The prolific Broadway duo of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II served as a huge influence for Langley’s own Kaylee Harwood, who recently returned to the Lower Mainland to participate in a tribute revue for the two men.

Without question – Rodgers & Hammerstein made up one of the most influential writing teams of the 20th century. They created such celebrated musicals as Oklahoma!, The King & I, South Pacific, Carousel, and Sound of Music.

And it was the work of this pair that helped guide the former Langley Fine Arts School and Trinity Western University student into a career on stage.

In fact, the 27-year-old Murrayville native, who still hangs her hat at her folks place in Murrayville when she’s in town, credits them with playing an enormous role in her growth as an actor.

So from the stages of Broadway, where she starred in the Tony-nominated revival of Jesus Christ Superstar, Harwood is back home this month as part of the five-member cast starring in a Vancouver revue called Rodgers & Hammerstein: Out of a Dream.

Harwood said she’s psyched to be taking the audience on a nostalgic journey through Rodgers & Hammerstien’s legendary Broadway songbook.

Taking the form of a revue, this production eschews strict narrative and instead thematically floats between songs and scenes in a whimsical tribute to the musical treasures.

Source: Langley Advance – Roxanne Hooper

Photo Credit: David Cooper