Oklahoma! The Broadway Musical

Reimagine Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! through the lens of race, representation, and reinvention. This engaging, ready-to-use course blends video, music, and critical discussion to help students explore the musical’s evolving legacy in bold, modern ways.

This lesson explores how Rodgers & Hammerstein revolutionized musical theatre by integrating story, song, and character in groundbreaking ways. Students will examine how Oklahoma! set a new standard by using music and lyrics to drive plot and deepen emotional impact. Through discussion, video clips, and analysis of key scenes, students will discover how their collaborations introduced complex themes, realistic characters, and a seamless blend of dialogue and song.

This lesson explores the source material behind Oklahoma!, focusing on Lynn Riggs’ 1931 play Green Grow the Lilacs.

This lesson introduces Oklahoma! as the first fully integrated musical, blending story, song, and dance to advance plot and character. Students will explore innovations like the dream ballet, seamless transitions between dialogue and music, and emotionally driven songs, analyzing how these elements transformed musical theatre into a cohesive storytelling form.

Oklahoma! revolutionized Broadway with its seamless blend of storytelling, music, and dance, debuting in out-of-town tryouts as Away We Go! before becoming the genre-defining musical it is today. Its archives—cast albums, dream ballet, and iconic opening song—set new standards. Its Broadway run, cast, and innovative structure remain a benchmark in musical theatre history.

Explore the groundbreaking 1955 film adaptation of Oklahoma!—the first musical shot in Todd-AO. Analyze key scenes, choreography, and performances by Gordon MacRae, Shirley Jones, and Rod Steiger. Learn how cinematic techniques and storytelling expanded the original stage musical’s emotional depth, realism, and legacy in American film history.

When Oklahoma! premiered in 1943, it revolutionized musical theatre. This lesson explores how diversity—both onstage and behind the scenes—can reshape the way we understand Oklahoma!. From inclusive casting to critical questions about whiteness in the musical’s mythology, we will uncover how Oklahoma! reflects the values of its era—and how reimagining it can open space for more voices today.

OSF’s 75th-anniversary production of Oklahoma! reimagines the classic with gender-inclusive casting and queer representation, including same-sex leads Curly and Laurey. Directed by Bill Rauch, the revival honors the original while embracing modern identities, offering a fresh, inclusive take on the beloved musical.

Daniel Fish’s 2019 revival of Oklahoma! confronts America’s myths with a raw, unsettling edge. Set in a community hall, it reclaims classic Rodgers & Hammerstein through a stark reinterpretation of Jud as a proto‑incel and Curly’s culpability—earning acclaim as “wide‑awake, jolting…and altogether wonderful.”

This lesson explores how Rodgers & Hammerstein’s music, especially from Oklahoma!, has been reimagined through pop, R&B, and modern genres to connect with new audiences. Students will analyze reinterpretations like R&H Goes Pop!, examine culturally updated revivals, and reflect on how timeless songs evolve while honoring their original intent.

This cumulative assessment covers key themes from the Oklahoma! unit through 20 multiple choice questions, 5 short answers, and 1 of 3 essay prompts. Students synthesize ideas about the musical’s history, cultural impact, and modern revivals.