U.S. #2769
29¢ Oklahoma
Issue Date: July 14, 1993
City: New York, NY
Quantity: 128,735,000
Printed By: American Banknote Corporation
Printing Method: Photogravure
Perforations: 11 horizontally
Color: Multicolored
From the beginning Oklahoma! seemed destined to fail. Not only was it based on a play that had been a failure, but it had no stars, no traditional chorus girl numbers, and its dramatic ballets and extended musical sequences seemed too unconventional for most audiences. Yet Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II defied the odds and went on to create not only one of the most popular musicals of all time, but also to revolutionize the American musical theatre as well.
Set in Indian Territory at the turn of the century, Oklahoma! tells of a love triangle between Laurey, Curly, and Jud Fry. Although Curly and Laurey are in love, both are uncertain of the other’s true feelings. When Laurey seems to be making no apparent headway with Curly she accepts Jud’s invitation to a “box social”, where Curly expresses his true love for her. The two marry, but Jud shows up at their wedding and attacks Curly. In the ensuing brawl Jud falls on his own knife and is killed. Curly is tried for murder, but acquitted, and he and Laurey leave for their honeymoon. Hailed by the critics as “delightful, fresh, and imaginative,” Oklahoma! toured the U.S. for 10 1/2 years and has been seen in over 30,000 productions the world over.