*RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN'S OKLAHOMA! CLOSES* *HATHAWAY BROWN THEATRE INSTITUTE THIRD SEASON* *Groundbreaking musical classic plays July 31 – Aug. 9* SHAKER HEIGHTS, OHIO – The musical that ushered in the golden age of musical theatre, *Oklahoma!*, will bring Hathaway Brown Theatre Institute's dynamic third season to a close when it plays July 31 through August 9, 2015 at *Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights, Ohio.* A celebration of the pioneer spirit that built America, *Oklahoma! *contains such iconic songs as “People Will Say We’re in Love,” “The Surrey with the Fringe on Top” and “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” -- capturing settlers' joys and hopes of what lies past the horizon, even as they struggle with the harsh daily challenges of frontier life. The show was the first collaboration between Richard Rodgers (music) and Oscar Hammerstein II (book and lyrics), and it reinvented the musical theatre genre by pushing boundaries and creating new theatrical devices. Performances are Friday and Saturday, July 31 and August 1 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, August 2 at 2:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday, August 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, August 9 at 2:00 p.m.. The show is presented in the Ahuja Auditorium at Hathaway Brown School, 19600 North Park Blvd., Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122. Tickets are $11-15 and can be purchased online at www.hb.edu/tickets, by calling 216-932-4214 x7270 or at the door (if available) the day of the performance. Directed and choreographed by HBTI Director Bebe Weinberg Katz, *Oklahoma!* also features musical direction by John Krol, fight choreography by Ryan Zarecki, set by Ron Newell, costumes by Jackie Guerra, properties by Lydia Chanenka, lights by Scott Chapman and sound design by Carlton Guc. It boasts a large cast of talented young HBTI students, including Matt Gittins as Curly, Hannah Kulawiak as Laurey, Jessica Hirsh as Aunt Eller, Kevin LaMonica as Will Parker, Denzel Jones as Jud Fry, Hannah Schmidt as Ado Annie, and many more exceptional actors, singers and dancers. HBTI was created by the Performing Arts Department of the Hathaway Brown School for students 1st grade – college, with coursework in drama, dance and music. HBTI provides high-level training from working artists to young people interested in the performing arts, as well as professional-level production experiences. Students of HBTI's staff of professional artists have gone on to perform on Broadway, in regional theatre, and in film and television. For more information,and tickets contact: HBTI 216 932 4214 or visit www.hb.edu/hbti_ticket <http://www.hb.edu/page.cfm?p=8802>s