80th anniversary of 'Oklahoma' on Broadway celebrated at Hammerstein farm, Central Bucks East

Peg Quann, Bucks County Courier Times
·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Friday marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the musical, "Oklahoma," on Broadway in the middle of World War II. To celebrate this anniversary, the Central Bucks High School East Patriot Players will put on the show this weekend with the support of the Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center.

The cast of the Central Bucks High School East production of "Oklahoma' visit Highland Farm in Doylestown Township where Oscar Hammerstein II wrote the lyrics for the famous musical.
The cast of the Central Bucks High School East production of "Oklahoma' visit Highland Farm in Doylestown Township where Oscar Hammerstein II wrote the lyrics for the famous musical.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the high school, 2804 Holicong Road, Buckingham. Tickets are $10 and are available at https://www.purplepass.com/#mm=allevents/central%20bucks%20east

Tour Hammerstein farm

And showgoers will be offered the opportunity to purchase tickets to tour Highland Farm in Doylestown Township where famed lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II wrote the songs to the musical about life in small-town America as well as his other most famous musicals.

Ari Gelb stars as Ado Annie and Dennis Hancock plays Will Parker in the Central Bucks East's Patriot Players' production of "Oklahoma' this weekend at the high school, marking the 80th anniversary of the opening of the musical on Broadway. They appear at Highland Farm in Doylestown Township where Oscar Hammerstein II wrote the lyrics for the show.
Ari Gelb stars as Ado Annie and Dennis Hancock plays Will Parker in the Central Bucks East's Patriot Players' production of "Oklahoma' this weekend at the high school, marking the 80th anniversary of the opening of the musical on Broadway. They appear at Highland Farm in Doylestown Township where Oscar Hammerstein II wrote the lyrics for the show.

The Oscar Hammerstein II Museum and Theatre Education Center nonprofit is raising funds now in hopes of turning the farm on almost five acres at 70 East Road into its home ― a museum and education center for theatrical arts and to serve underprivileged people with an interest in the theatre. Hammerstein purchased the property in 1940 and wrote some of his most famous songs before his death there in 1960.

More: Is Hammerstein museum coming to Doylestown? Plan to save Broadway legend's local legacy

Hammerstein nonprofit to host third contest for singers

The nonprofit will host its third Hammerstein International Youth Solo Contest, beginning Monday. It it open to singers from across the globe in five categories: Elementary School, Middle School, High School, College and a local division for residents of Bucks County. Prizes will be awarded to winners in each category.  First-place winners will receive a cash prize, have the opportunity to film their song at Highland Farm and a one-on-one coaching session with a Broadway professional teaching artist. For more information on the contest visit HammersteinMuseum.org/hammerstein-solo-contest

Donations to #SaveOscarsHome can be made at hammersteinmuseum.org.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: 'Oklahoma' anniversary marked by Hammerstein farm, Central Bucks East