ON THE TRAIL WITH THE CAST AND CREW OF OKLAHOMA!

Imagine trying to move six full tractor trailers, 33 actors, 14 crew members, 10 musicians and five management personnel every two to three weeks as they travel from city to city. It would be a daunting task for many, but Trinity Wheeler, production stage manager for Oklahoma!, makes it happen. He is responsible for maintaining the physical aspects of the show as it tours across the country.

The sheer logistics of moving a show this large are absolutely amazing! According to Wheeler, “We close on a Sunday night and load the set into the six tractor trailers. We drive to the next city and load in on Monday afternoon when the theater is dark. After running sound and light checks, the set is ready to go by 8 a.m. Tuesday morning for the opening show Tuesday night.”

The Company performs the title song “Oklahoma” in the national tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s OKLAHOMA!

Mr. Wheeler is anxious for Cleveland audiences to see Oklahoma! “This musical has such a history to it. It literally changed American theater forever. The applause that we get every night is worth all the work we do in moving the show. It is definitely an addiction!”