TV News

Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! to Be Developed for Television

John Lee Hancock and Bekah Brunstetter will co-author the modern-day musical series.

Bekah Brunstetter will co-author a new television series based on the musical Oklahoma!
Bekah Brunstetter will co-author a new television series based on the musical Oklahoma!
(© Tristan Fuge)

It was announced today that the classic (and first-ever) Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma! will be developed for television by Skydance Television, the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, and Concord. The present-day series, written by John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side) and Bekah Brunstetter (This is Us), will be set in America's heartland and include music by Rodgers & Hammerstein, reimagined for a contemporary audience, in addition to new music to support the story.

John Lee Hancock will also direct the first episode and serve as executive producer of the series alongside Brunstetter and fellow executive producers Ted Chapin of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization; Sophia Dilley of Concord; and David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Marcy Ross of Skydance Television. Bill Bost, Senior Vice President of Television, will oversee the project for Skydance.

Oklahoma! is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. Set in farm country outside the town of Claremore, Indian Territory, in 1906, it tells the story of farm girl Laurey Williams and her courtship by two rival suitors. The original Broadway production opened on March 31, 1943, and ran for an unprecedented 2,212 performances. A revival production, directed by Daniel Fish, is now in performances at Broadway's Circle in the Square Theatre.