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Richard Sisson for Building a Library explores the ever-popular Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma! It was the first musical written by the team of composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. Set in Oklahoma Territory in 1906, the original Broadway production opened in 1943 and ran for 2,212 performances. The show was a milestone in the development of the "book musical", where the songs and dances are fully integrated into the story.

Recommended Recording:

1998 National Theatre Cast

Hugh Jackman (Curly); Josefina Gabrielle (Laurey); Vicki Simon (Ado Annie); Jimmy Johnston (Will Parker); Shuler Hensley (Jud Fry); Maureen Lipman (Aunt Eller); Peter Polycarpou (Ali Hakim)

Director – Trevor Nunn; Musical Director – John Owen Edwards

FIRST NIGHT RECORDS CASTCD 69 (CD)

Other Recommended Recordings:

Below is a shortlist of other recordings which Richard also liked, although we can’t guarantee the availability of these discs.

1955 Film soundtrack

Gordon McRae (Curly); Shirley Jones (Laurey); Gloria Grahame (Ado Annie); Gene Nelson (Will Parker); Rod Steiger (Jud Fry); Charlotte Greenwood (Aunt Eller); Eddie Albert (Ali Hakim)

Director – Fred Zinnemann; Musical Director – Jay Blackton

EMI ANGEL ZDM 764691-2 (CD)

1943 New York Original cast recording

Alfred Drake (Curly); Joan Roberts (Laurey); Celeste Holm (Ado Annie); Lee Dixon (Will Parker); Howard Da Silva (Jud Fry); Bette Garde (Aunt Eller); Joseph Bulloff (Ali Hakim)

Director – Robert Mamoulian; Musical Director – Jacob Schwartzdorf

NAXOS 8120787 (CD)

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