North Lenoir drama to stage ‘Oklahoma!’ in April
North Lenoir High School’s drama department will bring Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!” to the stage April 23-25, continuing a long-running tradition in a program that is nearing its 40th anniversary.
Parker Ball, a member of the program’s directorial staff and a recent North Lenoir graduate, said this year’s production marks the fourth time the school has staged the classic musical since the department was revitalized in 1988 by Marion Kennedy, who now serves as producer.
Ball said “Oklahoma!” holds an important place in musical theater history. First opening in 1943, he described it as a landmark production and said North Lenoir’s choice to return to the show reflects both its significance and the strength of the school’s theater tradition.
Tickets are expected to go on sale next week and will typically be available through the North Lenoir High School office. Ball said advance tickets are usually $12, with door prices around $15. Discounted student admission is also expected to be available.
Beyond the production itself, Ball said the community should recognize the staying power of North Lenoir’s theater program. He said the department will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2028 and credited Kennedy’s decades of leadership with helping make drama a staple of the school and surrounding community.
“It is an escape,” Ball said. “It is a way to get out of the world we live in and get into a place where you can just breathe and just enjoy yourself.”
He said supporting local arts programs matters because they help shape students and provide opportunities that might otherwise disappear.
“It’s very important to support the local arts because it’s something that is dying,” Ball said. “Unless we nurture it, all arts will be depleted at some point.”
This year’s production features student leads Philip Jefferson as Curly McLain and Emma Kate Letchworth as Laurey. Ball said both have deep roots in the program, with Jefferson participating for more than a decade and Letchworth appearing in more than 25 shows. He said the cast also includes many younger students the department is working to develop for future productions.
Ball, now a freshman at East Carolina University studying music education, said his own path into theater began when he auditioned for “Grease” as a freshman at North Lenoir. He said the experience quickly became central to his life and helped shape who he is today.
“All you got to do is take that first step and then you’ll never regret it,” Ball said.
He said theater offers both performers and audiences a chance to step outside everyday life.
“The stage is magic,” Ball said. “Whether you’re in one or you sit in a seat and watch, it is an escape.”
The production is being led by producer Marion Kennedy, head director Bailey Sutton and Ball, with support from parent volunteers and other community members.
