Talking With: The Cast of Oklahoma!

Patch got the inside scoop on what it takes to dedicate yourself to a high school musical performance by talking with the actors performing in the Babylon Junior Senior High School production of Oklahoma! which is on stage at Rowe Hall this weekend. Here's insight from the actors/characters in the show:

Sammi Martino (Aunt Eller)

1. Why do you think people should come see this show?

"They should come see Oklahoma because it's a really fun show… an American classic.  And there's a bunch of jokes, that even though, they are from a different time period… they're just timeless!" 

1. How are you similar to Aunt Eller?

"I think of my own grandma.  My grandma was probably the wittiest, craziest, toughest grandma ever.  She ruled the house.  I think of her whenever I'm onstage, knocking everybody down!"

1.  What did you like about the rehearsal process?

"I love the cast in general.  We're all so friendly and we just love to work together.  It's never a dull moment.  I love Mrs. Drance, our director.  She's probably the best director I've ever had in my life."

1. What were some of the challenges that you faced in this process?

"The biggest challenge was practicing dance numbers.  We learned them awhile ago and we didn't really practice them until now.  But I'm surprised how many people remembered them.  It came together very well.  I'm so proud."

Matthew McLean (Curly)

1. Why do you think people should come see this show?

"People should come because of all the work everyone in this rehearsal process has put in.  The cast is great. The crew is great. The set looks amazing.  The props are awesome.  The actors have put in so much time.  Almost all of our free time is spent dancing.  And I know I go over my lines all the time if I'm not onstage.  It's going to be a good quality show."

1. How are you similar to Curly?

"Curly and I are very different.  But there's one way… he thinks very highly of himself, but once you get down to it, he's a little bit insecure.  And I'm like that too.  I put up this façade and on the inside I'm completely different.  I feel like I'm part of me when I'm with Curly, partly because Mackenzie is Laurey and we are such good friends."

1. What did you like about the rehearsal process?

"I really enjoyed the people that I acted with.  Martin (Jud) and Mackenzie are phenomenal.  I enjoy the love scene between me and Mackenzie.  I want to do it over and over because it's so much fun.  It feels so natural.  I enjoyed everything.  It was just so much fun."

1. What were some of the challenges that you faced in this process?

"It was a challenge getting into Curly… getting into the walk.  Naturally I have a very straightforward, hip-swinging walk and it was challenging to get the bow-legged thing down.  It was also hard not moving my head, being all sassy!"

Mackenzie Owens (Laurey)

1.  Why do you think people should come see this show?

I think everyone is having a really good time getting into their characters and the audience will definitely get into it, especially in Act Two.  We all do such a big dance and all having a good time.

1. How are you similar to Laurey?

Well, Laurey is kind of a tomboy and so am I.  She doesn't show her emotions that much… and that's almost exactly like me.  I think she's a good fit for me.

1.  What did you like about the rehearsal process?

"We have a lot of really hard working people who are dedicated.  For rehearsals, people were on the spot and know what they're doing, for the most part.  The cast is really fun to work with."

1. What were some of the challenges that you faced in this process?

"Challenges would just be the really late night rehearsals and getting up early for school the next morning.  You know, running through and learning lines.  That's basically it."

Martin Castonguay (Jud Fry)

1. Why do you think people should come see this show?

"It's a really good time throughout the entire thing.  It's a lot of bouncy, fun music.  It's not very morbid, so you can come see it and be happy the whole time.  A lot of people put a lot of work into it… the cast… the crew.  The lighting is gorgeous and the set is just fabulous.  The sound is really good and the cast has put in a lot of effort."

1. How are you similar to Jud?

"I don't really bring a lot of myself to Jud, because Jud is a real creepy guy.  So I kind of distance myself from Jud's life.  But I have put a lot of time into trying to develop Jud as a character who I can like, so I can play him without hating myself.  There are a lot of things in the script about him being a pervert. But, in my character bio, I set up that he lived in a whore house as a child, so all of that stuff is just his ambiance.   He never knew any different.   I'm trying to make that shine through.  He's not actually obsessed with lewd women… it's just how he sees the world."

1.  What did you like about the rehearsal process?

"It definitely gave me something to put my efforts into other than sitting around working on college audition pieces.  I think acting is very fun.  The rehearsal process is always the fun part for me.  The Hell week part is not what I enjoy.  But, the general being in a rehearsal with people acting and singing is great."

1. What were some of the challenges that you faced in this process?

"It was a challenge having to make Jud likable.  When I first started, I really didn't like him and I was acting him very badly.  So, I had to overcome this character.  He's very well-written, but he's well-written to be un-liked.   So I had to work hard to get myself to like him, so that I could act him naturally."

Daniel Wright (Will Parker)

1.  Why do you think people should come see this show?

"We all put a lot of hard work into it and I think it's coming together really nicely.  It's going to be a great show."

1. How are you similar to Will Parker?

"Well, I'm really fun-loving.  So I think I share that with Will.  Other than that, we're actually really different people, which is hard."

1.  What did you like about the rehearsal process?

"I enjoyed working with the cast.  It was really fun.  I made some friends with some people I otherwise wouldn't have talked to at all.  So, I really enjoyed that."

1. What were some of the challenges that you faced in this process?

"Like I said before, I'm very different from Will.  He's very outgoing and I'm an introverted person.  It's hard to be such a different person than yourself, but it was an interesting challenge."

Sarah Wilkens (Ado Annie)

1.  Why do you think people should come see this show?

"It's a really fun musical where people can break loose and be themselves and put that into their character… make it who they want to be."

1. How are you similar to Ado Annie?

"Ado Annie is a very happy person and she's a little bit ditsy.  I'm really happy all the time… always smiling, always laughing.  So it's easy for me to relate to her.  I'm not going off with the boys and stuff but, I manage."

1.  What did you like about the rehearsal process?

"I could rely on the people in the cast to be there and take responsibility for what they have to do.  I think it's really important that everyone supports each other, and that's exactly what everybody does."

1. What were some of the challenges that you faced in this process?

"The kissing scene was a challenge…. just trying to create the chemistry between me and Will.  Lines weren't that hard, but it was a little challenging trying to get them together with the cues and everything.  But, it was my first show here.  Overall, it's been really great."