“Oh, what a beautiful morning, oh, what a beautiful day! I got a beautiful feeling: everything's going my way!” In 1943, Rogers and Hammerstein opened their (predicted to flop) Broadway musical “Oklahoma” with this buoyant opening number … and changed the history of musical theater, forever.

Lincoln Academy (LA) and Heartwood Theater are sweeping down the plains of this expansive musical and acting landscape, in their 19th annual student collaborative, opening Nov 4. Griff Braley, LA Teacher / Theater Director and Artistic Director of Heartwood Theater, is always on the hunt for potential projects, which can serve both LA and Heartwood, in the unusual, but mutually beneficial collaboration between these two entities.

In the fall of 2019, Braley attended the 2019 Broadway Revival of Oklahoma, at New York’s Circle in the Square Theatre. What appealed to him was not the promise of traditional musical numbers, but Director Daniel Fish’s fresh look at the actual words and story line of this production, with notably darker – and realistic - undertones. Set in an intimate, immersive style, Braley already knew this could be suitable for performance in the Poe Theater at Lincoln Academy. Braley found the production surprisingly gripping, a bit jolting and though provoking, steering away from stereotypes, digging deeply into the dramatic realities and arc of each character. Beyond the show stopping musical numbers, there is history, humanity and searching questions, and that’s a perfect stage for Braley’s work with students and audiences.

Audiences can expect high excitement, music, dance, fabulously fun costumes, technical elements and a fresh look at this historical musical, known and loved by generations, enjoying yet another revival.

The cast of “Oklahoma!”: Harrison Pierpan, Mitchell Straus, Benno Hennig, Ben Schwink, Marcus Russano, Joseph Levesque, Jason Long, Lucas Fortier, Thomas Connolly, Logan Heath, Sophia Scott, Alicia Flis, Kayla Cruz, Aowyn Burbank, Mariana Janik, Lila Drewes, Emma Castonia, Katherine Bailey, Olivia Swartzentruber, Sonny Cumming, Nicholas Delorenzo, Rebecca, Laura and Anna Tomasello.

As per LA school regulations, audience members are required to be masked, while inside the Poe Theater. Performers will not be masked, while performing on stage. Evening performances are at 7 p.m. on Nov 4, 5, 10 - 13; and one matinee show at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6. Adult tickets are $16. Student tickets are $5 for the season thanks to season sponsors Peapod Jewelry and First National Wealth Management.

Reservations available by emailing Heartwood at info@heartwoodtheater.org or phoning 563-1373 (please do not contact Lincoln Academy for tickets).  Seating is unreserved, unless specifically requested in advance.  Performances typically sell out; early reservations are strongly encouraged.  For more details visit www.heartwoodtheater.org.

The Poe Theater is at 81 Academy Hill Road in Newcastle.

“Oklahoma!” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization. www.concordtheatricals.com.