Rick Rogers Articulations Blog

Thoughts from the Oklahoman Fine Arts Editor
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  • A musical theater quiz, part II

    Rick Rogers | Updated: Fri, Jun 7, 2013

    Here’s another quiz for fans of the musical theater and those who enjoy word puzzles.

  • What theater critics know

    Rick Rogers | Updated: Thu, Jun 6, 2013

    Having written about the theater for more than a quarter century, I’ve amassed a considerable amount of knowledge about plays, musicals, acting,  Tony Award winners, theatrical long runs and other stage-related information.

  • How musical theater creative teams capture an audience

    Rick Rogers | Updated: Wed, Jun 5, 2013

    Writers often say the toughest part of their work is getting started.

  • Musical theater Jeopardy

    Rick Rogers | Updated: Tue, Jun 4, 2013

    In this edition of “Jeopardy!,” the category is “Before and After.” The answers to the clues below will feature two overlapping musical theater titles, i.e.

  • Thinking backwards

    Rick Rogers | Updated: Mon, Jun 3, 2013

    Each of the following has a corresponding musical theater title that will be revealed by stating the opposite of what is printed here.

  • A musical theater quiz

    Rick Rogers | Updated: Fri, May 31, 2013

    Here’s a quiz both for fans of the musical theater and those who enjoy word puzzles.

  • Embracing Pulitzer Prize winners in music and drama

    Rick Rogers | Updated: Thu, May 30, 2013

    A list of Pulitzer Prize winners in music and drama offers a potent reminder of how this nation’s distinguished composers and playwrights have enriched the American cultural landscape.

  • Do you know what an EGOT is?

    Rick Rogers | Updated: Wed, May 29, 2013

    Each branch of the entertainment industry takes pride in touting its famous record-holders, from Katharine Hepburn (winner of four Academy Awards) to Angela Lansbury and Audra McDonald (recipient of five Tony Awards).

  • Stacking the deck: musicals win or lose Tony Awards depending on the season

    Rick Rogers | Published: Tue, May 28, 2013

    What a difference a year can make. At least, that’s the assumption behind today’s column: a look at Broadway musicals that probably would have won the Tony Award for best musical had they been nominated in a different year.

  • Memorable grand entrances

    Rick Rogers | Published: Mon, May 27, 2013

    Put a staircase in a family residence, and you simply establish a convenient way to get from one level to the next.

  • Musical theater trivia

    Rick Rogers | Published: Fri, May 24, 2013

    The popular board game Trivial Pursuit, which tests a player’s knowledge of everything from science and literature to sports and entertainment, recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.

  • Musical theater composers known to dabble in classical music

    Rick Rogers | Published: Thu, May 23, 2013

    In an industry that seems unduly interested in pigeonholing musical artists, few ever have the courage to explore an area outside the one responsible for their initial success.

  • An end-of-year musical theater exam

    Rick Rogers | Published: Wed, May 22, 2013

    With another school year about to conclude, students will be asked to review some basic math skills.

  • The detrimental effects of inflation

    Rick Rogers | Published: Tue, May 21, 2013

    With our nation’s economy in a constant state of flux, I thought it would be interesting to see how inflation has treated salaries and other monetary issues discussed in Broadway musicals of the past.

  • Stage adaptations of screenplays often struggle to find audiences

    Rick Rogers | Published: Mon, May 20, 2013

    Throughout much of the mid-20th century, the Broadway musical was primarily interested in storytelling.

  • U.S. states memorialized in Broadway shows

    Rick Rogers | Published: Fri, May 17, 2013

    Oklahomans are justifiably proud fact that their state song hails from a landmark 1943 American musical.  And while no other state can make that claim, numerous other states have also been memorialized in song.

  • Poking fun at musical theater titles

    Rick Rogers | Published: Thu, May 16, 2013

    From “Little Mary Sunshine” and “Dames at Sea” to “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Urinetown,” the musical theater has taken great pleasure in poking fun at itself.

  • West coast actresses welcomed on the Great White Way

    Rick Rogers | Published: Wed, May 15, 2013

    Yesterday, I put together a list of prominent Hollywood actors who took a break from their film or television careers to star in a Broadway musical.

  • Broadway lures Hollywood actors to the stage

    Rick Rogers | Published: Tue, May 14, 2013

    If most noted performers tend to become strongly identified with either Broadway or Hollywood, a few, including Celeste Holm, Lauren Bacall, Angela Lansbury, Barbara Streisand and Julie Andrews, have managed to transition back and forth with ease.

  • Make a point to see this musical

    Rick Rogers | Published: Mon, May 13, 2013

    Teachers of grammar have long cautioned against the overuse of the exclamation point, noting that if employed too frequently, it tends to lose its importance.



Rick Rogers - Articulations


Rick Rogers has written about the fine arts at The Oklahoman since 1988 and was named Fine Arts Editor in 2005. Rogers was the recipient of a 2010 Governor's Arts Award in the Media in the Arts category.