Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, August 20, 1993 TAG: 9308190173
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By KEN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It ended one year, hundreds of hours of work and more than 350 people later, as the community-produced musical "Oklahoma!" made its way to the New River Valley.
"What we're trying to do is bring this to the community, because there are so many people in this area who have never seen a musical," said Ed Schwartz, artistic director for the New River Valley Summer Musical Enterprise, which is producing the play.
"These are stories that are ageless and timeless," he said.
The Rogers and Hammerstein musical, about a cowboy's passion for a girl and the intervention of a devious farmhand, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Schwartz called it a perfect opportunity to bring the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical to New River.
"It represents the birth of the modern musical as we know it," Schwartz said.
Not only is the musical being produced for the community, it is being produced by the community.
The actors and the entire production staff are from the New River Valley.
More than 350 people are participating in the production, including a 65-member cast and a 25-member orchestra.
"Literally, there are hundreds of people spending hundreds of hours on this," he said.
And the staff is all-volunteer, Schwartz said.
The musical is supported solely by donations and profits raised by ticket sales of last summer's show, "The Music Man," the first musical produced by the group.
"What we wanted to do was draw a lot of people from all areas of the community," he said.
Because the New River Valley lacks a community orchestra or theater, there are few opportunities for local artists to showcase their talents, a niche the musical fills.
"There are a lot of cultural opportunities in the New River Valley, but not for the performers," he said.
"We want everybody to have an opportunity."
After almost a year of preparations, the production almost takes on a life of its own.
"You've got that synergy between all the people and the performers, and it really creates excitement," he said.
"Oklahoma!" opens Aug. 25 in Squires Haymarket Theater at Virginia Tech and continues through Aug. 29. Performances begin Sept. 2 in Preston Auditorium at Radford University and continue through Sept. 5. For ticket information, call the New River Arts Council at 381-1430. Virginia Tech tickets can be ordered through Squires Ticket Office at 231-5615 or (800) 843-0332; they are $7 for adults; $3 for seniors, students and children.\
by CNB