Footloose on the frontier

Laguna High School’s performing-arts department is going all out to bring the classic musical “Oklahoma!” to the Artists’ Theatre.

The show combines the talents of acting director Mark Dressler, music director Roxanna Ward and choreographer Tod Kubo ? and some 50 students.

“Oklahoma! is like America in its birthing state, it’s driven by the environment,” Dressler said.

“This is a production where the music drives the story,” added assistant director Amanda Hastings.

The vibrant, energetic qualities of the show are intended to capture the story of people on the frontier, Dressler said.

“Oklahoma!,” written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, is considered a classic American musical.

The story is based on the love affair between a cowboy named Curly and a farm girl named Laurey.

Complicating matters, a farmhand named Jud contests the relationship, setting up a conflict between the cowboys who roam the land with their cattle and the farmers who fence the land for crops.

The casting of cowboys was based on dance ability, Dressler said, while the farmers are a choral ensemble.

The character of Jud is one of the most difficult to play, because he must be likeable while trying to break up the lovers.

Senior Dylan Sachse, who plays Jud, first saw his character played on Broadway while in eighth grade.

“I was moved by the performance,” Sachse said. “The guy ended up winning a Tony for it.”

To make his character convincing, Sachse said he had to learn to play “dumb.”

“But he’s gotta be bad,” Sachse said. “An evil grin and growl are easy.”

Playing the lead role of Curly, sophomore Noah Plomgren said he’s nervous as he’s never had to carry a show before.

“There’s a lot of complexity in the singing, it can be very difficult sometimes,” Plomgren said.

The composer has been dubbed “wrong note Rodgers” by Plomgren because of the randomness of the music.

“The music director [Roxanna Ward] said his notes were supposed to come out of nowhere,” Plomgren said.

A group of professional string musicians has been hired to play in conjunction with the school’s orchestra.

The high school orchestra does not currently have a string section due to its small size, Dressler said.

As with many of the high school’s shows, the performance will be taken to elementary and middle schools in the district.

“I want the younger kids to have a good experience with this,” Dressler said. “Hopefully they’ll have a good impression of me when I have them as students later.”

Another special show will take place at an Alzheimer’s facility in Cypress where Dressler’s father currently resides.

“The older people were in their prime when this show came out in World War II,” Dressler said.

“It’s interesting that a lot of people forget things, but they remember songs. I’m looking forward to taking the show to them and thank all the kids for wanting to do it.”

Performances will take place at the high school’s Artists’ Theater at 7:30 p.m. March 23, 24 and 25, and March 30, 31 and April 1. Sunday matinees will be held at 2:30 p.m. on March 26 and April 2.