The Oklahoma premiere of 鈥淩hondda Rips It Up!,鈥� a comedic Welch operetta in cabaret style, will feature an all-female cast of 30 this weekend.
The operetta will stage in 野狼社区 University鈥檚 Burg Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are available online at or by calling 405-208-5227.
鈥淚t has been a joy to work with our talented all-female cast who have contributed so much to the creative process,鈥� director Karen Coe Miller said. 鈥淭his wacky piece is full of humor as it follows the exploits of the Viscountess Rhondda and her fight for woman鈥檚 suffrage in the United Kingdom.鈥�
Welsh National Opera commissioned composer Elena Langer and librettist Emma Jenkins in 2018 to create a work commemorating the centennial of British women winning the right to vote. The work made its American premiere in 2019.
Opening with a House of Lords tribute, the piece transports the audience back to 1908 to chronicle Rhondda鈥檚 fearless activism, survival of the sinking of the Lusitania and devil-may-care bravada.
The Guardian called the show a 鈥渂awdy celebration of a suffragette lioness鈥� while critic Rebecca Franks noted in The Times: 鈥淭he riotous score is a swirling, transparent weave of operetta, cabaret, music hall and jazz, bursting with irreverent joy.鈥�
The music director for OCU鈥檚 production is Chuck Koslowske.
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Cast:
Olivia Flores and Alexa Roemer as Lady Rhondda; Claire Ehlers and Samarah Robinson as Emcee; Jessica Livdahl and Caitlin Towell as Sybil Thomas; Rebecca Hundley and Emma Johnston as Aunt Lottie; Avery Benjamin and Rachael Parsons as Prid; Faith Dengate and Elisa Mato as Helen Archdale; and Ad猫le Marie-Alix and Malori Martin as Edith Lester Jones. The Ladies Chorus: Myranda Brooks, Lilly Cherney, Anastasia Durand, Gabrielle Duso, Belle Fine, Sophia Glover, Megumi Ishibashi, Zellah Kirkpatrick, Shannyn Kreitzer, Rebekah McCurtain, Payton Nickel, Kate Portele, Hazel Rinehart, Isabella Smith, Anna Trueblood and Darby Wilson.
