(LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ) -- Rider University’s Musical Theatre presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical Oklahoma! October 10 through 14 in the Yvonne Theater on the Rider University campus in Lawrenceville with director Nathan Brewer, music director Nathan Hurwitz and choreographer Robin Lewis. A confident cowboy competes with a surly, mysterious farmhand for the honor of taking a lovely young farm girl to a dance in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 1943 musical. This is the musical that changed everything about what a musical could be, fully blending song, story and dance into a magical whole.
Nathan Brewer is a director of theatre, opera, concert, film, and events, with credits including Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Washington National Opera, Theatreworks/USA, New York Musical Theatre Festival, Town Hall, Park Avenue Armory, Forestburgh Playhouse, Princeton Festival, Long Island Musical Theatre Festival, Pennsylvania Centre Stage, American Pops Orchestra, Fairfax Symphony, West Virginia Symphony and Blue Hill Troupe. Mr. Brewer has also directed the Helen Hayes Awards, Standing Ovation Awards (Kennedy Center) and Hispanic Heritage Awards (aired on PBS). He is on the faculty of the New Studio on Broadway at New York University, and has also taught for Penn State, Westminster Choir College and New York Film Academy, where has also directed three original movie musicals.
Nathan Hurwitz, music director, has studied acting with Stella Adler, directing with Jack Garfein and conducting with Lehman Engel. He is currently an associate professor at Rider University. His third book, A Singer’s Guide to the Literature of the American Musical Theatre, has just been published by Routledge. He has both performed and delivered academic papers around the world. Broadway credits include Blood Brothers, Dream and The Phantom of the Opera.
Choreographer Robin Lewis is a faculty member in the musical theatre department at Rider University. His Rider credits include Bonnie & Clyde, White Christmas, Catch Me If You Can, All Shook Up, The Full Monty, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and The Producers. His film credits include choreography for Bernie and performances of Fosse as well as choreography at the Tony Awards. His Broadway credits include Fosse, Beauty and the Beast and A Christmas Carol. His tour credits include The Producers, A Chorus Line, Hello, Dolly!, Beauty and the Beast, Where’s Charley? (Kennedy Center) and Jubilee (Carnegie Hall).
The preview performance is Wednesday, October 10 at 7:30pm. Performances are Thursday, October 11 at 7:30pm, Friday, October 12 at 7:30pm, Saturday, October 13 at 2:00pm and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 14 at 2:00pm.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased online at www.rider.edu/arts or by calling 609-896-7775. General admission preview tickets are $9 for adults and $5 for students and seniors and are only available at the door.
Rider’s Musical Theatre productions feature students enrolled in the University’s highly regarded Musical Theatre program, as well as other talented students selected by audition. Graduates of the program are appearing on Broadway, in national touring productions and in major regional theaters. Its productions offer the community the opportunity to see aspiring actors in the early stages of their careers.
Rider University is located at 2038 Lawrenceville Road in Lawrenceville, N.J.
PHOTO: Terri Lynne is Aunt Eller, Fafa Shaeffer is Laurey and Jack Gerhard is Curly in Rider University’s upcoming production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!
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