Press Release
March 28, 2018
Contact: Steve Hawkins
Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-0754
shawkins@okhistory.org
www.okhistory.org/historycenter
Oklahoma History Center Opens “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘Oklahoma!’: Musical Theatre at 75” Exhibit
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma History Center will open its latest pictorial exhibit, “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘Oklahoma!’: Musical Theatre at 75” on Saturday, March 31, the 75th anniversary of the opening of the musical on Broadway. The exhibit will feature 21 images, mostly black-and-white with some full-color posters included. The photos range from the Broadway production of the play “Green Grow the Lilacs” by Lynn Riggs, which was the inspiration for “Oklahoma!,” through the original production of the musical in 1943 and images from the movie. The most recent picture is from a Discoveryland production in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, designated “the National Home of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘Oklahoma!’”
This exhibit may be viewed in the Chesapeake Events Center at the Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr., Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, since the Chesapeake Events Center also is utilized for banquets, meetings and performances, it is advised that patrons call ahead to assure that it is open to the public at the time of a planned visit.
The pictorial exhibit will serve as the precursor for the larger gallery exhibit celebrating the 75th anniversary of ‘Oklahoma!’ that will open on July 12. This full exhibit will be entitled “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘Oklahoma!’: The Origin of Modern Musical Theatre.”
The Oklahoma History Center is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, National Archives and is an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.
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