“Oklahoma!” returns musical theater to Jordan-Matthews on March 25-27

SILER CITY, N.C. — The iconic Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical “Oklahoma!” returns musical theater to Jordan-Matthews High School later this month after a two-year hiatus during the pandemic.

Performances at the JM Auditorium are Friday, March 25, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 26, at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 27, at 3 p.m. General admission tickets are $5 each and now available online at JMArtsTickets.com. Remaining tickets will be sold at the door before each performance. No passes — including Chatham County Schools and senior citizens’ passes — can be accepted. Everyone entering the theater, regardless of age, must have a ticket.

“Oklahoma!,” by musical theater legends Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, took Broadway by storm when it opened in 1943. Its frontier setting, glorious music and broad comedy have delighted audiences all over the world for almost 70 years, including in the classic 1955 film starring Shirley Jones and Gordon MacRae.

The developing romance between cowboy Curly and farm girl Laurey forms the heart of the story. But Will Parker’s quest to get $50 cash so he can marry Ado Annie is complicated by the womanizing peddler Ali Hakim — and by the farmhand Jud, who is determined to push Curly aside and win Laurey. At any cost.

Jordan-Matthews’ production features a 24-member cast, with students in art and carpentry classes building and painting scenery.

While the musical is a family favorite, producer Rose Pate says “Oklahoma!” may not be appropriate for younger children. A minimum age of 8-years-old to attend is strongly suggested because of the length of the show and some stage violence. Still, she said, it’s a show that will connect with audiences.

“This show has everything — memorable music, lots of humor and a sweet romance,” Pate said. “It’s a great show for families to see together.”

Creating a full-scale musical is an enormous challenge under the best of circumstances, but particularly when the last musical ended in November 2019 before the pandemic. On the other hand, director Sawyer Shafer believes the students’ joy being back on stage is driving their work.

“I’ve had a wonderful time working with the kids on this production,” he said. “Jordan-Matthews has a lot of talent that I’m sure will shine through in this year’s performance. It’s exciting to see how happy they are to finally be back on stage after two years!”

Shafer is in his first year as director, succeeding Jessica Nunn, who recently accepted a teaching position in England. Also in his first year working with Jordan-Matthews theater is Elliott Peterson, who began teaching music at the school last semester. He had some apprehension about being the musical director for “Oklahoma!” because, as he pointed out, “it’s no walk in the park” and he didn’t know what to expect. But he has been impressed.

“I am so pleased with the amount of growth and progress these actors have shown since the first rehearsal in every aspect, but especially the music,” he said. “To have students who have never been in a choir sing in multiple part harmonies after only a couple weeks of music rehearsals reminds me why musical theater is so special. You can feel the joy in their voices with every note they sing.”

Other members of the creative team are Cynthia Bredenberg on wardrobe and scenery designers Ting Lam and Marcus Lawson, all Jordan-Matthews faculty. Sophomore Sarah Dekaney is the dance captain, and senior Paige Colborne and sophomore Andrey Urena Secena are stage managers.

More information about the production and other arts events scheduled for this season is available online at jmarts.org.

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Curly (Buck Thornton) tells Aunt Eller (Emma Wieber) that it’s a “beautiful morning” in the iconic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, “Oklahoma!,” that runs March 25 to 27 at Jordan-Matthews High School.

Jud (Wilson Ramos Meza, left) runs up the bidding at the box social auction run by Aunt Eller (Emma Wieber) while a desperate Curly (Buck Thornton) tries to sell his saddle to raise money. Musical theater returns to Jordan-Matthews later this month with three performances of “Oklahoma!” on March 25 to 27.

Andrew Carnes (Louis Graham), from left, makes it clear to the peddler Ali Hakim (Calvin Conroy) that he’d better marry Ado Annie (Laci Burt) — much to the distress of Will Parker (Brady Andrew). Three public performances of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!” are set for Jordan-Matthews High School on March 25-27.

Everyone is excited that Oklahoma is about to become a state. Among the Jordan-Matthews High School actors performing in the iconic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “Oklahoma!” are, from left, Brady Andrew, Laci Burt, Calvin Conroy, Buck Thornton, Louis Graham, Courtney Shackelford and Emma Wieber.

La Fiesta Latin Jazz Sextet performs free public concert on March 11

SILER CITY, N.C. — Gregg Gelb and La Fiesta Latin Jazz Sextet will perform a free public concert at Jordan-Matthews High School on Friday, March 11, at 7 p.m., as part of a Latin Jazz clinic for middle and high school students.

The concert was originally scheduled in late January to conclude the clinic, but had to be postponed because of weather advisories for evening travel.

Gelb is a professional saxophonist, clarinetist, jazz composer and jazz band leader who leads The Heart of Carolina Jazz Orchestra and has performed with many different groups, including the North Carolina Symphony. He currently directs the award-winning Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble, which has been selected five times for the finals of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington competition and festival, and has served as an interim assistant professor of jazz at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, N.C. State University and UNC Greensboro.

La Fiesta Latin Jazz Sextet includes musicians from North Carolina, one of whom is originally from the Dominican Republic. The ensemble teaches jazz history, the improvisation process and performs at events all across the state — drawing for its repertoire on music by jazz greats Louis Armstrong, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea and Horace Silver.

Scheduled to perform in the 75-minute concert are Steve Anderson on piano, Andy Kleindienst on bass, Beverly Botsford on percussion, Ramon Ortiz on drums, Andrew Sanchez on trumpet and Gregg Gelb on saxophone. Some of the group's featured tunes are “Cape Verdean Blues,” “Oye Como Va,” “Mambo Inn” and “Son de la Loma.”

Though Chatham County Schools policy could change based on future pandemic conditions in our community, beginning on March 7, masks will be optional while in the school building and attending this concert.

Kaleb Moffitt, a percussionist who heard the sextet perform in January as the clinic opened, thought the music was amazing and suggested that everyone come to hear the magic. “I thought it was beautiful; I got a little teary watching them,” he said. “I would pay to see them again. Anybody who likes music should come to this concert.”

Both the concert and jazz clinic are supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. The 2021 Grassroots Arts Grant for $1,550 covers half of the program cost; the rest will be matched by JMArts through member contributions and fundraising projects like the sale of JMArts greeting and holiday cards.

More information about JMArts, including a schedule of all upcoming arts events and information on membership, is available online at JMArts.org.

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The Gregg Gelb and La Fiesta Latin Jazz Sextet clinic and concert are being supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Student musicians take top prizes in JMArts's fourth-annual “Sing and Play”

SILER CITY, N.C. — Four local students took top prizes tonight in “Sing and Play ’22,” the fourth-annual student music competition at Jordan-Matthews High School. From auditions through the showcase concert, the event is designed as an educational experience for young musicians and a benefit concert for JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation.

Audience members voted Jojo Chen of Woods Charter School as best performance in the elementary division for her vocal rendition of “Lost Boy,” a song written and recorded by Ruth B.

Zachary Klingel of Margaret B. Pollard Middle School topped an exceptionally strong middle school competition with his vocal and guitar performance of “Old Church Choir,” a song written and recorded by Zach Williams.

And in the high school competition, Buck and Maggie Thornton of Jordan-Matthews High School took the prize for their vocal duet with guitar of “April Come She Will,” a song written by Paul Simon and recorded by Simon and Garfunkel.

“Sing and Play” is open to instrumental and vocal acts. While most sang to prerecorded accompaniment tracks, there were instrumental performances on five different instruments as well as vocalists who accompanied themselves on piano and guitar. The winner of each division received a $50 prize.

Rose Pate, president of JMArts, said she loves how everyone supports all of the performers. “It’s great to see how the community responds to the students,” she said. “It’s awfully hard to walk out on that stage in the bright lights, but the audience cheers for every kid like they’re their own.”

All money raised by the competition is used by JMArts to expand opportunity for high school artists, including those participating in the annual New York Arts Adventure. That trip scheduled over spring break gives upperclass musicians, actors and visual artists an opportunity to explore one of the world’s great cities, experience the very best in the arts, and gain new perspectives and experiences that will influence their lives and work.

Students this year will have the opportunity to learn from Broadway actor, theater producer and director Jessie Austrian of Fiasco Theater; Washington Post theater critic Peter Marks and a notable graffiti writer working in the city. Other opportunities to interact with world-class artists are still being arranged.

Musicians from Chatham County and across the state were eligible for “Sing and Play.” Contestants in the showcase concert were selected by judges Greg Burriss, Matt Fry and Joseph Walden during auditions held in early February.

Pate expects “Sing and Play” to return next year with registration for auditions opening sometime around December 1. JMArts is already looking at possible dates for next year’s competition, which is likely to be held once again in mid- to late-February.

More information about “Sing and Play” and other arts events scheduled this season is available at jmarts.org. Photos from this year's showcase concert are online at facebook.com/JMHSArts.

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Winners of “Sing and Play ’22” with the show’s co-hosts were, from left, co-host Wilson Ramos Meza, Jojo Chen of Woods Charter School, Zachary Klingel of Margaret B. Pollard Middle School, Buck and Maggie Thornton of Jordan-Matthews High School and co-host Litzy Garcia. (Photo by Chip Pate)

High School Winner: Buck and Maggie Thornton of Jordan-Matthews High School. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Middle School Winner: Zachary Klingel of Margaret B. Pollard Middle School. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Elementary School Winner: Jojo Chen of Woods Charter School. (Photo by Chip Pate)