OKLAHOMA!

OKLAHOMA!

by | Jul 17, 2018 | Announcements, Shows

Hard Road Theatre Productions and Staunton Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram in association with the Highland Arts Council are proud to present the 2018 Summer Production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! Performances are July 27th & 28th and August 3rd & 4th at 7:30 p.m. and July 29th and August 5th at 2:00 p.m.

This year marks the 75th Anniversary of Oklahoma!  The show first opened on Broadway in March 1943 and ran for more than 2,200 performances.  It is one of the most performed musicals of all time. The Broadway show was adapted into a movie in 1955.

This summer’s production is brought to you by an experienced production team headed by director Mike Huelsmann of Breese.  He is joined by David Wilton of Carlyle as the music director and Christine Taylor of Highland is the choreographer.   The cast is headed by Hard Road veterans Eric Sykes, Lynne Huelsmann, Tim Albaugh, & Westin Holzinger.  They are joined by newcomers to the Hard Road stage Olivia Bosaw & Hannah Wudtke.  There are 26 total members of the cast.

Oklahoma! is based on Lynn Riggs’ 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs.  It is the first collaboration between the two writers, Rodgers and Hammerstein. The duo later created some of the most famous and well received musicals in the history of the Broadway stage. The story is set in the territory of Oklahoma near the town of Claremore in 1906.

The spirited rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys provides the backdrop for the love story between Curly, a handsome though shy ranch hand, and Laurey, a beautiful farm girl.  Will Parker, Ado Annie Carnes, and Alli Hakim in a love triangle provide much of the comic relief.  Add in Judd Frey, the not so reputable hired hand who has his eyes set on Laurey, as the villain and you have one rip-roaring story.

This production will include all of the musical song and dance numbers written for the show, many of which get cut in high school and community theater productions.  These include, the tap dance number, “Kansas City,” the ballet style numbers of “Many a New Day” and  “The Dream Sequence,” and Jud’s song, “Lonely Room.”

Tickets are $11 for children (ages 4-12) and seniors and $12 for everyone else. Tickets can be purchased online at the Hard Road website (hardroad.org). Physical tickets can be purchased at the Highland Chamber of Commerce Office or at the door.

Hard Road Theatre Productions is a non-profit theatre organization committed to providing Highland and the surrounding area with high-quality, affordable, live theatre productions.

ANNIE JR.

ANNIE JR.

by | Jul 6, 2018 | Press Release, Shows

Lee’s Fine Jewelry and More, Rinderer Law Firm, and Scott Credit Union  in association with Hard Road Theatre are proud to present Annie Jr.  Based on the popular comic strip and adapted from the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, with a beloved book and score by Tony Award-winners, Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, Annie Jr. features everyone’s favorite little redhead in her very first adventure.

With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone’s hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. Annie is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. Annie eventually foils Miss Hannigan’s evil machinations, finding a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy. Annie Jr. features several audience favorite tunes including “It’s the Hard Knock Life”, “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile”, and “Tomorrow.” The cast is composed of students from  communities all around the area including Highland,  Grantfork, Troy, Edwardsville, and Hillsboro. The show is directed by Angela Nuxoll, assistant directed by Kristy Hindman-Cook with musical direction by Dani Boulanger and choreography by Karlee and Kenzie Holzinger.

Performances for Annie Jr. are July 12, 13, and 14th at 7:00 p.m. and July 15th at 2:00 p.m. the Highland High School Kennel, 12760 Troxel Ave., Highland, IL. House doors open approximately 30 minutes before the scheduled show time. Tickets are $10 for adults and $9 for children (4-12) and senior citizens. Tickets can be purchased online at the Hard Road  website (hardroad.org). Physical tickets can also be purchased at the Highland Chamber of Commerce or at the door. Seating is on a first come, first serve basis. All online ticket sales stop approximately 30 minutes before scheduled show time.

Hard Road Theatre Productions is a non-profit theatre organization committed to providing Highland and the surrounding area with high-quality, affordable, live theatre productions.