Rochdale Style Magazine - summer 2022

OKLAHOMA! COMES TO WHITWORTH Whitworth Amateur Musical and Dramatic Society is set to return to the stage, following a two year hiatus during the pandemic, with their production of the Rogers and Hammerstein classic, Oklahoma!

The show will run from Monday 4th July until Saturday 9th July (with a matinee) at St John’s Hall, Whitworth.

Director and society Chair Andy Kelly commented: “I’m so pleased to see the society back doing what it does best, especially with the Oscar, Tony, Olivier, and Pulitzer winning Oklahoma! It’s going to be a real treat”.

Set in the eponymous Southern US state, Oklahoma! tells the story of the love triangle between cowboy Curly McLain, ingenue Laurey Williams and her farmhand, Jud Fry, in the run-up to the box social. Meanwhile, travelling salesman Ali Hakim tries to drive a wedge between cowboy Will Parker and his flirtatious fiancée, Ado Annie.

Following her run in as Adelaide in Whitworth’s production of Guy’s and Dolls and Ulla in The Producers by Rochdale Musical Theatre Company’s, Annabelle Taylor is returning to the stage as Ado Annie. Annabelle commented: “I’m thrilled to see Whitworth putting on shows again and of course to be playing a character as fun as Ado Annie!”

The part of Laurey Williams is set to be played by local actress Leonie Richardson, who you may recognise as Elle Woods from Rochdale Musical Theatre Company’s production of Legally Blonde. She said: ‘It’s such a joy to be back with WAMDS, the first-ever society that I performed with 10 years ago, for their production of Oklahoma. It’s always exciting to have the opportunity to reinvent the classics and that’s exactly what I can’t wait to do with Laurey. With such a wonderful and talented group of people, it’s guaranteed to be a special show.’

Never a society to stick to the conventional, WAMDS are adding some fresh new twists to the classic musical.

While the script remains the same, Musical Director, Dr Jeremy Sleith, is reimagining the score- dispensing with the traditional orchestra and instead opting for a six-piece country band. Likewise, the costume team is doing away with the old fashioned hoop skirts in favour of Americana style costumes.

While previous pantomimes and plays at St John’s Hall have taken place in the standard proscenium layout, with rows of the audience facing the stage, the production team have decided to do Oklahoma! in the round. The audience will have an immersive experience of the show, with front row seats being made up of benches and hay bales and a pot of chilli-con-carne being served during the interval for supper.

Tickets start from just £10 and are available at: www.ticketsource.co.uk/wamds.

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