Oklahoma

Question 1

Richard Rodgers

Answer 1

Born in Queens, NY in 1902

• prosperous family - educated at Columbia University
• Studied composition as Juiliard (institute of musical arts)
• Ex lyricist was Lorenz Hart

Question 2

Oscar Hammertein II

Answer 2

Born in NYC in 1895
- father is a noted vaudeville impresario
Studied at Columbia and then left to go to law school but then quit to pursue law

Question 3

Oscar Hammertein II

Answer 3

Born in NYC in 1895
- father is a noted vaudeville impresario
Studied at Columbia and then left to go to law school but then quit to pursue law

Question 4

Oklahoma Year

Answer 4

1943 - 2212 performances

Question 5

Oklahoma Based off of…

Answer 5

Stage play called Green Grow the Lilacs by Lynn Rigss

Question 6

Oklahoma Name Change

Answer 6

During out of town tryouts, the name was changed to Oklahoma from “Away we go” and changed main song into big number

Question 7

Oklahoma - Goundbreaking

Answer 7

• No huge chorus number to start the show
• Quiet scene, solo song opener
• Combination of legit and belt voices
• Use of regional American dialects and vernacular language
• Fully integrated, plot-advancing dance; importance of the choreographer as a story-teller 


Question 8

Oklahoma Story Line

Answer 8

There are two plots about two girls wanting to get with two guys but the stories are different and one is comedic
• Uses dance to tell the story – integral part of show
o Lots of propaganda stuff but this is less in your face but still very pro America
• America is the main place for people to go before they go to war
• This added to success
• Soldiers saw parallels between girls being alone in show waiting for boy and their girls waiting for them to return home from war
• Parallels between Curley and Henry who stay home and is unwholesome