On what date did the original Broadway production of Oklahoma! open?

The original Broadway production of Oklahoma! opened on March 31, 1943.

The musical was written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, adapting Lynn Riggs’s 1931 play Green Grow the Lilacs. Its New York opening marked the beginning of the most influential composer-lyricist partnership in American musical theatre.

Oklahoma! was notable for integrating songs, dances, and dramatic storytelling instead of treating musical numbers as separate interludes. Agnes de Mille’s choreography, especially the dream ballet, became central to the production’s dramatic structure.

The show originally starred Alfred Drake as Curly and Joan Roberts as Laurey. It ran for 2,212 performances, a major achievement for its era, and helped establish the modern Broadway musical. The exclamation mark in the title is part of the show’s official styling, although it is sometimes omitted in casual references.