Clarke drama and music presents ‘Oklahoma’

The Clarke Community High School fall musical Oklahoma premiers Friday Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. with a second show Saturday Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Clarke High School auditorium.

This is the first time Clarke Schools has ever performed Oklahoma and with such an iconic musical to perform they began auditions last spring with some summer rehearsals. Set construction began over the summer as well.

The musical has multiple lead roles and many songs. The sound crew has a lot of work to do during the musical as the microphones need to change frequently with singers and actors parts. The stage crew is working hard to get the scene changes done in 30 seconds and choreographing the fastest way to change the set.

Some of the lead roles include Aunt Eller played by Kennedy Bland, Curly played by Dan Hill, Laurey played by Lexi Cooper, Will Parker played by Derik Hill, Jud Fry played by McCormick Evink, Ado Annie Carnes played by Tori White and Ali Hakim played by Ronak Robinson. Having many big parts was the goal when chosing a musical this year in order to give a a lot of students the experience.

“This was one of the first shows, actually, on the history of Broadway that followed a story,” said Director Don May. “Some people call it a Western or a ‘Hick Show’... It was right before Oklahoma was made into a state.”

Oklahoma earned its statehood Nov. 16, 1907. As an accidental tribute the final showing of Clarke High School’s Oklahoma is on the state’s anniversary.

“It’s kind of cool that we’re performing that night,” said May.

Tickets are on sale now. Parking the nights of the events should by around the building at Entrance 8 to avoid construction.