`OOOO-KLAHOMA'

At far left, Robbie Guard as Carnes pointed his shotgun at peddler Ali Hakim, played by Nick Ryan, to reinforce Hakim's engagement to Carne's daughter Ado Annie, played by Lauren Hirschburg. In photo at left, drama teacher Cynthia Wyatt, center, instructs her students backstage before a dress rehearsal of "Oklahoma." The musical opens tonight at the school auditorium.

There's plenty of enthusiastic dancin', kissin', fightin' and most of all singin' in the Central High School production of "Oklahoma," opening tonight at the school auditorium.

Director Cynthia Wyatt has created an enjoyable Western tableau that includes a seldom-staged balletic dream sequence complete with dry ice, an onstage carriage ride and a vivid set by Steve Lukens that looks like a patchwork quilt.

Rogers and Hammerstein's "Oklahoma" gives everyone a chance to showcase their vocal abilities on familiar tunes like "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'," "The Surrey with the Fringe on top," "People Will Say We're in Love," the title song and many more.

Choral director Judith Williams has the students singing tunefully and with confidence.

There are also some fine portrayals. Ellie Bennett is fetching as can be as Laurie, and football player-turned-actor Chip Sepulvado pulls off his first-ever stage appearance with plenty of presence as Curly. Together as the push-pull lovers they're entirely believable.

Right there with them are Lauren Hirshburg's flighty Ado Annie, big strong voice and all, and Rob Felker, who plays the dumbfounded and lovestruck Will as well as he played the steadfast Mortimer in last fall's "Arsenic and Old Lace."

Veteran actress Rachel Roberts shows plenty of stage savvy holding everything together as Aunt Eller, and Dustin Michael is perfectly unsavory as Jud, Curly's rival.

Also fine are Robbie Guard as Ado Annie's protective father Carnes, and Claire Syler as man-hunting Gertie.

Nick Ryan, memorable as Victor Velasco in the school's recent production of "Barefoot in the Park" and as brain-fevered Teddy in "Arsenic and Old Lace," once again shows off a fine sense of comic timing as Ali Hakim, the love 'em and leave 'em peddler.

Good in smaller roles are Neal Davis as Slim, Brian Parkhurst as Ollie, Brian McClure as Fred and especially Neil Totten as the graceful Ike.

Tania Morris and again Brian Parkhurst dance the parts of Laurie and Curly in the dream sequence, admirable both for the willingness to try something different and for its execution..

Completing the large cast are Bria Nicholson, Beth Shivelbine, Abigail Fletcher, Lesley Goehring, Patrick Moon, Nathan Gibbar, Adam Davis, Entwain Johnson, Ross Bennett, Sarah Adams, Stan Clark and Laura Sheets.

Playing Cowboys and Farmers in the chorus are Ben Briney, John Beaudean, Rory Kipper and Michael Oslund. Their opposite numbers as Oklahoma Gals are Beth Bishop, Shannon Felker, Kelly Hilterbrand, Martha Stoecker, Christy Hey, Shelley Simmons and Tracy Gibbar.

The inventive choreography is by Kara Hammes and Michelle Morris of the Academy of DanceArts.

The production staff includes Kari Kipper, student director; John Bechtold, set supervisor; Meg Davis, business manager; and Matt Roark, stage manager.

Steve Schaffner directs a proficient pit orchestra composed of both students and community members. They are violins Sarah Sterrett, Ramona Robinson, Natalie Moon, Casey Cook, Boyne Park, Matt Wilson, Rahul Kamath, Mel Gilhaus and Cheryl Jarrell; violas Leanne Pierce, Amanda Wyatt, Darrell Underwood and Agotha French; cellos Bryn McDougall, Courtney Elder and Ayondela Ray; bass Steven Rankin; flutes Amanda Chapman and Laura Primonato; oboe Kirk Miller; clarinets Neil Casey and Aaron Rigg; bassoon Gill McCallister; horns John Bechtold and Matt Antil; trumpets Rob Giles and David Haycraft; trombone Adam Bryant; percussion Trent Redfern, Ron Farrow and Sean McMackens; piano Laura Bollinger; and harp Chadie Fruehwald.

`Oklahoma'

When: 7:30 tonight, Friday and Saturday nights

Where: Central High School Auditorium

Admission: $3 students, $6 adults