Update Broadway Pea Fans - Oklahoma!

The only thing I know about the musical is that they sing a song about Gary, Indiana, which is where I was born. I could never understand why the song sounded so fun, as Gary, Indiana absolutely has to be the asshole of America. Lol I'm in my late 50s and remember as a little girl hearing about how even the police in Gary, Indiana wouldn't stop at street lights there. We didn't live in Gary, but my parents were always a bit embarrassed that 2 of the 5 of us were born there.

I was born in the same hospital as Michael Jackson, and for years, I was listed as the longest baby born there. I was 23.5 inches long. Kind of funny, because I'm pretty short at 5'3" and am much shorter than my 5'8" siblings.

 Perhaps it will bring forward the darkness of Gary, Indiana! 😀

My sister saw it this weekend and said it was horrible. They almost left at intermission and were sad that they didn't.

She said it's really really dark and creepy.

I think if you're a fan of the original, this will be a disappointment.

We saw it a couple of weeks ago in Dallas. I REALLY wanted to see it on Broadway. It’s one of my favorites and I was anxious to see how they modernized it.

It is much darker than the original. The songs are arranged differently and take on new meanings. Poor Jud… is right before intermission and we saw some folks leave during that song.

I’m pretty sure you’re seeing the same tour I just saw and one of the supporting characters is trans, so I can see that not going over well in OK.

The original remains my favorite, but I did enjoy the new take. Our biggest criticisms were technical (I attended with my kid who’s majoring in technical theater and lighting design and their girlfriend who just graduated with an emphasis in stage management. They’ve both seen a lot of Broadway and experimental theater.)

We thought some of the lighting choices odd. It’s a simplistic set and all of the actors remain on stage throughout the performance, which was sometimes confusing. They didn’t mike their performers through the show and their voices got lost in our enormous theater (at times they use hand mikes).

Overall, I’m glad I saw this version, but I didn’t love it the way I love the old movie. I can see anyone who did. It understand that this was a reimagined version being a little surprised or unhappy.

I don’t think it’s bad, I just think people get mad anytime anything changes.

I was alternately laughing and raging at the Broadway Dallas page with all the yokels complaining. The purpose of Broadway Dallas (and I’m sure whatever theater organization you’re seeing it through) is to bring shows that are currently or recently on Broadway to Dallas, so, no, ya old fart this isn’t the Oklahoma! You saw fifty odd years ago, it’s the Oklahoma that was recently on Broadway. That’s not directed at the OP, that’s directed at the social media idiots.

I will also say that while I don’t think the tour is bad, I think the show worked better on Broadway because it was at a (relatively) small theater in the round where the cast directly interacted with the audience and you just can’t replicate that in the tour theaters.

malibou I think Gary Indiana is in Music Man.
Imagine if that was updated! Newcomer man befriending a small boy?

[/quote]
I’m a season ticket holder to Broadway Dallas and I’ve been reading on their page as well as Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth. Most people are absolutely going off the rails about the show. I’ve never seen anything like it before for a show. It’s making me very interested to see it to see what all the fuss is. Like I said I’m fully prepared for a darker version. [/quote]

Its got to be due to change. myshelly made me laugh with her fifty years comment. I don’t recall much hoopla over Evan Hansen (sp?) or others prone to religious or philosophical opinions.

I got 3 emails before our show, an insert in the playbill, and an audio warning at the start of the show about the firearm props and gunshots during the show.

Because people don't read that stuff, particualrly subscribers, who fill a good number of the seats of many tour houses.

I remember seeing a production of The Full Monty, and people were shocked at intermission. SHOCKED. I mean come ooonnn, with that name?!?

LOL, off my soapbox.

So many people are saying “too many guns on stage” and I just wanna say, did y’all bitches walk outa Les Mis?

I saw the revival in Oklahoma City last January. The theatre was full and I didn't notice any mass exodus at intermission. I don't know if they do this everywhere, but the cast encouraged the audience to join in when they sang Oklahoma! Everyone around me clapped and sang along. I felt like the cast got a warm reception at the end, especially the actor who played Laurie, because she was an alumni of Oklahoma City University. I think most of the theatre goers were aware going in that this revival was very different from the original. (The revival naturally received a lot more press attention in Oklahoma, than the revival of some other classical musical would have received).

I'm glad I saw the revival, but I probably wouldn't go see the darker version again. I would however love to see the classic version again with a more diverse cast.

auntkelly love that! My parents were season ticket holders to what was then called Lyric Theatre, as I recall. My brother and I grew up seeing at least one OCU musical a season. I wonder how many future “famous” actors we saw!