Joshi (Les Misérables, Falling for Eve ) and Ramey (Curtains ) play peddler Ali Hakim and sinister farm hand Jud Fry, respectively.
Playbill.com readers are invited to meet the company, watch the Fight Call, tour backstage, learn how a hat-stretcher works and witness the "planking" craze in action (plus a special guest appearance from Erin Davie, who recently appeared in Arena Stage's premiere of A Time to Kill .)
Here is a day at Oklahoma! with Nehal Joshi, Aaron Ramey and cast:
[flipbook]
Following a sold-out run that inaugurated Arena's new multimillion dollar Mead Center for American Theater last fall, Arena Stage's in-the-round production of Oklahoma! returned for seconds starting July 8. The principal cast of artistic director Molly Smith's staging reunites for an encore run through Oct. 2 in Washington, DC. The Rodgers & Hammerstein classic about optimistic folk in American Indian territory just before statehood got positive reviews (and broke all box-office records from Arena Stage's 60-year history). The groundbreaking musical is based on the play Green Grow the Lilacs , and has music by Richard Rodgers, and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Smith's incarnation blends a multicultural cast to tell the story of two romances — Laurey and Curly (threatened by Jud Fry), and Will and Ado Annie (threatened by Ali Hakim).
Nicholas Rodriguez (Broadway’s Tarzan , Arena's The Light in the Piazza ) returns as Curly along with Eleasha Gamble (Arena Stage's The Women of Brewster Place , Signature's Chess ) as Laurey, plus E. Faye Butler (Arena Stage's Crowns, Ain't Misbehavin' ) as Aunt Eller; Aaron Ramey (Broadway's Curtains, Thoroughly Modern Millie ) as Jud Fry; Cody Williams as Will Parker; June Schreiner as Ado Annie; and Nehal Joshi (Broadway's Les Misérables ) as peddler Ali Hakim.
The cast also includes Emilee Dupré (Vivian), Lucas Fedele (Ike Skidmore), Andrew Hodge (Slim), Cara Massey (Gertie Cummings), Hugh Nees (Andrew Carnes), Cyana Paolantonio (Ellen), Annie Petersmeyer (Virginia), Kristyn Pope (Aggie), Alvon Reed (Jess), Shane Rhoades (Fred), Vincent Rodriguez III (Sam), Kyle Vaughn (Mike/Dream Curly), Hollie E. Wright (Sylvie/Dream Laurey), Jessica Wu (Kate), Jessica Hartman (Female Swing) and Aaron Umsted (Male Swing).
The score includes "Oh What a Beautiful Mornin'," "The Surrey With the Fringe on Top," "People Will Say We're in Love," "Many a New Day," "Kansas City" and the title song. The 1943 show famously solidified the then-long-brewing notion of integrating book, music, lyrics, dance and design in service of a psychologically sound "musical play" rather than sketch-like "musical comedy."
For tickets and information, visit www.arenastage.org.
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Behind the Scenes at Arena Stage's Hit Oklahoma! With Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Behind the Scenes at Arena Stage's Hit Oklahoma! With Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Musical theatre favorites Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey, who star in Arena Stage's acclaimed in-the-round production of Oklahoma! , offer an exclusive look at the show and its fun-loving cast and crew. Playbill.com readers are invited to meet the company, watch the Fight Call, tour backstage, learn how a hat-stretcher works and witness the "planking" craze in action. Read the Playbill.com story.
116 PHOTOS
Nehal Joshi wakes up to this view. "I sleep outside because that's what Ali Hakim would've done on the frontier. This is just one of the things about acting I learned from Scientology."
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Coffee?
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Nehal drives up I-395 to work. "I drive by the Pentagon and Washington Monument. It gives me perspective. It reminds me that it's just acting, not Afghanistan. Unless of course you're doing Homebody/Kabul , then it's acting and Afghanistan."
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Arena Stage's home: The Mead Center for American Theater. Sometimes you'll see Nehal outside, telling patrons that "the glass in the facade is recycled from the copious amount of empty Corona bottles found at the nearby Hart Senate Building."
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
"Oh what a beautiful mornin'!" The Two Laureys: Eleasha Gamble and Dream Laurey Hollie E. Wright
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
We find our Ado Annie (June Schreiner) in Molly Smith's office, still trying to understand why the farmer and the cowman should be friends.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Dan, one of our deck carpenters, is backstage, filling the trough for a bath.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Some props from our show. The small picture on the wall is of how the props were set when we first did this production last winter. That way the actors FEEL like they haven't left.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Ali Hakim's goods are Useful, Quality and Fancy.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Next to lovin', our Will Parker (Cody Williams) likes fightin' best.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Aaron employs the best, wisest mind we have, June Schreiner, to help him decide what should go on Playbill. She's 17, by the way.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Meta.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Dance Captains Unite! (Shane Rhodes and Jessica Hartman)
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Girls dig the bad guy!
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
The men fight. Watch out for that flyin' sack of farm stuff!
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
We call this the "Raging Bulls" moment of the Jud/Curly fight.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
The deck of the Fichandler Theatre during warmups, as seen from the top of the School House slide.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Fight Call! Farmers and Cowmen flying every which way.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Jud (Aaron Ramey) seems to get a little too much joy when Dream Laurey (Hollie Wright) stabs her Dream Curly (Kyle Vaughn).
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Vincent "Full-Out Fanny" Rodriguez III
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
WHY-M-C-A!?
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
You never knew pin curls were invented in the Oklahoma territory, did you?
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Gertie (Cara Massey) warming up her face.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Jud (Aaron Ramey) likes to keep in touch with his Facebook peeps.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Alvon Reed, aka Farmer Smiley
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Our Helen Hayes Award-winning Music Director George Fulginiti-Shakar wants everyone to know he just cain't say no!
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Vince, the hair God, and his lady-heads.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Just another day at the beauty shop with Eleasha Gamble, Nick Nicholas Rodriguez, Hollie E. Wright and E. Faye Butler.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Lucas Fedele demonstrating his Cowman Coiffure.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Planking (I don't get it) on top of Cyana Paolantonio.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Clean Aaron Umstead...
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
... but June Schreiner prefers a dirty Umstead.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Our dressing room!
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
From L to R. Sporty Guy (Cody), Scary Guy (Aaron), Old Guy (Hugh), Funny Guy (Nehal).
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Ye olde hat-stretcher. We're told it has other uses but that these captions had to remain PG-13.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Bad guys like to keep a neat yet disheveled dressing station.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Jud (Aaron Ramey) about to romance the audience with his sweet, sweet harmonica playin'.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Hugh Nees hasn't met a crossword he couldn't wrastle yet.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
This pig, Amelia, was originally supposed to ride around on Ado Annie's bike in that very same basket.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Vince Rodriguez III has quite a large extended family. He takes them everywhere.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Everybody help Kyle Vaughn find his pants!
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
These signs are supposed to help avoid "vom-nesia," defined as "getting completely turned around and lost in the dark of the hamster tube that is backstage at the Fichandler."
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
What the rest of the cast does during the Ballet.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Curly (Nicholas Rodriguez) loves his ladies (E. Faye Butler and Eleasha Gamble).
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Laurey and Gertie come to blows over Curly. So "method"...
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
No one likes to eat with the Peddler.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
What kind of idiot works out on a two-show day?
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
The same kind of guy who then ends up at the pool.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Ah, the pristine Potomac. I mean, the Anacostia. Less pristine.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Second show. Perfect time for some quality YouTubin'.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
And I thought those curls were totally real.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
One of our musicians, Phil Mathieu, teaches Ado Annie about proper dental hygiene in the territory.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
More planking. Still don't get it.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Bidin' George.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Boy George. Much more festive. He is a good sport. This is what happens when you have too much time on your hands. This "Gertie Cummings" cut-out is by our ASM Michael Ward.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Pre-wedding scene with our fantastic ensemble.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Jud's dresser, Emily Grace, about to apply his blood pack.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Hakim...
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
... Hipster
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Some nice folks who came to see the show.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Show's over. Bubbles!!!
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
The men, camping out with some late-nite pizza and libation.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Nehal goes home to Skype with his lovely lady, Broadway's Erin Davie.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Nehal Joshi wakes up to this view. "I sleep outside because that's what Ali Hakim would've done on the frontier. This is just one of the things about acting I learned from Scientology."
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Nehal drives up I-395 to work. "I drive by the Pentagon and Washington Monument. It gives me perspective. It reminds me that it's just acting, not Afghanistan. Unless of course you're doing Homebody/Kabul , then it's acting and Afghanistan."
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Arena Stage's home: The Mead Center for American Theater. Sometimes you'll see Nehal outside, telling patrons that "the glass in the facade is recycled from the copious amount of empty Corona bottles found at the nearby Hart Senate Building."
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
"Oh what a beautiful mornin'!" The Two Laureys: Eleasha Gamble and Dream Laurey Hollie E. Wright
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Dan, one of our deck carpenters, is backstage, filling the trough for a bath.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Some props from our show. The small picture on the wall is of how the props were set when we first did this production last winter. That way the actors FEEL like they haven't left.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Ali Hakim's goods are Useful, Quality and Fancy.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Next to lovin', our Will Parker (Cody Williams) likes fightin' best.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Aaron employs the best, wisest mind we have, June Schreiner, to help him decide what should go on Playbill. She's 17, by the way.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Meta.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Dance Captains Unite! (Shane Rhodes and Jessica Hartman)
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
We call this the "Raging Bulls" moment of the Jud/Curly fight.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
The deck of the Fichandler Theatre during warmups, as seen from the top of the School House slide.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Fight Call! Farmers and Cowmen flying every which way.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Vincent "Full-Out Fanny" Rodriguez III
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
WHY-M-C-A!?
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
You never knew pin curls were invented in the Oklahoma territory, did you?
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Gertie (Cara Massey) warming up her face.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Jud (Aaron Ramey) likes to keep in touch with his Facebook peeps.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Our Helen Hayes Award-winning Music Director George Fulginiti-Shakar wants everyone to know he just cain't say no!
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Vince, the hair God, and his lady-heads.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Just another day at the beauty shop with Eleasha Gamble, Nick Nicholas Rodriguez, Hollie E. Wright and E. Faye Butler.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Lucas Fedele demonstrating his Cowman Coiffure.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Planking (I don't get it) on top of Cyana Paolantonio.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Clean Aaron Umstead...
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
... but June Schreiner prefers a dirty Umstead.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Our dressing room!
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
From L to R. Sporty Guy (Cody), Scary Guy (Aaron), Old Guy (Hugh), Funny Guy (Nehal).
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Ye olde hat-stretcher. We're told it has other uses but that these captions had to remain PG-13.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Jud (Aaron Ramey) about to romance the audience with his sweet, sweet harmonica playin'.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Hugh Nees hasn't met a crossword he couldn't wrastle yet.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
This pig, Amelia, was originally supposed to ride around on Ado Annie's bike in that very same basket.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Everybody help Kyle Vaughn find his pants!
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
These signs are supposed to help avoid "vom-nesia," defined as "getting completely turned around and lost in the dark of the hamster tube that is backstage at the Fichandler."
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
What the rest of the cast does during the Ballet.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Curly (Nicholas Rodriguez) loves his ladies (E. Faye Butler and Eleasha Gamble).
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Laurey and Gertie come to blows over Curly. So "method"...
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
No one likes to eat with the Peddler.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
What kind of idiot works out on a two-show day?
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
The same kind of guy who then ends up at the pool.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Ah, the pristine Potomac. I mean, the Anacostia. Less pristine.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Second show. Perfect time for some quality YouTubin'.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
One of our musicians, Phil Mathieu, teaches Ado Annie about proper dental hygiene in the territory.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Bidin' George.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Boy George. Much more festive. He is a good sport. This is what happens when you have too much time on your hands. This "Gertie Cummings" cut-out is by our ASM Michael Ward.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Pre-wedding scene with our fantastic ensemble.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Hakim...
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
... Hipster
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Some nice folks who came to see the show.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Show's over. Bubbles!!!
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey
Nehal goes home to Skype with his lovely lady, Broadway's Erin Davie.
Nehal Joshi and Aaron Ramey