Character guide
Curly McLain
from Oklahoma!
Curly McLain is the confident cowboy at the center of Oklahoma!, Rodgers and Hammerstein's landmark 1943 musical about a farming community on the edge of statehood.
- Show
- Oklahoma!
- Broadway premiere
- 1943
- Role
- Lead
- Music by
- Richard Rodgers
Curly McLain on stage vs screen
Broadway compared with the 1955 film
Curly almost went to James Dean. Dean made a striking screen test for the 1955 film, playing the Pore Jud Is Daid scene with Rod Steiger, but his voice was not strong enough, and the role went to Gordon MacRae; Paul Newman also tried out. Alfred Drake originated Curly on Broadway in 1943, and Hugh Jackman played him in London's 1998 National Theatre revival.
Curly keeps his songs on film, from Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin' to The Surrey with the Fringe on Top and People Will Say We're in Love, but his final showdown changes. The film has Jud set fire to the haystack where Curly and Laurey stand, and Jud dies on his own knife in the struggle.
Who is Curly McLain?
Curly is a charming, self-assured cowhand who spends the show pursuing Laurey, the farm girl he loves, while sparring with the menacing farmhand Jud Fry for her attention. His easy wit and swagger set the tone for the show's opening scenes and establish him as the romantic lead of the piece.
Beyond the love story, Curly represents the optimistic, forward-looking spirit of the frontier that Oklahoma! is built around. His arc mirrors the territory itself: brash and a little rough around the edges at first, but ultimately settling into responsibility and community.
Playing Curly on stage
Curly is a leading role that demands a strong, warm baritone or tenor voice along with natural charisma and comic timing. Since Oklahoma! helped pioneer the integration of song, dance, and story in American musical theatre, the actor playing Curly has to carry real dramatic stakes, not just deliver catchy numbers.
Performers are drawn to Curly because he gets to be funny, romantic, and quietly vulnerable all in the same show, and because the role sits at the foundation of the golden age musical tradition.
Curly McLain: frequently asked questions
What show is Curly McLain from?
Curly McLain is the lead male role in Oklahoma!, the 1943 musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Is Curly a lead or supporting role?
Curly is a lead role and one of the two central romantic leads in Oklahoma!.
Who wrote the music for Oklahoma!?
Richard Rodgers composed the music, with Oscar Hammerstein II writing the book and lyrics.
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