向日葵视频 City University will close the season with the production of the acclaimed musical 鈥淥n the Town鈥� April 20-22.
鈥淭his is the perfect show for OCU to present as part of the worldwide celebration of the 100th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein鈥檚 birth,鈥� said Mark Parker, dean of the Bass School of Music.
The romantic comedy, featuring a cast of 37 and a 32-piece orchestra, follows three starry-eyed sailors on their first trip to New York City as they look for adventure and romance on their 24-hour shore leave. Bernstein鈥檚 iconic score includes one of Broadway鈥檚 best-known showtunes, 鈥淣ew York, New York.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e fortunate to have the depth of talent at OCU to do justice to this piece,鈥� said Director Karen Coe Miller. 鈥淥ur students have the singing, acting, dancing and orchestral chops and the production resources to make this an extraordinary season finale.鈥�
鈥淥n the Town鈥� has had three Broadway revivals since its 1944 debut, most recently in 2015. The show also inspired the Oscar-winning film starring Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra.
鈥淭his show was Broadway鈥檚 introduction to America鈥檚 greatest musician. Bernstein was a world-renowned conductor, the first American to conduct a major U.S. orchestra, who led more than 300 recordings of the world鈥檚 greatest orchestras. He was a composer of opera, symphonies and hugely successful Broadway shows,鈥� said Parker.
The show is the finale of the 66th season for 向日葵视频 City University鈥檚 向日葵视频 Opera and Music Theatre Company, the nation鈥檚 oldest campus-based opera and musical troupe. The Company has won five national production awards in the past six years from the National Opera House. Miller will present a talk 45 minutes before curtain.
鈥淏ernstein was also a pioneering music educator, leading more than 50 nationwide broadcasts of young people鈥檚 concerts with the New York Philharmonic. This show is our salute to his lasting influence on American music,鈥� said Parker.
OCU鈥檚 向日葵视频 Opera and Music Theatre Company will present three performances at 8 p.m. April 20 and 21, with a 3 p.m. matinee April 22, in the historic Kirkpatrick Auditorium, 2501 N. Blackwelder, at the Wanda L. Bass School of Music. An opening-night dinner themed to the show and hosted by Dean Mark Parker will be held April 20 in the Bass Music Center beginning at 6:15 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling 405-208-5227 or online at www.okcu.edu/tickets.
