It’s the 100th anniversary of the birth of composer Richard Rodgers and the 95th anniversary of Oklahoma becoming a state. To celebrate, Albert Lea High School Thespian Troupe #550 and the music department are presenting a little slice of Americana with the musical, &uot;Oklahoma!&uot;

The production will be presented in the Albert Lea High School auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 21-23. Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for students and seniors. They are now on sale at all Andersen Hallmark stores. They will also be available at the door on performance nights.

According to Director Sue Jorgensen, &uot;Oklahoma!” established the standards and laid down the rules of musical theatre that are still being followed today. Based on the play “Green Grow the Lilacs” by Lynn Riggs, the musical is set at the turn of the 20th century in western Indian territory. Against the backdrop of a spirited rivalry between the local farmers and the cowboys, Curly, a handsome cowboy, and Laurey, a winsome farm girl, play out their love story. The road to true love is fraught with difficulties but their love will triumph and together, as the triumphant finale tells, they will begin that new life in a brand-new state &045; Oklahoma.

Audiences will be transported to the fledgling state, listening to the familiar Rodgers and Hammerstein songs such as “Surrey With the Fringe on Top,” “I Can’t Say No,” “People Will Say We’re in Love,” “Many a New Day” and “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning.”

Jorgensen said she is pleased with the cast. &uot;It’s a wonderful cast,&uot; she said. &uot;We have 50 kids on stage and 80 total involved with the production,&uot; she said. &uot;It fulfills all my requirements for a high school musical,&uot; she said adding she loves the big production numbers.

Jorgensen directed the play at Austin High School and played the role of Laurey when Albert Lea Community Theatre did the production years back.

Erin Budd takes on the role of Laurey and Carl Samuelson the role of Curly in this production.

Budd said she would have taken any role in the show. &uot;I just love musicals,&uot; she said.

Samuelson knew he wanted to be Curly from the moment he rented the movie this summer. &uot;He’s got some really great songs, and it’s just kind of a nice, light role,&uot; he said.

Both seniors, they agreed leads in the musical were a great way to finish out their high school careers.

They are supported by Kascey Nelson as the flirty, incorrigible Ado Annie; Andrew Stoneking as the cowboy who has been to “Kansas City,” Will Parker; Josh Hansen as the peddler Ali Hakim; Julianna Peterson as Aunt Eller; and Matt Olsen as the brooding Jud Fry.

Also in the cast are Steve Johnson, Jason Amundson, Steve Thorn, Betsy Paulson, Addy Berg, Amber Edwards, Lisa Wichmann, Leah Boyer, Rachel Elvebak, Micah Holt, Nick Garcia, Kurtis Bohrnstedt, Lionel Thomas, Eric Hutchison, Carl Gaudian, Chris Axsmith, Nicole Gilbertson, Tiffany Thompson, Dan Howard, Zach Hansen, Ethan Peterson, Tim Evans, Olaf Samuelson, Heidi Stegenga, Megan Pence, Priscilla Lamphier, Cassi Owens, Jessica Nesset, Sara Kvidt, Britta Anderson, Katie Stenseth, Amy Larson, Erica Sorenson, Alex Larson, Chelsea Wilke, Natalie Lamphier, Staci Busch, Breann Sorenson, Callen Jensen, Emily Staloch, Katie Strehlow, Sierra Scherf and Emily Wirkus.

Rachel C. Nelson is the student director. Diane Heaney is the musical director and John Fure the technical director.