John Cudia, Ashley Brown & More to Square Dance in Oklahoma! at Lyric Opera of Chicago

Oh, what a beautiful morning it's going to be in Chicago! Broadway vets John Cudia and Ashley Brown will star as Curly and Laurey, respectively, in the Lyric Opera of Chicago production of Oklahoma! Directed by Gary Griffin, Oklahoma! will begin performances May 4 and play a 16-show engagement through May 19.

In addition to Cudia and Brown, Oklahoma! is set to star Jenn Gambatese (Hairspray) as Ado Annie, David Adam Moore (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) as Jud and Curtis Holbrook (West Side Story) as Will Parker. The cast will also include Paula Scrofano as Aunt Eller, Usman Ally as Ali Hakim, Matt DeCaro as Andrew Carnes and Andrea Prestinario as Gertie Cummings.

Set in the Oklahoma territory in the early 1900s, Oklahoma! is the story of Curly, a cowboy who tries to admit his feelings for Laurie, and Judd, the hired hand who tries to tear them apart.

Cudia has appeared in The Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables on Broadway. His regional theater credits include Jesus Christ Superstar, South Pacific and West Side Story. Brown originated the role of Mary Poppins on Broadway, and has appeared in Beauty and the Beast and the touring production of On the Record.