Overview
Synopsis
The first collaboration of famed partners Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, Oklahoma! set the American musical theatre standard. The musical opens with cowboy Curly McLain confidently singing "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" as he arrives at Aunt Eller's farm to invite Laurey Williams to the evening's box social. Laurey, feisty and independent, teases Curly by pretending she’s already agreed to go with the brooding, dangerous farmhand Jud Fry. Meanwhile, comic relief comes from the flirtatious Ado Annie Carnes, who can’t say no to men—particularly the peddler Ali Hakim and the dim-witted cowboy Will Parker, who has just returned from Kansas City with modern marvels and $50 he needs to keep to marry Annie.
Tensions rise when Laurey, unsettled by Jud’s dark obsession with her, takes a mysterious "Elixir of Egypt" from Ali Hakim that causes her to dream a dramatic ballet sequence ("Dream Ballet") showing her fear of Jud and lingering love for Curly. The act ends at the box social, where the men bid on picnic baskets to win dances with their sweethearts—and Curly and Jud compete fiercely for Laurey’s basket.
After the social, Curly wins Laurey’s basket, but Jud’s jealousy erupts into violence. Laurey fires Jud, and he threatens revenge. Curly and Laurey finally confess their love ("People Will Say We’re in Love" reprise) and decide to marry. Three weeks later, on their wedding day, the community celebrates with "The Farmer and the Cowman" (arguing that everyone should be friends). Jud shows up drunk, attacks Curly, and in the ensuing struggle falls on his own knife and dies. A hasty courtroom scene (led by Aunt Eller and the territorial judge) quickly acquits Curly of wrongdoing. The newlyweds depart for their honeymoon as the ensemble sings the triumphant title song, "Oklahoma!," celebrating the territory’s bright future as it prepares to become a state.
Oklahoma! (1943) revolutionized musical theater by fully integrating song, dance, and story, and its themes of community, romance, and American optimism made it an instant classic.
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Context
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! marked the dawning of a new era in American musical theatre. It also began the most successful songwriting partnership that Broadway has ever seen.
In 1942, Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart were highly successful, having written musical comedies that were praised for their wit and sophistication. A decade prior, Oscar Hammerstein II enjoyed similar success writing innovative operettas that consistently reshaped the art form. Showboat, his 1927
to read the context for Oklahoma! and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
In 1906, in the Oklahoma territory, a handsome cowboy Curly McLain admires the beautiful morning and looks forward to the wonderful day to come as he wanders into a local farm girl, Laurey Williams’, yard (“Oh What a Beautiful Mornin’”). He and Laurey engage in some innocent flirtation while Laurey’s Aunt Eller keeps a watchful eye. There is going to be a box social dance that evening, during which local girls will be auctioning off baskets to raise money for the local
to read the plot for Oklahoma! and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
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Interactive Character Map
Visualize how the characters in Oklahoma! connect and drive the story.
Understand the relationships that shape the story of Oklahoma!
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Character Portrayals
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Monologues
Songs
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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number.
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
THEMES
Community vs. Individualism
The central tension of the musical is resolved in the rousing anthem “The Farmer and the Cowman,” which argues that territorial progress and eventual statehood require farmers and cowboys to set aside their differences and unite as one community. Oklahoma! portrays the American frontier not as a place of rugged individualism but as a society that can only thrive through cooperation, mutual respect, and shared identity. The song (and Aunt Eller’s
to read about the themes, symbols and motifs from Oklahoma! and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Quote Analysis
“Oh, what a beautiful mornin’, / Oh, what a beautiful day. / I got a beautiful feelin’ / Everything’s goin’ my way.”
This exuberant opening sets the entire tone of the musical and instantly establishes the land itself as a source of optimism and possibility. Curly sings it alone on stage, with no orchestra at first—just a lone cowboy celebrating the sheer beauty of the Oklahoma territory. In 1943, as World War II raged, these lines offered American audiences a vision of boundless hope and
to read our analysis of select quotes from Oklahoma! and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Key Terms
A classical dance form used in theatre for expressive movement, storytelling, and interdisciplinary performance.
The art of designing and arranging movement sequences for theatrical dance and physical storytelling.
A non-literal theatrical scene representing a character's inner thoughts, fears, or desires, often surreal in style.
A period of artistic flourishing, often referring to 1940s-60s Broadway or English Renaissance theatre. This term plays a vital role in understanding theatrical structure and is commonly encountered in stagecraft or performance settings.
The “Golden Age Musical” refers to Broadway shows written roughly between the 1940s and 1960s, a period known for integrating songs, story, and character development. These musicals often balanced romance, comedy, and social themes with memorable melodies and large ensembles. Classics from this era continue to shape the foundation of modern musical theatre.
An “I Want Song” is a number, usually placed early in a musical, where a main character expresses their deepest desire or ambition. This song sets the character’s journey in motion and gives the audience a clear emotional stake in the story. It has become one of the most recognizable and enduring conventions of musical theatre structure.
Short for 'legitimate theatre,' referring to traditional stage drama as opposed to musical or commercial performance. The term is also used to describe a classical vocal tone suitable for operatic or legit musical theatre roles.
A revival is a new production of a play or musical after its original run has ended, often reimagined for a new generation of audiences. Revivals may stay faithful to the original staging or update elements like design, casting, or interpretation. They are a cornerstone of theatre tradition, keeping classic works alive and relevant.
A production created to showcase the talents of a specific star performer, often tailored to their strengths.
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher
Brennan Whitaker, Cassidy McCleary