Oklahoma!,”at either or both performances: Friday’s Casual Friday event at 7:30 p.m., an interactive event that includes a question-and-answer session with the cast, and Saturday’s 8 p.m. performance. Live Arts Maryland offers free student rush tickets one hour before the concerts to all full-time students with a valid ID or those under 18 years of age. Tickets range from $34-$37 for adults, $12 for pre-paid students and are on sale now at the Maryland Hall Box Office at 410-280-5640 or www.marylandhall.org. There is a $3 per-ticket service charge for individual tickets. Group rates are available.
The Annapolis Chorale is presented by Live Arts Maryland, one of the region’s largest and most active non-profit arts organizations dedicated to enhancing community life by performing and presenting high-quality music and providing music education for all ages. Live Arts Maryland is also home to the Annapolis Chamber Orchestra, the Annapolis Youth Chorus and the St. Anne’s Concert Series. It also offers such music education programs as the MusicWorks school partnership and a scholarship program for high-school music students. The Annapolis Chorale is a resident company of Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts and is supported by the Maryland State Arts Council, the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County and the City of Annapolis.