Registration Now Open!
The 2024-2025 Musical Theater Ensemble
OKLAHOMA! | ages 11+
Space Limited to 22 students
Music by RICHARD RODGERS | Book and Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II | Based on the play “Green Grow the Lilacs” by Lynn Riggs
Oklahoma! launched a new era in the American musical, and began the most successful songwriting partnership in Broadway history- RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN! In a Western territory just after the turn of the 20th century, a high-spirited rivalry between local farmers and cowboys provides a colorful background for Curly, a charming cowboy, and Laurey, a feisty farm girl, to play out their love story. Their romantic journey, as bumpy as a surrey ride down a country road, contrasts with the comic exploits of brazen Ado Annie and hapless Will Parker in a musical adventure embracing hope, determination and the promise of a new land.
The STAGES Musical Theater Ensemble is a musical theater acting and ensemble-building program for students (ages 11+) culminating in a fully-staged presentation of an exciting, ensemble-based Broadway musical each season. Musical Theater Ensemble students form a tight-knit performance company as they work together to discuss, cast, and design their production under the mentorship of STAGES teaching artists. As with the other STAGES Ensemble programs, Musical Theater students ultimately learn and practice the acting, music, and choreography styles required to bring their production to life.
The Musical Theater Ensemble is a program that spans the entirety of the 2024-25 school year. Students will meet once-weekly during the fall 2024 (Oct – Dec) semester, to learn about the history, creators, and interpretations of OKLAHOMA!, and to participate in foundational ensemble-building activities before the show is cast before the winter break. The program will resume in January 2025 with twice-weekly rehearsals, with performances taking place in May. (FULL SCHEDULE DETAILS ARE BELOW)
Read on below for more information about the Musical Theater Ensemble, including more logistical details, program information, and how to register. Contact us any time with questions!
ABOUT THE MUSICAL THEATER ENSEMBLE
Frequently Asked Questions!
What makes the Musical Theater Ensemble different from other Musical Theater productions at STAGES? The season-long Ensemble program format provides more space and time for students to create a tight-knit performance company. Like the STAGES Acting (formerly Shakespeare) Ensemble (now in its 16th year), the Musical Theater Ensemble program accommodates more interaction with the STAGES production team, giving Members a more in-depth stewardship of their production. Under the facilitation and guidance of the Ensemble mentors, students will have more time to reflect on and explore their musical’s themes and characters, and have more agency in casting, direction, and design.
How much music/acting/dance experience is expected of students participating in the Musical Theater Ensemble? All experience levels are welcome — and NO experience is required! Any relevant instruction or training will be provided as part of the production process.
What if students have other after-school activities that conflict with OKLAHOMA! rehearsals? Students are asked to prioritize their commitment to the Musical Theater Ensemble program. While a handful of absences throughout the school year are to be expected, ongoing or extended absences create logistical and morale challenges for other students, and stress on the production process in general. If a student is a three-season athlete, or plans to participate in their high school theater program with a conflicting rehearsal schedule, we request that you take the time to consider – before registering – whether or not a full commitment can be made to the STAGES program.
Is it possible to participate in the Musical Theater Ensemble and the Acting (formerly Shakespeare) Ensemble? Yes. It would be possible for one student to participate in both programs if desired. The Musical Theater Ensemble and the Acting Ensemble meet/rehearse on different days of the week, and the spring performance weekends do not overlap. Families should review the schedule detail for both programs before deciding how to proceed.
My student would be a great fit for this program, but is not quite 11 years old yet. Can you make an exception? If a student’s 11th birthday takes place before October 15, 2024, STAGES will consider these requests. Registrations for students falling outside of the program age range will need to be handled by STAGES, as our registration system will not permit you to do so on your own. STAGES provides production opportunities and other theater programs for kids under the age of 11 – please visit our programming page for more information!
Do you have more questions about the Musical Theater Ensemble? contact us any time!
Schedule & Registration Details
The Musical Theater Ensemble is a two-semester program, meeting on Wednesdays only from 6:30PM-8:00PM in the fall semester, from October 9 to December 12. OKLAHOMA! rehearsals will resume on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00PM-8:00PM, beginning on January 6, 2025 and ending on May 7, 2025. The performances will take place the weekend of May 9, 2025.
There will likely be extended rehearsals during the final rehearsal week. All students enrolled in the Musical Theater Ensemble MUST be able to be fully present for rehearsals and performances from May 5 – May 10, 2024. Performances will likely take place on Friday, May 9 and Saturday May 10. The final show schedule will be released later this year.
The Ensemble will NOT MEET on the following dates: the week of November 24, 2024 (Thanksgiving Week), the weeks of December 15th, 22nd, and 29th 2024 (Winter Recess), January 1st, 2024 (New Year’s Day), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 20th), the week of February 16th, 2025 (February School Vacation Week), and The Week of April 20th, 2025 (April School Vacation Week).
Tuition: $805.00 for this 2-semester program. Payment installment options are available. Please plan accordingly – all STAGES Tuition Deposits are Non-Refundable, except in the form of an account credit to be used toward future programs. Financial Assistance is available.