Directed by Bob DuCharme of Brookline VT, the Country Players sing and dance their ways through conflict and romance in Oklahoma Territory in 1906.  The cast includes many returning favorites and some new faces to the TCP summer production. The love-triangle is enacted between farm-girl Laurey (Shea Theater Valley Idol, Jr. winner Cayla Plasse), cowboy Curley (Tom Knightlee of CT) and dark farmhand Jud Frye (Dave Peck, also a Valley Idol favorite).  Meanwhile, the girl who can’t say no, Ado Annie (Jeri Higgins of Turners Falls), vacillates between the huckster Ali Hackim (Bob Delaney of Ashfield) and cowboy Will Parker (Peter Heed of Westmoreland, NH) who must put a cash value on her hand.  The young people are guided by the sterling voices of  steadfast Aunt Eller (Sue MacDonald of Conway) and Andy Carnes (Jack Arnot of Orange.) in the Rodgers and Hammerson classics “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning” and “Surrey with the Fringe on Top” among others. Amy Roberts-Crawford of Shelburne Falls is music director for voices and the live orchestra.  Choreography is by Melanie Reneris of Turners Falls.  Bob, Amy and Melanie are the team who brought us “Phantom Tollbooth” and have combined experience in well over 100 productions up and down the valley.

Oklahoma! first opened on Broadway in 1943 for a 5-year run, and was reprised in 1951 and 1979.  The Academy Award winning1955 film adaptation starred Shirley Jones in her film debut.

Tickets are $12 general admission and $10 for students and seniors. Group discounts are available. Tickets can be reserved by calling the Shea Theater box office at 413.863.2281 and are available for sale at the World Eye Book Store on Main Street in Greenfield. Evening performances are at 8 p.m.  For more information and to view rehearsal photos, visit the web site www.countryplayers.org.  The Country Players is a non-profit, community theater organization.