Fremont Junior High Is NOT Doing Oklahoma!
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Toby Malone:
12 Jan. 2022
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It's easy to see why this play has struck such a chord with people here on NPX: it's immediately, IMMEDIATELY familiar to theatre kids (or adults who grew up as theatre kids), where the stakes are so world-endingly large and the enthusiasm for theatre and its rituals is infectious. This is a great ensemble piece, cleverly featuring only the members of a middle school drama club (all adults are off-stage) over the course of a week. Discussing the problematic nature of 'Oklahoma' amongst interpersonal drama gives this piece rich material, and the final line is killer. Great work. ”
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Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend:
28 Sep. 2021
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This play is a treasure! It follows a week in the life of the Fremont Junior High Drama Club Council as they debate whether or not they should do "Oklahoma!" as their spring musical. It is funny and sweet and earnest, and perfectly captures that tween stage of life - especially that tween drama kid stage of life - when everything feels either fantastic or devastating. I loved every second. Even the stage directions made me laugh. I would follow these drama kids anywhere, no matter what play they're doing. ”
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David Hansen:
29 Apr. 2021
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(A) Do we produce a problematic yet popular American musical featuring a diverse cast, which may serve to undermine the worser aspects of the work and provide visibility and advantage to BIPOC these performers or (B) create a new, so-called divised play reflecting Gen Z anxiety and concerns which may not actually be good and no one’s going to want to see but at least it’s not fucking Oklahoma? This play is so funny, even Thomson’s stage directions are hilarious. Highly recommended! ”