A brand new staging of a classic American musical arrives in Chicago with some very authentic dancing. We meet the 91-year-old choreographer behind Lyric Opera of Chicago's Oklahoma! on Chicago Tonight at 7:00 pm. Oklahoma! is on stage at the Lyric Opera of Chicago through May 19. View a slideshow and watch behind-the-scenes videos.
To find out more about the revival of this decades-old stage classic, Chicago Tonight spoke with John Cudia, who plays the lead role of “Curly,” and dancer Jenna McClintock, who portrays the musical’s lead character – Laurey – during the show’s “dream sequence.”
Is this your first time in an Oklahoma! production? For those who don’t know, how would you explain what Oklahoma! is about in a few short sentences?
JC: This is my first time in a production of Oklahoma! I was actually too chicken to audition for the show when my high school did it. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to appear in this production at Lyric. Oklahoma! is a beautiful musical about love, growing up, and about the coming of age of America.
JM: I’ve been a ballet dancer for about 20 years professionally but this is my very first musical. To me, Oklahoma! is about coming of age. The lead characters are about 16, so they’re learning about love, who your real friends are, and what community is all about.
Tell me about the character you portray.
JC: Curly is a cowboy. Curly loves Laurey, and he loves to sing and charm her. He hasn't quite figured out how to tell her how he really feels about her and he has some growing up to do.
JM: I play “Dream Laurey,” which is the lead character Laurey during the musical’s “dream sequence” scene. Even though it’s not a three- or four-act play, there is a lot of character development, and to get a meaty part like this has been a bit of a challenge. But it was also really exhilarating to throw your blood, sweat and tears into a character.
How does the Lyric Opera of Chicago influence/change this production of Oklahoma!?
JC: This production gives me the opportunity to perform on one of the grandest stages in the world with an amazing orchestra and a most talented and professional cast and administration. It is incredibly rare for all of those elements to come together in one place. The Lyric has the resources and the determination to put what they feel is the very best production on the stage for their audience. The also give equal weight and importance to the different avenues of storytelling required by classical musical theatre: singing, acting and dancing.
JM: I think Lyric has done an amazing job just reconstructing the original choreography. They’ve really stressed the importance of maintaining that side of life. They’ve done a great job reliving history and making it accessible. It was such a different time then -- fathers were trying to marry off their daughters -- but they do a great job of relating the history to the audience.
What is it like working with legendary choreographer Gemze de Lappe, who first danced in Oklahoma! in 1943 as a member of the Broadway hit's first national touring company?
JC: It is an honor to work with someone so directly and intimately connected to the original concept and direction of this show. She is very particular, yet very sweet and supportive.
JM: First of all, it’s an honor to work with one of the originals, but that makes it that much harder because she not only performed it the first time, but for about 20 or 30 years afterwards. She’s a master of this role. She really breaks you down to build you up as a character, and I cherished it. It was a big lesson learned. I came in thinking it was a little, easy piece but I quickly realized that this is heavy stuff that we’re trying to portray.
When the show first hit stages in 1943, its use of lively song and dance to depict life on the American frontier was something that hadn’t really been done before. Was it before its time and has this helped the show enjoy such longevity?
JC: I don't know if it was before its time or the inevitable evolution of musical storytelling. All the storytelling elements - song, dance, and acting - all certainly existed but weren't combined in this way in this one form before. I think its inclusion of all these different vocabularies does make it accessible to almost everyone.
JM: I think the original choreographer, Agnes de Mille, was way ahead of her time. All of her ballets, even seeing them in the ‘80s and ‘90s, you were blown away by the content that she pulled out. I think it was Oklahoma!’s great fortune to have Agnes de Mille as choreographer. She made it clear that we needed to tell the truth about dreams: that people have anxieties and dreams are not always good.
It seems this production team has tried to stay true to the essence of the original musical. What do you think was the original intent?
JC: I think it was to tell a very simple story in the most clear and deeply emotional way possible, incorporating cutting-edge direction, dance and singing.
JM: I think the original intent was just to tell an Americana story from that era. The content in which they pull from is human behavior that has always existed. It wasn’t just about the style of clothes; it’s about the emotions. It’s such an accessible musical and story more than anything.
What is your favorite scene in the production and why?
JC: I love to propose to Laurey. That is the scene when Curly is the most honest and vulnerable.
JM: I think my favorite characters are Will Parker and Ada Annie. They have great numbers. I love the music, I love the acting…and the music is just rocking.
What do you hope audience members get out of the Lyric Opera’s production of Oklahoma!?
JC: I hope they truly enjoy the material as it was intended and written. I also hope they feel that musical storytelling is an important part of the arts community and that they are enthused to continue to support us!
JM: I hope that people are inspired to just feel peace, love and happiness for maybe 24 hours. I know we all have jobs and live stressful lives, but I really hope people can be inspired to feel the love.
Interview has been condensed and edited.
Learn more about the wardrobes and props used in the Lyric Opera's production of Oklahoma! in the following video:
Watch an interview with Gemze de Lappe, choreographer for Oklahoma!:
Watch a discussion featuring Oklahoma! general director Anthony Freud, music director Sir Andrew Davis and creative consultant Renée Fleming.
Watch behind-the-scenes footage from Oklahoma! rehearsals:
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