Worcester, Mass. (July 16, 2021) Session One of The Hanover Theatre Conservatory’s Teen Youth Summer Program (YSP) presents Rodger & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! on Friday July 23^rd (7pm) and Saturday July 24^th  (2pm & 7pm). The cast includes Holliston residents: Abby Eppinger, 15 (Ensemble) Colleen Malvey, 15 (Gertie Cummings).

Oklahoma!, the first groundbreaking collaboration of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s, remains, in many ways, their most innovative, setting the standards and rules of modern musical theatre. 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.

Now in its 13^th year, the Teen Youth Summer Program is designed for students seeking a pre-professional experience.  Teens attend daily morning classes focusing on music, drama and dance, as well as afternoon rehearsals for the final production. You can see these young stars shine in Oklahoma!, which will be the first musical performed on the theatre’s mainstage since March of 2020.

Tickets to Oklahoma! are $25. Reservations are available online at TheHanoverTheatre.org, by phone at 877.571.SHOW (7469) or at The Hanover Theatre box office located at 2 Southbridge Street in downtown Worcester. The Hanover Theatre currently requires all audience members to wear masks.