Oklahoma! - The Road to Success

[jo]

JackmansLanding just resurrected this interview ( time when he was filming Van Helsing) --

Nov 12, 2013 18:27:45 GMT -5 jo said:

And then there is this memorable interview ( circa Van Helsing filming) with Michael Parkinson in London, where he sings a Oh What A Beautiful Mornin' --





I wonder what would have happened if he pursued a theatre career in London instead? At the time ( in the earlier part of his career), I did not realize he was actually a passport-carrying Brit, too...and his family were mostly settled there.


Jo

If I remember correctly -- there was an earlier part of this interview which BBC edited out on this upload. It showed Hugh entering the Parkinson TV studio ( and how the audience reacted to his entrance. I also remember Michael remarking on his hair ( that's where Hugh mentions that he had extensions on his hair)...then later on some discussions about Hugh's Dad, Chris.

His accent was very noticeably still strong Australian then ( this was around 2003).


Jo

[jo]

Also, some reactions to his Curly, after the PBS showing Hugh's singing in Great Performances --

It is Jackman's rendition of the last that sets the tone for the telecast, promising not just a "beautiful morning," but a "beautiful day" as well. "His legs are as high as an elephant's eye," wrote The London Daily Telegraph, "he is 6 feet, 3 inches of perfect tanned cowboy. When he walks on to the stage a soft female collective sigh runs nightly round the packed auditorium."

He still does elicit such a reaction from the theatre crowd - when he makes his first entrance


I expect to see the same when he appears for the first time onstage in THE MUSIC MAN, collective sigh included




Jo

[jo]

Another past post worth resurrecting - how critics/audience members reacted to Hugh Jackman's way with musical theatre!

Jul 14, 2016 22:36:27 GMT -5 jo said:

Three critics/musical theatre talent seemed to have all appreciated Hugh's ability to segue from song to words and vice versa --

Adam Guettel ( grandson of Richard Rodgers; composed Light in the Piazza) --

Yet Guettel said that the best piece of musical theater he's ever seen was Trevor Nunn's 1998 London production of Oklahoma!. He praised Hugh Jackman's ability in the role of Curly to transition naturally between dialogue and song, helping the audience to believe a person can legitimately express themselves through music as well as speech.

David Heppel --

After being brought up on Curlys with powerful, booming voices (like Howard Keel, or Gordon Macrae in the film) it is initially strange to witness one singing with a more delicate realism. Rather than 'bursting' into song, Hugh Jackman's Curly slips seamlessly from dialogue to song and back so that it seems the most natural thing in the world.

Ben Brantley --

As for the songs themselves, Brantley said that even the opening chestnut ("Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'") "had a feeling of conversational spontaneity".

Hmmm.... why does this ability for a musical theatre actor to look at musicals as simply another way to tell a story remind me of a major musical adapted for film 14 years later


Jo

[jo]

[jo]

[jo]

Some interesting notes on OKLAHOMA!

www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1nq6zc

About a book on Oklahoma!

Oklahoma!: The Making of an American Musical
Tim Carter
Copyright Date: 2007
Published by: Yale University Press
Pages: 352
www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1nq6zc

CHAPTER 1 Setting the Stage (pp. 1-26)

Why write a book onoklahoma!?—because it is a landmark in the Broadway musical, because it is a glorious show, and because it raises important issues about the genre, the theater, and its times. Why write a scholarly book onOklahoma!?—because it has never been done, and because musicals are no less worthy of serious treatment than any other art form. The question for the moment, however, is where a history ofOklahoma!might best begin.
The formation of the Theatre Guild from the Washington Square Players in 1919 marked a new direction in the New York theater...

CHAPTER 3 Creative Processes (pp. 79-136)

Richard rodgers was clear on the merits of oklahoma!:
I have long held a theory about musicals. When a show works perfectly, it’s because all the individual parts complement each other and fit together. No single element overshadows any other. In a great musical, the orchestrations sound the way the costumes look. That’s what madeOklahoma!work. All the components dovetailed. There was nothing extraneous or foreign, nothing that pushed itself into the spotlight yelling, “Look at me!” It was a work created by many that gave the impression of having been created by one.¹

[jo]

A comment on "Oh What A Beautiful Mornin'" from Oklahoma!

poetcomic1
1 year ago (edited)

The second day of Oklahoma on Broadway Oscar Hammerstein was staying at a NY hotel on the lst floor and had his window partly open. He awoke to the sound of CHILDREN on the street singing 'Oh, What A Beautiful Morning' and he says it was the most magical moment in his entire career. Their parents must have come home with the tune the night before.

[jo]

[jo]

Wow - that reply from David Krane earned a LIKE from a famous composer

Kenneth Fuchs
liked a reply to your Tweet
Absolutely. That was the concept of having Laurie and Curly and everyone both act and dance, eliminating the old concept of a separate dancing cast for ultimate dramatic impact, brilliantly choreographed by Susan Stroman.

Kenneth Fuchs

@kennethfuchs
Follow
American Composer, GRAMMY® Award “Best Classical Compendium”


LOL - I was as excited as when Alex Lacamoire and other creatives in charge of Film Scoring from the Greatest Showman team LIKED one of my tweets during the time when the movie was about to be released.


Jo

[jo]

On the Oklahoma! screening - which would not load on me

[jo]

The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization

liked your reply
Do check out the original play by Rodgers&Hammerstein -- no guitar-playing Curly there
Jackman doesn't need it - he just turns on the charisma...and Laurey's heart melts

[hughmanity]

Mine wouldn't load either  😬

Mar 27, 2020 19:32:18 GMT -5 jo said:

On the Oklahoma! screening - which would not load on me

[jo]

[jo]

Mar 27, 2020 20:10:53 GMT -5 hughmanity said:

Mine wouldn't load either  😬

Mar 27, 2020 19:32:18 GMT -5 jo said:

On the Oklahoma! screening - which would not load on me

I gave up after 2 tries because I keep getting NOT SUPPORTED message...and immediately cancelled the subscription. I got a notification from them that my subscription has been cancelled but that I have up to April to access it.

Too cumbersome -- I have the BluRay/ DVD-Region1&2... quite a few copies which I have been giving out as gifts over the years.

The best part of getting the BluRay is the Special Feature which is as long as the production itself -- so much interesting info! They used to have it on the earlier DVD editions...not sure if they still have it.

Jo

[jo]

I have a Souvenir Program... but I got to have signed only after a few years...I also have a signed DVD, which he signed at the TBFO stagedoor...and after much searching, I was able to get a souvenir mug at the now defunct Dress Circle Shop in London! Also, there is the cast recording which is available separately.

Jo

[jo]

Another LIKE from the RnH organization which is monitoring social media as the screening goes on --

The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization
liked your reply

He's courting both Laurey and Aunt Eller - the rogue

[jo]

And yet another LIKE --

Liked
by The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization


Liked

JoAB

@joab46466753
·

Replying to
@louisaforjoy

@rnh_Org
and
@realhughjackman
My favorite acting song from the show! Only Hugh can deliver it with full-on charisma!

***********************************



JoAB

@joab46466753
·
Replying to
@joab46466753

@louisaforjoy
and 2 others
He's courting both Laurey and Aunt Eller - the rogue

[jo]

A gift for those following the Twitter comments on the Oklahoma! screening --

[njr]

Mar 27, 2020 20:10:53 GMT -5 hughmanity said:

Mine wouldn't load either  😬

Mar 27, 2020 19:32:18 GMT -5 jo said:

On the Oklahoma! screening - which would not load on me

Don’t you guys have the DVD?! 😂

ETA: I read later that of course you do!

[jo]

We've heard Lea Salonga's story of discovering Hugh Jackman when the performers were rehearsing for the tribute concert to Cameron Mackintosh before - but here she accentuates the storytelling with sighs

And this was the performance that Lea (and Maria Friedman) were sighing about




Oklahoma! has not opened in London yet when the concert was held.


Jo

[jo]

Thanks to JackmansLanding for the upload --

Warren Carlyle reminiscing about Oklahoma!, the reunion at the O2 show (#tmtmts), and talking about Hugh's dancing ability.

[jo]

I've always noted that Hugh has a natural athleticism that characterizes his dancing...but also makes his fight scenes look credible ( when he is shown on screen). He has said that dance choreography is very similar to dance choreography.


Warren was designated RESIDENT CHOREOGRAPHER for Oklahoma! during its London run. He assisted Susan Stroman, who he attributes for encouraging him to move to New York. His re-collaboration with Hugh started at the TONYs.

Jo

[njr]

May 7, 2020 2:21:05 GMT -5 jo said:

I've always noted that Hugh has a natural athleticism that characterizes his dancing...but also makes his fight scenes look credible ( when he is shown on screen). He has said that dance choreography is very similar to dance choreography.


Jo

Huh? “dance choreography is very similar to dance choreography?” What did you mean to say?

[jo]

fight choreography

[jo]

Here's an upload of the "HEY, MR.PRODUCER!" concert, if you haven't seen it or don't have the DVD/BluRay.

On YouTube --





It's 2 hours and 43 minutes long... but all worth it! It features all the shows that Cameron Mackintosh has produced or co-produced! Please rewind to the beginning if the video plays in the middle of the concert.

But to open the second act - you can see Hugh Jackman without the perm singing " OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING" ( at 1'29"54), as this was before Oklahoma! opened in London.

He also sings with all the famous stage actors and Dame Julie at the closing song.

The Queen and Prince Philip were there to watch the concert!

Jo