FOR three weeks early in the New Year, the Riverside Theatre, Coleraine, will be one of the warmest places to be in the cold winter evenings, as it will be transformed into the searing heat of the Oklahoma plains.
Ballywillan Drama Group will be transporting their patrons to the American mid-west for their tenth anniversary production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s wonderful family musical Oklahoma!
Last staged by them in 2000 in their then home of Waterworld
, Portrush, some of that original award-winning cast are reprising their roles.
David McClarty and Olive Hemphill will once again play their original parts of Ali Hakim and Aunt Eller, and are joined by Alan McClarty who, having played Curly ten years ago, now takes on the role of Jud Fry. Mark Adamson plays the part of Curly and Fiona Warke takes the role of Laurey.
Ashling Reynolds and Colin McClarty are cast together again this year, playing opposite each other as the comical Ado Annie and the not-so-bright Will Parker.
The production team, headed by Director and Producer, Brian Logan, Musical Director, Eric Boyd and Choreographer, Sharon Wilson, are putting the final touches to what promises to be one of the highlights of the Riverside Theatre’s programme for 2010.
Running for nearly three weeks it is the biggest show in the theatre and, indeed, is the longest running amateur musical anywhere in Ireland with eighteen performance dates.
With three nominations for their last musical, Fiddler on the Roof, in the Association of Irish Musical Societies Awards – Best Director, Best Lighting, Sets and Sound and Best Chorus – Ballywillan are keen to show their wares to the public once more.
Nominated for Best Set for four years in succession Brian Logan has once again created a sweeping design, which extends the width of the Riverside stage and includes recreations of the actual period log cabins and buildings.
Oklahoma! will be staged in the Riverside Theatre from Wednesday, January 20 to Saturday, February 6, 2010 for 18 toe tapping performances.
Book your seat to see one of the best known family musicals of all time, and hear the songs everyone knows and loves, such as “Oh What a Beautiful Morning”, “ Surrey With the Fringe on Top”, “The Farmer and the Cowman” and the wonderful title tune of “Oklahoma!” itself, to name but a few.
Saturday matinees are at 2.30pm with evening performances at 8pm. Concessions apply. Box Office 028 7032 3232 or book on-line at www.riversidetheatre.org.uk Seat prices £14 to £17.
