"BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO A CLASSIC...Goodspeed Musicals’ revival, directed by Jenn Thompson, is A REMINDER OF WHAT MAKES THE RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN WORK GREAT...This “Oklahoma!” is AS CLOSE TO IDEAL AS CAN BE IMAGINED...it’s conventionally designed and straightforwardly warm-hearted—but in a way that gives full weight to the emotional complexity of a show that isn’t nearly as simple as it looks. The result is THE BEST "OKLAHOMA!" I'VE EVER SEEN, FURTHER PROOF THAT MS. THOMPSON IS A STAGE DIRECTOR OF REAL CONSEQUENCE WITH WHOM GOODSPEED IS EXTREMELY LUCKY TO BE WORKING."

- Terry Teachout, The Wall Street Journal

 

“GLORIOUS…Shakes the dust out of the barn and tosses those cowboy hats high…This is a YOUTHFUL, FRANTIC, VIBRANT version of a musical that in the wrong hands can be sappy and operatic. Director Jenn Thompson has found a contemporary edge to a story set in 1906, before Oklahoma was even a state. She pushes the character's ambitions, braggadocio and brazen recklessness to the fore…THIS IS AN 'OKLAHOMA!' WITH TEETH.”

- The Hartford Courant

 

"ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING...BRILLIANT....GORGEOUS DANCING...Goodspeed Musicals' current production is one NOT TO MISS!...Under Jenn Thompson's nimble direction, these characters become real people dealing with real issues and not just the caricatures that one so often sees in other productions. She captures the beauty (and excitement) of the budding romances, the sense of optimism (and freedom) of the cast, and conveys a realistic "slice of life" in this long lost era in American history."

- Broadway World

 

"A TERRIFIC production of a Rodgers & Hammerstein chestnut done with EXQUISITE taste, HONESTY and AUTHENTICITY...With this production, Jenn Thompson is now officially Goodspeed's new gem in its directing line-up. After turning that overworked trifle "Bye Bye Birdie" into last summer's guilty pleasure, Thompson has done similar alchemy here. She's turned corn into gold. A swell one-two punch...REALLY GOOSE-BUMP SPLENDID."

- Frank Rizzo, Connecticut Magazine

 

"MESMERIZING...RICH...INVIGORATING...a resounding, reverberating Oklahoma! in

A PRODUCTION WHICH FULLY HONORS THE SHOW'S LEGACY. It is not a stretch to imagine

that Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, its legendary collaborative team, would fully approve. Uniformly strong performers benefit from director Jenn Thompson's vision."

- Talkin' Broadway

 

"A ROOTIN'-TOOTIN' PRODUCTION! WONDERFULLY EVOCATIVE...A STUNNING PORTRAIT OF TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY AMERICANA...Director, Jenn Thompson has gathered a cast led by a group of young, enthusiastic actors."

- The New London Day

 

"YOUTHFULLY EXUBERANT...SUPERB...PERFECTION. Goodspeed Musicals’ FRESH take on the old Rodgers and Hammerstein classic Oklahoma! has so much going for it, from THOUGHTFUL DIRECTION by Jenn Thompson... to TERRIFIC CHOREOGRAPHY by Katie Spelman."

- The Westfield News

 

"BRILLIANTLY DIRECTED...the cast is AWESOME...a REMARKABLE theatrical experience, one NOT TO BE MISSED. This is pure Americana at its best."

- The Middletown Press

 

"SHEER JOY…A FEAST FOR THE EYES…AMAZING ORIGINALITY…Director Jenn Thompson creates a refreshing interpretation of the great-grand-daddy of all musicals, re-visioning the songs and scenes so many of us know by heart. This show arrives like the proverbial beautiful morning onstage, DAZZLING, DELIGHTFUL, and TRULY REBORN…Everywhere in Goodspeed’s production of Oklahoma!, love and skill create the masterpiece anew.”

- In the Spotlight

 

"FANTASTIC...ENGAGING...DETAILED!...the production is BEAUTIFUL...ONE OF THE BEST PIECES OF CONNECTICUT THEATER I HAVE SEEN."

- The Journal Inquirer

 

"WONDERFUL...an EYE-CATCHING and ENGAGING TRIUMPH...a compelling lesson about revisionism that sometimes simply stressing the full nuances of a major work is all that is necessary to see it anew."

- New Haven Review

 

"Oh, What a BEAUTIFUL Show!...BREATHTAKINGLY FRESH and EXCITING. LIGHTS UP THE STAGE...EXQUISITE and THRILLING...OKLAHOMA, WILL WOW AUDIENCES... BRILLIANTLY DIRECTED by Jenn Thompson, this BEAUTIFULLY STIRRING production is FRESH, FAST and CONTEMPORARY, infused with more energy and excitement than any other version of this show that we’ve ever seen."

- Critics on the Aisle

 

“Oh, what a BEAUTIFUL musical!…WONDERFUL…SUPERB…CONTINUES TO ENCHANT! …a true testament to how happy endings are still possible, fences are for mending and not dividing us, and the world can be less of a cynical swamp and more of a bright golden haze on a meadow.

IT'S CORN, BUT SUPERBLY FRESH OFF THE COB."

- South Shore Critic

 

“FRESH…MAGNIFICENT…WONDERFUL DANCING…SPECTACULAR, a JOY to hear!”

- Hartford Patch

 

“A Bright Golden Haze at Goodspeed…DELIGHTFUL…EVOCATIVE…BEAUTIFUL!…this is the first time “Oklahoma!” has been produced on its stage…the wait has been well worth while, for this is a SPARKLING, ENGAGING piece of American musical history ably brought to life.”

- Connecticut Theatre News

 

" PURE PLEASURE...HITS EVERY DELIGHTFUL NOTE...BEAUTIFULLY SUNG AND DESIGNED  ...under Jenn Thompson’s direction, the show runs at top speed and packs a comic punch."

- Shoreline Times

 

"DARING, POTENT and TIMELESS....A GLORIOUS REVIVAL...WELL WORTH THE WAIT. 

Under Jenn Thompson’s able, brisk direction the nearly three-hour musical never lags and she’s assembled a uniformly EXCELLENT company of actors...YOU WON'T FIND A BETTER REVIVAL THIS SEASON than the one currently gracing the Goodspeed stage."

- CTPostChronicle

 

"WHAT A PRODUCTION...not just OK- it’s truly MARVELOUS!...In fact it has left me with a case of the kvells- which is a good thing. I don’t get them that often, but in this case I can definitely attribute this Kvelling ( kvell-bursting with pride and joy) to one person- Director Jenn Thompson! Yep she’s the one!...THIS IS ONE HECK OF AN EXCELLENT PRODUCTION...MUST-SEE event!"

- Howard  Frydman, CT. Critics Circle

 

"STUNNING...FABULOUS...PITCH-PERFECT! Jenn Thompson drilled down into the heart of a classic musical, extracted and retooled those salient elements into an updated unified adaptation that still entertains, engages and thoroughly enthralls modern audiences."

- Wayne Keeley, CT. Critics Circle

 

 

"FRISKY...A SPIRITED REVIVAL...Director Jenn Thompson adroitly expands the confines of the production into the audience....She demonstrates a deft hand helming the different tonal qualities and settings of the musical—from the friskiness of the young lovers to the humorous and mischievousness of Ado Annie and Will Parker to the ominous, menacing rumblings surrounding Jud Fry.  Her incorporation of the dance segments into the overall storyline is seamless and harmonious."

- Stuart Brown, CT. Critics Circle

 

"SPLENDID...LUMINOUS...GORGEOUS...an altogether WONDERFUL production. Director Jenn Thompson manages to embrace both the happiness and the drama in the show, which results in a DEEPLY SATISFYING presentation of this classic musical.  Even if you have seen “Oklahoma!” recently, this production ranks as AN ABSOLUTE MUST. Get your tickets immediately to experience this “Oklahoma!...YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE IT."

- Zander Opper, CT. Critics Circle

 

"Oh, What a BEAUTIFUL Production...EXQUISITE...SUPERB...EXCELLENT...THE GOODSPEED HAS OUTDONE ITSELF...from pure silliness to intense seriousness...director Jenn Thompson has somehow woven all these disparities together in a cohesive and MAGICAL whole that allows the audience to suspend disbelief without much effort."

- Amy Barry, CT. Critics Circle

 

"EXCELLENT....A GEM...The latest incarnation of this landmark show is at Goodspeed Musicals and all is well...this journey is filled with humor, romance, drama and THE BEST DANGED DANCIN' THIS SIDE OF THE MISSISSIPPI."

- Dave Rosenberg, CT. Critics Circle

"This "Oklahoma!" is GORGEOUS, CONFIDENT, CHEEKY, SWEEPING, DANGEROUS, SEXUAL and DAZZLING. Everything about it is CRISP, CLEAR, CREATIVE and THRILLING...a DAZZLING, crowning achievement for Goodspeed."

- Jim Ruocco, CT. Critics Circle

 

"SUPERB...DYNAMIC...SPECTACULAR! We’ve come to expect no less at Goodspeed and were also thrilled to take in yet another display of MASTERFUL DIRECTION by director Jenn Thompson."

- Stephanie Lyons Keeley, CT, Critics Circle