Jared Hertel, left, Jacob, Hertel and James Gibson in a scene from the Stage 2 production of the musical “Oklahoma!,” which premiere’s Friday at the Temple Theater in downtown Meridian.

Want to go?

 What: Broadway musical “Oklahoma!”

When: Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m.; Sunday matinee, 2 p.m.

Where: Temple Theatre in downtown Meridian

Tickets: $15 adults; $10, students. Tickets available through Stage 2 members; call Caleb Landrum at (601) 527-3658 or email caleb.landrum@gmail.com Tickets also available at the Temple Theatre Box Office

If you love a good Broadway musical but can’t take a trip to New York City, you are in luck. 

“Oklahoma!,” the first musical written by the renowned American musical theatre writing team Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, will hit the Temple Theatre stage Friday. The performance will be presented by Meridian’s own premier teen theatre group, Stage 2.

In rehearsal for about three month, the 42-member cast has shown great committment to the upcoming production, said Sarah Benton, assistant director.

“They have been very involved and are really great at problem solving,” Benton said. “They have shown a lot of determination by staying late and working until it is perfect.”

“Oklahoma!” is based on Lynn Riggs’ 1931 play,”Green Grow the Lilacs.” The musical, which marked its Broadway debut in 1943, reveals the love story between cowboy Curly (played by James Gibson in the local production) and farm girl Laurey Williams (played by Emily Harrington) is set in Western Indian Territory in the 1900s. Rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys makes it tough for love, but nothing can stop Curly and Laurey from being together in their new state, Oklahoma.

The cast also includes: Cade Cooksey, Noah Hancock, Shahmeer Hashmat, Abigail Avarice, Madison Boyd, Kaitlyn Clayton, Joanna Coxwell, Morgan Davidson, Mary Margaret Freeman, Rameen Hashmat, Mary Griffin Jackson, K.K. Johnson, Ashley King, Lillie Grace Langston, Amy Lewis, Kaylila Pasha, Sarah Pasha, Meg Patterson, Anne Presnall, Caroline Prewitt, Nazm Rahat, Katie Shaffer, Julyn Shirley, Nicole Seale, Julia Smiley, Rie Talley, Virginia White, Katie Williams, J.T. Goldman, Zain Hashmat, Jacob Hertel, Jarel Hertel, Joseph Hertel, Darryl Johnson, Aaron Manor, Steven Miller, John Alex Nunnery, Jackson Palmer, Ahmed Pasha and Dunham Shirley.

“We have three cast members who have been with Stage 2 since the beginning six years ago: James Gibson, Shameer Hashmat and Zain Hashmat,” Benton said. “They started when they were 13, so that makes the production even more special.”

Many of the muscial’s songs have become favorites with audiences over the years, including “Oh What a Beautiful Mornin,’” “I Can’t Say No,” “People Will Say We’re in Love” and “Oklahoma.”

 

Benton says audiences will definitely stay awake for this production.

“It never stops moving … with a lot of dancing, comedy and excitement,” she said. “Come and see it, because it is going to be so much fun. The kids have worked extremely hard for this high energy, family show.”

Founded in 2010, Stage 2 began as a small troop of teenagers who were interested in learning about the different branches of theater and has since grown to about ninety members between the ages of 13 and 19. “Stage 2” is the youth division of Meridian Performing Arts (MPAC) and performs about four shows per season. 

For more information about Stage 2, contact Director Susie Johnson at susiesmj@comcast.net.