Normally I do these types of posts on Fridays but since I was having wordpress issues as well as traveling all day to spend the Memorial Day weekend at home, I figured I’d just make this a fun little side post for the weekend. My good friend and fellow Awards Circuit writer Kristen wrote about the film the other day and it inspired this post. There are few musicals that I feel warrant a remake, but one of them is definitely Oklahoma. Not because its bad mind you, in fact the film is quite good, but that the movie with its “shot on a movie set” feel makes the material seem so dated when the music is so timeless. So I’ve decided to put my casting cap on and try and figure out what a modern day Oklahoma might look like.
Curly – Patrick Wilson. Both he and Hugh Jackman have played this role on stage and while both make compelling leads, I prefer Wilson’s timeless tenor to Jackman’s loud vocals.
Laurey Williams – Dagmara Dominczyk. Idk if she can sing but I’d just love to see a husband and wife team headline this musical.
Jud Fry – James Marsden. He might be too good looking but I don’t even care. He’s got the voice of an angel and I’d love to see him tap into something darker.
Aunt Eller – Glenn Close. I am howling just imagining her covering the famous The Farmer and the Cowman song.
Ado Annie – Keke Palmer. I want to make this a multicultural cast so by gosh Keke will be in this movie!
Willy Parker – Zac Efron. I know this is probably lazy default casting given his musical past, but he is developing into a pretty good actor and I’d love to see him in another dance heavy musical.
Who would you pick?