With the end of February fast approaching and spring coming up quickly, many Liberty students are looking forward to all sorts of annual spring activities. And for those in Drama Club, that would be the spring musical, “Oklahoma!”, a timeless American musical, chosen by theater director Mrs. Gehrke for the 2026 theater season. With after-school rehearsals in full swing and the show dates fast approaching (April 9-11), the cast is hard at work to bring the classic Rodgers & Hammerstein musical to life. Often staying after school until 4:30 p.m. and that time getting later and later as the performances get closer, students demonstrate their dedication, putting their time and passion towards the arts.
Rehearsals for the musical can look very different day by day, with some focusing on “blocking” (knowing where to go onstage), acting, learning the music with Mr. Datz, and learning the dances with choreographer Cam Bopp.
“Rehearsals are relatively organized, they’re very fun, but we always get a lot done,” Lauren Fereday (9) said. For Fereday, her favorite parts of the rehearsal process so far have been being able to hang out with friends and bond with her peers during rehearsals, as well as being in the group numbers with her friends.
Micki Morris (12), who plays the role of Aunt Eller in the show, also commented on what rehearsals are like for the musicals.
“I’ve been doing the musicals ever since freshman year, and what keeps me coming back is having fun dancing and being on stage,” Morris said. “Coming to rehearsals and just having a creative space to let loose and let go of the day.”
For someone so seasoned in the club, Morris is most excited to perform for the middle schoolers (who in years past have taken a field trip to watch Liberty Drama perform for a special showing in advance).
“It’s our first real audience we have, and it’s very exciting. It’s also great to see everyone upcoming, who will be in the club years in the future,” Morris said.
“Oklahoma!” is a classic show from 1943 that contrasts with shows Liberty has done in the past. For example, the modern musical “Hadestown”, which was the spring musical of last school year, has a lot of differences in comparison to the country-style, 1943 musical. The story of “Oklahoma!” follows Curly, a cowboy in the Oklahoma territory trying to win the affections of Laurie, a young farmgirl who is grappling with her own feelings on romance. With friends and enemies alike, they navigate life in the territory together searching for what they truly want. While different from last year’s folk romantic-tragedy musical, the cast members seem to be enjoying the rehearsal process all the same, regardless of the differences in style between the older and current shows.
“People should come see “Oklahoma!” because its musical sound is so unique from other popular musicals right now. The music is more choir-like, we use a lot of tall vowels and harmonies that make it sound very full and pretty,” Fereday said.
With show dates coming up April 9-11, the cast continues to work hard after-school almost every day to put together a show that encapsulates the audience and takes them back in time for an evening of storytelling, music, and community.
