Oklahoma! & Rodgers and Hammerstein Musicals Reinvented With JLo

Oklahoma! will be made into a modern-day series for television. The classic musical show is just one of several upcoming productions that are set to be created for both film and tv as part of a new initiative and collaboration with Skydance productions, Condord Theatricals and triple-threat superstar Jennifer Lopez.

The initiative

Lopez and her production company Nuyorican are set to reinvent many favourites in the near future, and there are plans for the star to have roles in the said productions. Speaking about the collaboration, Lopez explained:

“Musicals were a part of the tapestry of my childhood. We’re so excited to begin our association with Skydance and Concord in reinterpreting some of the most classic musicals and bringing them to life in new ways for a new generation.”

Concord also expressed their excitement, saying:

“We are excited to collaborate with this impressive team as we continue to champion creative opportunities for the authors and works we represent, together with the copyrights we own.”

While Skydance Television concurred:

“Jennifer Lopez is an international icon in every sense of the word, and we are thrilled to expand our relationship with Concord to partner with such a creative powerhouse. Skydance aims to create stories that appeal to audiences around the globe, and Jennifer is the perfect partner to reimagine these beloved, classic musicals for a twenty-first century audience.”

What we know about Oklahoma!

While we don’t yet know the details of exactly how the shows will be adapted to be set in the present day, we do know that the creators for the project have been named as John Lee Hancock, writer of The Blind Side and The Founder, and Bekah Brunstetter, whose writing credits include American Gods and This Is Us.

Oklahoma! is the first musical written by the duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs’ 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. Set in farm country outside the town of Claremore, Indian Territory, in 1906, it tells the story of farm girl Laurey Williams and her courtship by two rival suitors, cowboy Curly McLain and the sinister and frightening farmhand Jud Fry. A secondary romance concerns cowboy Will Parker and his flirtatious fiancée, Ado Annie.

The original show premiered on Broadway in 1943, and made its way to the West End by 1947. Featuring well-loved classic numbers including Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’, and The Surrey With The Fringe On Top, Oklahoma! has been a firm favourite with musical fans to school productions for several generations.

There has already been a well-known film adaptation of the story, however this was released in back 1955. Rather ahead of its time was the live stage film captured in 1999, captured at the Royal National Theatre and starring Hugh Jackman as Curly McLain, Josefina Gabrielle as Laurey Williams, Maureen Lipman as Aunt Eller, and Shuler Hensley as Jud.

While the casting and production information have yet to be released, it’s certainly exciting to know that a number of classic shows are being reignited in this way, ensuring their legacy lives on with new generations of musical theatre lovers.

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