Oklahoma (The Play)  9/1/1967
Santa Monica Playhouse, Seat: n.a.

Oklahoma! (1943) was the first musical play written by composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist/librettist Oscar Hammerstein II, working together. Some argue that it marked a revolution in musical drama: While it was hardly the first time a play with music told a story of emotional depth and psychological complexity, Oklahoma! implemented a number of new storytelling techniques, including focusing on emotional empathy; dealing with characters and situations far removed from the audience by time and geography; dealing with American historical and social materials; and its use of dance to convey plot and character rather than mere diversion for the audience.

Oklahoma!, which is based on Lynn Riggs's 1931 play Green Grow the Lilacs, is set in Oklahoma Territory in 1906, and tells the story of cowboy Curly McLane and his romance with farmer girl Laurey Williams. Their love is challenged by Laurey's threatening farmhand, Jud Fry, and much of the play follows the contest between Curly and Jud for Laurey's affections. A comic subplot follows Laurey's friend, Ado Annie Carnes, and her on-again-off-again relationship with cowboy Will Parker.