"Oklahoma!" is being presented by Coastal Carolina University's Department of Theatre from Thursday, Feb. 16, through Saturday, Feb. 25, in Wheelwright Auditorium. The classic American musical was the first collaboration of musical duo Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II and tells the story of a headstrong couple who refuse to acknowledge their mutual love.

Performances run Thursday, Feb. 16, through Saturday, Feb. 18, at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Feb. 22, through Friday, Feb. 24, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Feb. 25, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $17, with discounts available.

A command performance, which includes a cocktail hour preceding the event and a dessert reception afterward, will take place Saturday, Feb. 25, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to the command performance are $50, and proceeds benefit scholarships in the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts.

Set against the backdrop of the Western territory at the turn of the 20th century, "Oklahoma!" offers an evening of romantic musical theatre with classics like "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin,'" "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top" and "People Will Say We're in Love."

The cast includes students Ashlyn Inman and Kailey Mixer alternating as Laurey, Grant Zavitkovsky as Curly, Gavin Carnahan as Andrew Carnes, Hannah Coffman as Aunt Eller, John Dudley as Will Parker, Emilee Hassanzadeh as Ado Annie, Sophia Kider as Gertie Cummings, Ali Hakim as Brett Klock and Phillip Rast as Jud Fry. The complete cast includes 45 students.

Director Becky Timms, assistant professor of theatre, is excited about the experience of sharing a classic musical with her students.

"Although it's a daunting task, I was absolutely thrilled at the opportunity to direct and choreograph this amazing piece of work in the musical theatre canon and teach this traditional style of musical theatre acting and dance to my students," said Timms.

Timms said the production involves several unique and memorable elements.

"One of the show's most notable and enduring features is a 15-minute, first-act ballet finale, often referred to as the Dream Ballet," said Timms. "It was first created by the legendary Agnes de Mille. This was possibly my biggest challenge - the original choreography is amazing, but I wanted to do 'our version' of the ballet. So I let my dancers be my muses, and I began to create the version that the audience will see."

General admission is $17. Senior citizens, OLLI members, CCU alumni, teens and CCU/HGTC faculty and staff are $12. CCU/HGTC students can purchase tickets for $5 with student identification. Wheelwright is located at 108 Spadoni Park Circle on the Conway campus. For tickets or more information, call the Wheelwright Box Office at 843-349-ARTS (2787) or email culturalarts@coastal.edu or visit coastal.edu/culturalarts.