Oklahoma
Based on Green Grow the Lilacs, a stage play by Lynn Riggs, Oklahoma! brought together for the first time composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist/librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The duo would go on to write nine Broadway musicals together, but none would be as important for the development of American musical theatre as Oklahoma! A milestone in its fusion of story, song and dance, the production even featured a dream ballet (choreographed by Agnes de Mille) which revealed the main characters hidden fears and desires. The plot is simple, revolving mainly around the question of who will take Laurey Williams to the box social--the decent Curly McLain or the sinister Jud Fry. However, Oklahoma! continued in the tradition of Show Boat in its depiction of the pioneering men and women of the American Southwest. Oklahoma! opened at the St. James Theatre on March 31, 1943 and ran for 2,212 performances. The original cast featured Joan Roberts as Laurey Williams, Alfred Drake as Curly McLain and Howard Da Silva as Jud Fry. The 1955 film version featured Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones.