OKLAHOMA! directed by Vladimir Bouchler
In March 2015, I had the privilege of taking part in The Bridge, an international project dedicated to the exchange of experience between Norway and Romania in the field of musical theatre. Supported through an EEA Grant from Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, the project brought together artists, teachers and students for an intensive two‑week laboratory of training and performance.
One of the central components of the program was the OKLAHOMA! Norwegian Workshop, directed by Vladimir Bouchler and guided musically by Hildegunn Pettersen. Working entirely in English, the team approached Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic with a fresh, contemporary energy, while preserving the musical’s emotional depth and iconic structure.
I performed the role of Jud Fry, the solitary hired hand on Aunt Eller’s ranch — a character whose psychological tension and inner contradictions offered a rich field for exploration. The workshop format allowed us to work intensively from morning until late in the evening, shaping scenes, music, and character work in a dynamic, collaborative environment.
"It was great fun because they are young and they are full of energy and they were hungry to learn. So they gave me energy. They did very well! They were working all day long until late in the evening."
Vladimir Bouchler
Video report by DIGI24 featuring Vladimir Bouchler and Hildegunn Pettersen:
This experience remains one of the most formative encounters in my artistic development: a meeting point between cultures, pedagogies, and performance traditions, and a reminder of how international collaboration can elevate the craft of musical theatre.
OKLAHOMA!
Text by Oscar Hammerstein II
Music by Richard Rodgers
Directed by Vladimir Bouchler
Musical Director: Hildegunn Pettersen
Performance-Workshop in the English language
Premiere: March 2015
Role: Jud Fry, a hired hand on Aunt Eller's ranch
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