Oklahoma!, Grange Park Opera

If you have ever looked out of the window and wanted to sing Oh What a Beautiful Morning, an evening at Grange Park Opera is for you.

This heart-raising song opens Oklahoma!, the hit-filled musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein that gets the full operatic treatment at the Theatre in the Woods, raising the curtain on the second season at West Horsley Place for the innovative opera company.

In repertoire with two more traditional operas – Gounod's Roméo et Juliette, and Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera – Oklahoma! is set in the farming heartlands of America, where the handsome cowhand Curly falls for Laurey, who has many suitors.

At the all-important social evening, highlight of the local community calendear, Laurey rejects the brutal Jud in favour of Curly. A double celebration is on the cards: a wedding, and the promotion of the state of Oklahoma into the United States. But a jealous brawl threatens the couple's future...

Based on the play Green Grow the Lilacs by Lynn Riggs, the musical was first produced in 1943. An incredible 75 years on, it seems more relevant than ever with its big themes of racism, localism and sexual harassment skilfully woven together by some of the most memorable tunes in musical theatre, including The Surrey With the Fringe on Top, Many a New Day and People Will Say We're in Love.

Although casting is yet to be announced, the BBC Concert Orchestra is the ideal ensemble for this production, directed by Jo Davies, and the A-team of set designer Francis O'Connor, costumer designer Gabrielle Dalton and lighting designer Bruno Poet promises a great evening of musical theatre.

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Oklahoma! is sung in English. Performance dates are 7, 8, 15, 16, 20, 28, 29 June and 7 July. Booking opens Tues 6 Feb, 10am. Published prices include a voluntary donation to Grange Park Opera development.