'Oklahoma' musical 75th anniversary exhibit at the Oklahoma History Center

I remember when I first heard the song: “Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain. And the wavin' wheat can sure smell sweet, when the wind comes right behind the rain.” It certainly got my attention! And besides the movie of course, the Broadway show continues to capture attention by celebrating a milestone.

An exhibit at the Oklahoma History Center called “Rodgers & Hammerstein's ‘Oklahoma!': The Birth of Modern Musical Theatre and a New Image for the State,” celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Broadway production debut.

Many may not realize Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Oklahoma!" changed the course of American Musical Theater. I found it very interesting to learn, on paper, there was no indication the show would be such a success and capture the attention of millions since its opening.

Recently, when interviewing Natalie Fiegel, curator of exhibits at the Oklahoma History Center, she told me one fact caught her attention when putting the exhibit together. “For me, the most interesting thing was the background with Lynn Riggs and his play, ‘Green Grow the Lilacs.' I think that's just something most people, well, they don't make the connection.”

She went on to say, “They don't make the connection that's where Rodgers & Hammerstein got ‘Oklahoma!' from, that it is actually based on an Oklahoma play.” Many may not realize Lynn Riggs was a Claremore native and his play was released in 1931.

While many of the props, sets and backdrops from the original Broadway production were destroyed in a fire, a few important artifacts remain and are on display at the exhibit.

“The most important piece we have in the exhibit is Oscar Hammerstein's desk that he actually used to write ‘Oklahoma!' that he wrote out the words for,” she said. “We also have items from former Gov. George Nigh and his time in office, when he helped make ‘Oklahoma!' the state song. We have the albums, the movie, and various programs from the 1940s from when it was on Broadway.”

Certain sections of the exhibit will certainly create fun, toe-tapping moments and interactive displays elevate the entire exhibit experience.

The exhibit creates various connections on different levels for the general public. But, for Oklahoma History Center staff, working on the exhibit produced strong, personal connections.

Lori Oden is the director of exhibits at the Oklahoma History Center. “It feels different than a lot of exhibits in that sense, that it was more personal, and I had a little bit more of an emotional attachment to it, because I grew up in Oklahoma,” she said.

“I grew up singing these songs and seeing the play and movie, so all of it was very personal.”

The Broadway play also came at vital time in the state's history.

“Music and images from ‘Oklahoma!', including the title song, dramatically identifies the state and its people and audiences worldwide,” said Dan Provo, director at the Oklahoma History Center. “It also came at a time that the world was viewing the state as it was portrayed in Steinbeck's ‘Grapes of Wrath;' a barren, sand-swept no-man's-land with little hope or opportunity. ‘Oklahoma!' put a new face and a new image for this great state.”

I feel the exhibit reaches all generations. Not only does it create those fond, personal memories, but younger generations will be inspired to see the musical or movie and find the origins of our state song.

But there is also a sense of pride and something even more to be found walking through the exhibit.

“I think it can connect us to the state in more ways than people would recognize, and just the Oklahomans who have been in the play and what it's meant in that regard,” Fiegel said. “75 years later, it is still one of the most popular Rodgers & Hammerstein shows to be produced throughout the world.”

The exhibit “Rodgers & Hammerstein's ‘Oklahoma!':The Birth of Modern Musical Theatre and a New Image for the State,” will be at the Oklahoma History Center through July 2020.

Dino Lalli is the producer, co-host and one of the reporters for the travel program DISCOVER OKLAHOMA.