Chanticleer Opens Oklahoma! to Council Bluffs Stage

May 15th, 2026

Council Bluffs Community Theatre, Chanticleer, is presenting its upcoming production of the Golden Age musical classic Oklahoma!. Oklahoma! is the show that helped launch the Golden Age of musical theatre in the 1940s, innovating storytelling through the combination of song, dance, and dialogue. This rendition is a traditional version that seeks to remain true to the country life and culture of Oklahoma. Director of Oklahoma!, Ron Zank, says, “So that was super helpful. I would say the biggest challenge is there is a lot of song and dance.”

The cast consists of many UNO alumni and community members from the Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Elkhorn areas. Audience members may find the chemistry between Laurie (McKenna Cottone) and Curly (Kevin Bray) especially authentic, as the two actors are engaged in real life. Zank also commented on the overall energy of the cast. “Last weekend there was a rodeo in Springfield, and I suggested it might be a good idea for some of them to go and watch,” Zank continued. “A bunch of them did, and they went together, which I thought was a really cool thing.”

With ensemble numbers choreographed by Julian Adair, this Rodgers and Hammerstein musical is a nod to classic Broadway and is a musical theatre experience fun for all ages. Zank concluded by saying, “It’s really a family-oriented show… it’s very much a good old-fashioned piece of musical theater.”

Chanticleer’s production of Oklahoma! will run through May 24. More information about Oklahoma! can be found at paceartsiowa.org.