Some musicals instantly land with a splash when they first debut on Broadway, delighting critics and casual audience members alike with its electric dance number, winning scores and often arresting main narrative storylines.
While today it’s considered a classic of American theater, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s immortal masterpiece Oklahoma! was hardly a success when it first premiered in New York’s premier theater district.
In fact, according to early reviews at the time, the hit musical was seen by many as a guaranteed flop in the making…