BYU-Idaho and community performs Oklahoma!
- posted: 04 July 2007
- scrollarts@byui.edu
BYU-Idaho’s rendition of Roger and Hammerstein’s classic musical Oklahoma! opened last week to sold-out audiences.
“I’ve always liked Oklahoma, and they gave a great performance, keeing it up to par,” said Christy Dixon a sophomore from St. Louis, Mo.
The BYU-I Theatre Department is producing Oklahoma! with a cast of more than fifty people and a pit orchestra of 24. The cast consists of BYU-I students and members of surrounding communities.
Derek Clifford, who plays the character Big Judd, is a resident of Idaho Falls.
“I’m not a student, but I went to school here when it was Ricks. I teach theater at Idaho Falls High School, and they don’t have a good summer program there, so I wanted to try out here,” Clifford said.
Oklahoma! gives all cast members the opportunity to share their talents through song and dance.
“It is amazing for everyone to have this experience. Everyone is learning and doing,” said Elizabeth Bossard, who playes Aunt Eller. Bossard is a member of the BYU-I music faculty.
“The old lady, Aunt Eller, kept me laughing,” said Joseph Bowler, a sophomore from Rexburg.
Along with making the audience laugh, Bossard’s character gaves several tidbits of advice, like, “You can’t deserve the sweet and tender life unlessen you’re tough” and “You gotta be hearty.”
“I think it’s an awesome show because it has such an amazing contrast with really great humor and then really intense drama,” said Camilla Cole, a BYU-I alumna.
Other musical numbers included popular songs such as, “Oh What a Beautiful Morning,” “I Cain’t Say No!,” “Out Of My Dreams,” “Oklahoma!” and “People Will Say We’re In Love.”
“The main characters are very romantic,” said Brittany Boyce, a junior from Folsom, Calif.
The cast is accompanied by an orchestra of 24 people, and the production would not have happened without the artistic personnel and technical personnel who helped bring the show together.
Perfomances of Oklahoma! will continue July 3 to July 6 in the Snow Drama Theatre at 7:30 p.m. The July 4 performance is free and will be held at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are available at the Ticket Office. 
