MARBLEHEAD — It's hard to imagine a place more different from this town than Oklahoma, where, according to the song, "the wind comes sweepin' down the plain."
Tonight, the Marblehead Little Theatre will offer its opening performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical comedy "Oklahoma" at Veterans Memorial Middle School. And where there are cowboys — "Oklahoma" has a lot of them — you can bet there are eager kids.
Some 30 are in the cast, with 15 taking part each night, according to troupe spokeswoman Susan Griffin.
"It's a split cast," she said, and the kids learn a lot about performing just by being there.
"A lot of them sit and observe the older folks," she said. "It's an opportunity to be part of another community outside of school." The kids do more than simply dress the stage. "They're part of the chorus."
In fact, they join in for the 66-year-old musical's signature song "Oklahoma."
The show is presented by Tumbleweed Productions from Nov. 6 to 15. Show times are Fridays at 7:30 p.m. (including tonight), Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets, which range in price from $20 to $30, can be purchased online at www.m-l-t.org or by calling 781-631-9697.
Producing are Ginny Morton and Tammy Nohelty. Griffin noted a Salem tilt on the creative side, with director Steve Black, music director Lianne Goodwin and choreographer Joey Mirabile all hailing from the Witch City. The lead performers are Marbleheader Alex Grover as Curly and Salem's Fjaere Harder as Laurey.
Marblehead Little Theatre enjoyed a talent boost, Griffin said, after the North Shore Music Theatre closed, depriving some of the area's top performers of that venue.
Expect also an impressive professional set used previously for the road show version of the recent Broadway revival, she said.
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