'Oklahoma!' Concludes During Summer Music Festival

REDLANDS>> The 93rd Annual Summer Music Festival at the Redlands Bowl recently concluded its show of “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!” after the first time back at the Redlands Bowl in more than 40 years. The musical, based on the play “Green Grow the Lilacs” by Lynn Riggs, took the stage July 28-31 and captivated audiences of all ages in the entertaining musical. Directed and co-produced by Nathan Prince, as well as co-produced by Steve Simons, "Oklahoma!" brought in more than 5,000 attendees each night. The production, produced in association with Mighty Men Productions, featured classic songs such as: “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’,” People Will Say We’re in Love,” and the title song, “Oklahoma!” Sponsored by the Physicians of Beaver Medical Group, the production featured music by Richard Rodgers and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Steve Simons, co-producer of the production and marketing director of LifeTales at LifeHouse Theater in Redlands and Theaterscript.com, has been involved with productions for years and said the response after the show has been overwhelmingly positive. "It's been fun to hear the different stories of how people connected," Simons said. "Either from a song they heard when they were kids, or growing up with it. (With the) sounding, lighting, the set, the actors and our production team, (Prince and I) couldn't have asked for a better performance. People really gravitated to it in a huge way." Simons said he and Prince had thought about the production for two years and had previously put in a proposal to the Bowl to have the play on the Redlands Bowl stage. However, Simons said the Bowl had already chosen the director and show that year. "The fact that we got to do it now was exciting," Simons said. "We, especially Nathan, wanted to do this for a long time. The fact that it hadn't been done at the bowl for 40 years had been interesting. We are very fortunate." Fans of the 1998 theater production "Oklahoma!" may have noticed a familiar sight. The production featured the same stage set that actor Hugh Jackman walked when he starred in the Royal National Theatre production in London opposite of actress Maureen Lipman. "The Hugh Jackman set was huge to us to be able to find that in San Diego," Simons said. "To have the availability of that set the standard for the cast saying 'hey, this set has had some pretty amazing people on it. We need to step up.'" Between the actors, singers, and even the horse and streamer cannons at the end, Simons said every aspect of the production was where it belonged. "Even the cast is saying it's been one of the best experiences they have ever gone through and an encouraging atmosphere," Simons said. "So for us, the fact that it was received well and that everybody had a blast doing it, I think that showed. When your cast is having fun but still being challenged, the audience picks up on that and I think for us, it was one of the biggest successes for the show." Prince is an associate producer and technical director at LifeHouse Theater, along with being a co-owner of Mighty Men Productions. He works as the stage manager for the Redlands Community Music Association Redlands Bowl and as a senior disc jockey with World Class Entertainment. The next production to be featured at the Redlands Bowl will be "A Portrait of Madame Butterfly" featuring the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra Aug.12 at 8 p.m. The production is about a young geisha who believes her marriage with a visiting American naval officer is lasting. After being abandoned, she must make a painful decision. There is no charge for admission; however, guests can make a donation at each performance. The Redlands Bowl is located at 25 Grant St. in Smile Park, off Brookside Avenue in Redlands.