Legendary Broadway musical “Oklahoma!” is returning to the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre for a 50th anniversary recreation of its previous performance at the venue.
Last produced by the Little Theatre in 1961, “Oklahoma!,” a romantic musical based on Lynn Riggs’ 1931 play “Green Grow the Lilacs,” will reappear Oct. 7 to Nov. 6 at the downtown San Luis Obispo playhouse.
Due to the small size of the stage at the 99-seat theatre, director and choreographer Zach Johnson must work with a cast of only 16.
“This is the smallest cast I’ve ever seen do ‘Oklahoma!,’” Johnson said. “It is done for the most part with 20 to 50 people. The challenge that has been really great to me is to utilize the space as best as I can.”
Despite the obvious obstacle, Johnson, who is directing and choreographing simultaneously for the first time, said he jumped at the chance to produce “Oklahoma!” at the Little Theatre.
“I spent every summer growing up in Oklahoma, so this piece is something I really connected to as a little kid,” Johnson said. “I have so much pride in the people of Oklahoma and the state of Oklahoma.”
But, the musical, set in the Oklahoma territory in 1906 (one year before statehood), has meaning that far transcends the spirit of Oklahomans.
“The main thing about this musical that a lot of people don’t know is that it changed a lot of the way musical theatre is done because it was the first time that song and dance and acting were all combined to help the story along,” Johnson said. “(‘Oklahoma!’) was a turning point in musical theatre.”
Yet, it still possesses entertainment value.
“It’s just a really fun show,” Little Theatre Academy of Creative Theater director Kerry DiMaggio said. “There is lots of singing, lots of dancing (and) lots of songs people will recognize even if they don’t know the names.”
DiMaggio, a Cal Poly graduate playing the “fun and flirtatious” Ado Annie, hails from one of two sets of brothers and sisters performing featured roles in the musical.
In addition to the sibling pairs, the rest of the cast has also morphed into a very close-knit group.
M.J. Johnson, Central Coast resident who dances the dream-walking sequence of farm girl Laurey Williams, said the small size of the cast turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
“Because it is in such an intimate space, you really get to be up close with the actors,” Johnson said. “It’s one of those shows that leaves you feeling elated and singing when you go home.”
Johnson added that even though the setting is intimate, “Oklahoma!” is much more than a romance chronicle.
“The musical is so meaningful to people because it’s from the roots,” Johnson said. “It’s not just a love story about two people playing coy. It’s about early America and people starting to connect.”
Little Theatre managing artistic director Kevin Harris said “Oklahoma!” has important themes and great theatrical significance, yet is still uplifting.
“It’s one of the plays everyone likes that really has some substance to it,” Harris said.
“Oklahoma!” first appeared on Broadway in 1943 and was later adapted into Academy Award-winning film in 1955.
The Little Theatre, which is currently celebrating its 65th anniversary, kicked off its main stage season in July. Following “Oklahoma!,” featured performances include “A Christmas Story,” by Philip Grecian, “Dinner with Friends,” by Donald Margulies and “The House of Blue Leaves,” by John Guare.
Showings begin at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are $15 for students.