'Oklahoma!' Comes to Town

The Glyndon Area Players will take center stage the next two weekends in a performance of the classic musical Oklahoma!

Oklahoma! is a musical theatrical adaptation of Lynn Rigg’s 1931 play Green Grow the Lilacs and is credited with being the first musical written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. It is also this year’s choice for the Glyndon Area Players’ annual summer production.

“Oklahoma! is a story of young love and the clash of two cultures, cowboys and farmers, as they struggle to settle the Oklahoma territory in the early 1900s,” explained cast member, Kathy Blake, 48, of Union Bridge. Blake, who plays the feisty role of Aunt Eller, has extensive theater experience.

Each year, the Glyndon Area Players (GAP) put on a play that attracts people of all ages—from the spectators to auditioning actors to the stagehands. What started out as a way to showcase talent in the immediate community has grown to include people from all over—even as far as Delaware and Washington, D.C., according to founder, president and director, Homero Bayanera.

Bayanera, who relocated from Owings Mills to Mount Airy had the idea to start his theater company as a community group based on his love for theater and personal experience in traveling shows. As a parishioner of Sacred Heart Parish in Glyndon, he approached Msgr. Lloyd Aiken, residing priest, to see if he knew of anyone who would be willing to house and finance his play company. To his delight, Msgr. Aiken gave Bayanera the okay to use the Sacred Heart School’s auditorium.

Since its establishment in 1998, GAP has done 14 performances, all of which are accompanied by a live orchestra. Past shows have included: Annie, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, The Wizard of Oz and many others. This year’s show consists of 43 actors, 15 of which are newcomers.

“This show is one that is very close to my heart, because I used to watch it with my mom all the time as a child,” explained cast member Kevin D’Alesandro, 26, of Hampstead, who stars as Curley. This is D’Alesandro’s second year with GAP.

Some cast members been with GAP since childhood, like Ali Borkowicz of Westminster.

“The bond created between cast mates, crew and production staff is definitely like a family,” said 21-year-old Borkowicz, who stars as Laurey and has been acting with GAP since the age of 10.

Unlike some of the more modernized versions of Oklahoma!, this particular performance has attempted to restore all the integrity of the original.

“We went back to its authenticity,” Bayanera said, referring to the lines and dialect, Oklahoma accents and historically accurate dances. Even the farming equipment used in the show is authentic, and was loaned to GAP by Eldersburg farmer, Jon Buck.

Show times are on Friday, Aug. 12 and 19 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 13 and 20 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and on Sunday, Aug. 14 and 21 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $7 for seniors 65 and older as well as children 12 and under. is located at 63 Sacred Heart Lane, in Glyndon. For more information, go to www.glyndonareaplayers.com.