Home | Learn | Fun Facts

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!

Fun Facts

In 1944 Oklahoma! was awarded a special Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
In 1946 the first performance of Oklahoma! in the state of Oklahoma debuted in Oklahoma City. Governor Robert S. Kerr held statewide celebrations. Rodgers and Hammerstein were made honorary members of the Kiowa Tribe.
In 1950 the national tour of Oklahoma! opened in Cheyenne, Wyoming, marking the moment of the musical being performed in all fifty states!
In 1950 the London production of Oklahoma! closed after 1,548 performances.
During the filming of the movie Oklahoma!, a crew member was struck by lightning!
In August 1955 Eddie Fisher, Shirley Jones, Ed Sullivan, Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, and the governors of New York and Oklahoma led an “Oklahoma Song-Fest” at the Central Park Mall in New York City before a crowd of 15,000.
In 1967 Oklahoma! opened in Tokyo, Japan, with an all-female cast.
In 1976 the original cast recording of Oklahoma! was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
In 1993, its 50th anniversary year, Oklahoma! was awarded a special commemorative Tony Award.
In 2002 a revival of Oklahoma! opened on Broadway for 388 performances and was nominated for seven Tony Awards.

Actor Hugh Jackman as Curly in 1998 (courtesy of Entertainment Weekly). ⁶