Previews began Friday for the musical "Oklahoma!" at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, directed by  Jenn Thompson who staged a fresh version of "Bye Bye Birdie" last summer at the theater.

Here's a look at the Goodspeed Musicals' production of the Rodgers & Hammerstein production, which had its world premiere at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven in 1943 under the title of "Away We Go!"

The Goodspeed production stars Rhett Guter as Curly, Samantha Bruce and Laurie, Jake Swain as Will Parker. Terry Burrell as Aunt Eller, Gizel Jimenez  as Ado Annie, Andrew Carnes as C. Mingo Long, Matthew Curiano as Ali Hakim, and Matt Faucher  as Jud Fry.

The ensemble includes: Kelly Berman, Morgan Cowling, Lauren Csete . Mark Deler, Tamrin Goldberg, Tripp Hampton  Olivia Nicole Hoffman, Kate Arrington Johnson, Howard Kaye , Morgan McCann, Andrew Ryan Purcell, and Alex Ringler ,Marco Antonio Santiago, Alex Stewart, and Madison Turner .The swings will be Rebecca Brudner and Aaron Patrick Craven.

All photos are by Diane Sobolewski