Oklahoma! (Broadway) NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (871)
See it if you don't mind a new take on an old classic
Don't see it if you loved Oklahoma the movie - this ain't it Read more
See it if you are inspired by, and open to, new interpretations on older works. From the first note I was hooked.
Don't see it if you think you'll be seeing anything close to how you've seen before, or if complete darkness or loud gunshots freak you out.
See it if You love traditional and moderm theatre. An exceptional example of what a revival can be that respects the texts and brings it to life again
Don't see it if You don't want to be challenged in a sensory way or with your familiarity with the show.
See it if you aren't attached to the original.
Don't see it if you don't do "dark".
See it if You value a vivid re-interpretation of a dated, sexist, misogynistic classic musical. Brilliant performances and the clearest vision possibl
Don't see it if you are stuck in the past and can't open your mind to the possibilities of what OKLAHOMA means to the US today
See it if You want to see a classic reimagined with unique staging, diverse casting and an addictive score.
Don't see it if You are looking for a short (it runs three hours) or traditional show (it is in the round and the lights are on nearly the whole time.).
See it if open to a bold, dark, creative interpretation of this beloved classic
Don't see it if a dark revamp will give you nightmares Read more
See it if You have an appreciation for new interpretations of old warhorses and if you love great voices doing great things.
Don't see it if You can’t tolerate the classics being produced in any way different than how they’re always produced. Read more
Critic Reviews (48)
"This 'Oklahoma!'...is predicated on intimacy: intimacy between audience and actors but also between characters. Absent the vivid color of the 1955 film adaptation, this muted, bare-bones revival keeps reminding us that on the eve of statehood, Oklahoma was sparse. Every boy is the boy next door, beau and predator alike."
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"Retains the old songs and characters, but it’s all been tweaked and subverted and underlined in mostly thrilling ways...Though the blood-soaked finale might seem out of character for Curly, it’s one of the production’s boldest moves, and leaves you fascinated rather than just humming the score...But out of synch with the show, the Dream Ballet is an overwrought misfire that truly drags on, though the forgiving might give it an O-K for effort."
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“Fish, directs the musical with an eye toward deconstruction...The problem arises in Fish’s interpretation of the characters...Rodgers’ glorious score is now...more appropriate for a hootenanny. The bluegrass interpretation is interesting...but after a while sounds weak, boring, or inappropriate...As for...the dream dance, the less said the better...A bleak vision...It is not a good enough reason for destroying such an historically and artistically magnificent work.”
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"The gritty, hard-hitting Bard Summerscape production presents a darker, more violent vision of life in a territory on its way to statehood...Twelve terrific actors carry a show that normally has twice the cast...This is not a piece of theater that allows you to sit back and be entertained. Fish demands almost as much from the people in the audience as he does from his cast."
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"A complex masterpiece that far surpasses the already-beloved original. Here the musical has a newfound relevance that speaks to our moment more than could ever seem possible...Jones is giving one of the best performances of the season, completely reinterpreting a canonical role into something nuanced and psychological...Put plainly, this 'Oklahoma!' is a masterpiece in every element: direction, design, choreography, and acting; it has set the new gold standard on how to do a revival."
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“Fish has managed to obliterate and underwhelm the legendary ‘Oklahoma!’ with pretentious minimalization. What was once a glorious, melodic milestone in musical history has become a barren dustbowl...Fish has stripped ‘Oklahoma!’ of any breath, color, insight, delicacy, intimacy, choreography, costumes, subtle acting, and beautiful singing...DeMille’s beautiful ballet has been totally eliminated and substituted with a vulgar, modern dance...All of which last for what seems an eternity.”
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“Dark and innovative...Brilliant, pared down theatrical experience...A deceptively complex show with characters that have simple lives, but deeply woven emotional struggles...The tragedy of Jud...What could have been a major folly was a naturalistic capturing of the characters and music. The one change that feels most unnatural is Laurey’s dream ballet...This interpretive dance number is a bit too modern for the text and music.”
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“It is electrifying. This retelling is full of unexpected delights...The text has not changed...and this stripped-down music allows for the dialogue to really shine and be noticed...While almost the entire fresh production feels spot-on, there was one moment that felt like a small misstep. The ballet interlude is now a modern dance...This will be the one moment that audience members will most likely dislike...’Oklahoma!'s’ eerie timeliness is proof of the universality of the show.”
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