Diversifying a classic
dallasvoice.comHennessy Winkler, Sis, and the company of the national tour of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!(Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade) Trans actors add to the tapestry of a revived ‘Oklahoma!’ RICH LOPEZ | Staff writerrich@dallasvoice.com Of all the Broadway musicals that could be reworked to dive deep into a world of modern inclusion and diversity, Oklahoma!
probably isn’t the first to come to mind. Perceived as a wholesome, family-friendly musical, Oklahoma! would seem forever steeped in a different time.
And yet, its 2019 revival by director Daniel Fish changed the way we often see the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic. The cast is a minimal dozen playing across one set to the familiar songs and story of Oklahoma!
But the cast is a diverse mix of actors, including two trans actors, bringing a distinctive amount of representation to the stage.
