Set in the Oklahoma territory in the early 1900s this musical tells the story of two pairs of lovers Curly is a cowboy who has trouble admitting his feelings to Laurey as she does to him because of their stubbornness Judd the hired hand at Laureys farm tries to come between them Ado Annie is torn between Will a cowboy who has strong feelings for her and Ali Hakim a peddler whos a ladies man and doesnt want to marry her The University of North Carolina School of the Arts production of Rodgers Hammersteins Oklahoma staged in early 2011 uses the original 1943 set and costume designs dance choreography and orchestrations