The Springville Community Theater is gearing up for an unusual show this summer.  Actors, dancers, costumers, builders and animal wranglers are all hard at work to make this production the biggest and best yet for the 34-year-old group.  This year’s production will be the classic musical “Oklahoma!”

Complete with horses and chickens, the pioneer village of Homestead Hollow will be the backdrop for the show.  Beginning with a chuck-wagon supper, the audience will savor the flavor of the frontier days when the territory of Oklahoma was just being settled.   After supper the audience will move from scene to scene throughout the “holler.”

The roving production creates an unusual challenge, not only for actors and musicians, but for lighting and sound personnel. Janet McCown (sound crew chief) and Dave Berry (lighting crew chief) are working hard with crew members to transform the pioneer village into a series of theatrical sets.

The cast of 50 strong includes ages ranging from 5 to 70 and older.  Performers include Aronda Renda as “Aunt Eller,” John Shoulders as “Curly,” Jennifer Lewis as “Laurey,” Dale McCurry as “Jud Fry,” Daniel Bussey as “Will Parker,” Joanna Bullard as “Ado Annie,” and Mark Kunkel as “Ali Hakim.”

“Oklahoma!” is set more than a century ago. It is a family-friendly tale of simple people finding love and community in the territory that was about to become America’s 46th state.  In addition to its central love story, the play has abundant comedy and exciting scenes of cowboys, roping and dancing.  The show includes well-known musical numbers, “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’,” “People Will Say We’re in Love,” and the title song, all of which became pop music hits during the play’s lengthy run on Broadway in the 1940’s.

The show is being directed by June Morgan Mack, assisted by technical director Sean Andrews, costumer Judy Shults, business manager Beverly Crumpton, and choreographers Jessica Lloyd, Laura McKenzie and Carla Lesley.

The group still is seeking musicians to fill out the orchestra. If you are a musician or know someone who would like to be involved in this unique production, please contact the conductor, Karen Krekelberg, at 205-223-3293 for an audition.

Performances will run July 30, 31 and August 5, 6 and 7.  Tickets will go on sale on July 16.  For more information, watch this paper or contact June Mack at 467-3105, jmack@uab.edu.