Setting The Stage With Some History And Hammerstein In Doylestown

Doylestown, PA—This weekend, the cast of Central Bucks High School East’s upcoming musical Oklahoma! experienced a once in a lifetime opportunity to perform the legendary songs written by Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rodgers on the property where the lyrics were actually penned! The students were then afforded an educational tour of the home and estate by board members of the Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center. (The board continues its decades-long quest to raise enough funds to purchase the property and turn it into a museum and education center for the community.)

In full costume and makeup, the teenage cowgirls, cowboys, and farmers donned their pigtails, leather chaps, and boots, and stepped onto the front porch of the home where Oscar Hammerstein, his wife Dorothy, and their family resided for over twenty years. On the lawn of the historic residence, now operating as the Highland Farm Bed and Breakfast, the cast belted out several of the tunes the musical is famous for, including part of, “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’,” “People Will Say We’re In Love,” as part of the uplifting “Finale Ultimo.”

In 1943, the original Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma! opened on Broadway. Like a comfortable crocheted heirloom blanket, Oklahoma! was to the audiences of the 1940's what Hamilton may be to this generation of high school actors. The storyline was controversial then, and for different reasons, continues to be edgy today. Oklahoma! was also artistically revolutionary for its time, deemed a “musical drama” rather than a musical comedy, and leveraged its songs to advance character and plot. The performance is set in the Claremore Indian Territory of Oklahoma in the early 1900s, where one of the themes is to help bring together two parts of the community consistently in disagreement with each other. There is fighting and violence at a social gathering and Aunt Eller has to step in over and over to explain why the farmers and the cowmen need to figure out a way to coexist because they both need each other to survive. The potential for these groups to come together symbolizes the need for hope and optimism to overcome societal issues. In our own contemporary lives, hope sometimes is difficult to hang on to, so this musical is just as relevant now as much as it was in the 1940s.

One of the main characters is an independent and successful woman named Laurey Williams trying to make a choice between two courters: Jud Fry, a rough-hewn farmhand who lives in the smokehouse of the farm owned by Laurey and her Aunt Eller, and the musically talented Curly McLain, who is more socially adept, but sports an oversized ego along with a large helping of arrogance. The original dialogue has phrases typical for its time period, but now, with the #MeToo Movement still in our periphery, and a cultural awareness of the importance of equality and equity, portions of the dialogue is dated, even cringeworthy, leaving our modern-day selves to deal with the struggle to accept the history displayed in vintage language and meaning.

In fact, some of the students had issues with the dialogue at first. Elizabeth Tolis, who is the dance choreographer said, “The students have come so far in being able to explore what it is like to wear a different pair of shoes. This theatre opportunity has afforded them the chance to grow as individuals and to offer different perspectives. They have had the chance to separate their real authentic selves from their character or what their character might say.”

Sasha Eisenberg, the Patriot Players Director at Central Bucks High School East stated, “Oklahoma! depicts women who do not change and are not victims, but have their own power. It is hopefully clear to the audience, that even if a male character tries to control these female characters, that would not be possible! For this reason, Rodgers and Hammerstein were considered progressive in 1943.”

Keira Corcoran, a senior who plays Laurey stated, “It’s really an amazing opportunity to play Laurey, an influential and progressive character, she is a real feminist! I am excited and honored to play such a strong female role.” Conner Nace, a junior who plays Curly studied many of the different ways his character was portrayed and feels now that, “I was able to grow my range through this experience, the music really transformed my voice and performance skills.” Molly Pecic and Charlotte Brock, both juniors, really like being able to play farmgirls. Molly declared, “I love being able to yell Yee Haw!” Charlotte chimed, “I am nervous, but having fun! I just wish we could have real farm animals!”

Ms. Eisenberg stated, “Producing Oklahoma! has been a wonderful journey. The music is contagious, and it is fun to see students (on stage and behind the scenes!) singing and dancing along! I think we are all humming tunes from Oklahoma! at all times of day and night!"

Eisenberg continued, “As we celebrate the 80th anniversary of this iconic work, in addition to enjoying the music and dance component, we have also all learned so much about how Oscar Hammerstein's lyrics have inspired, pushed boundaries, and created a new standard for all modern musical theatre. Today, as we explored Hammerstein's home in our own hometown, I know that the awe I felt was shared by many. Here we stand, in our costumes and singing these famous songs, on the same grounds that inspired Oscar Hammerstein so many years ago. I am very proud that the Patriot Players can pay tribute to this very special anniversary and share this beautiful musical with the Central Bucks community. I am also very proud of our students who are finally starting to return to how things were before the pandemic. Our seniors started at East performing outside, online and in masks. And now, as they perform in cast and pit or work on the set, these 80-year-old words from Aunt Eller in Act 2 feel quite timely. She tells Laurey, ‘You gotta be hearty, you got to be. You cain't deserve the sweet and tender in life less'n you're tough.’ Our students have been tough, and it is my hope they will enjoy every moment of this production together and take these happy memories with them as they graduate. They deserve it!”

So even though, on this particular weekend, the corn was not as high as an elephant’s eye, and the skies were in fact cloudy all day, a new generation of talented actors and performers had the chance to be in the room where it happened, they were able to experience the palpable energy knowing in their hometown, history took place and now they are also part of it.

In any typical year over 300 new productions of Oklahoma! are staged across the country. Luckily for all of us in the Bucks County community this exquisite production of an American Broadway classic will take place for only $10.00 per ticket! To purchase entry into the show and see this extraordinary cast of actors perform at Central Bucks High School East on Friday, March 31st, Saturday, April 1st and Sunday, April 2nd, follow this link: https://www.purplepass.com/#mm=allevents/central%20bucks%20east

The following is the list of the high school actors:

Eva Fiander, Conner Nace, Keira Corcoran, Dennis Hancock, Ari Gelb, Logan Ford, James Turnbull, Declan Corcoran, Phillip Schneller, Matthew Kozman, Alex Levinson, Molly Pecic, Caeli Coyle, Sophia Piechotta, Helena Badiali, Kate O’Donnell, Emily Barchard, Felix Arnstein, Audrey Gaona, Nadia Hendrixson, Beau Bradney, Amanda Garvey, Brooke Dougherty, Jacob Chavez, Aidan MacIlvaine, Amelia Alfiero, Celein Al Salem, Addison Burleigh, Beau Bradney, Helena Badial, Brooke Dougherty, Jacob Chavez, Kaitlyn Borden, Amanda Garvey, Dennis Hancock, Emma Bostic, Giulia Henckels, Charlotte Bowden, Summer Layre, Charlotte Brock, Corinne Shisler, Abby Scott, Faith Tomer, Phillip Schneller, and Mia Walker.

To become part of the grass roots effort for The Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center to purchase Highland Farm, click here to make a donation to the agency’s website.