“And when we say, `Ay yippy yi ki yea,’ We’re only saying, `You’re doing fine, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, you’re OK.'”

These are the words that will be hummed in the minds of many after they walk out of this year’s Stars Over Veishea production of the crowd-pleaser “Oklahoma!”.

“Oklahoma!” director Eve Himmelheber has a cast of over 30 on board and estimates about 100 people have contributed to the show, which she hopes will stand out as an accurate rendition of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s first classic collaboration, originally produced in 1943.

“When I picked the show, I was thinking it would be a good, uplifting piece,” she says. “I thought it would support the mission statement of the university and Veishea. It’s also about family and kinship.”

The show has several subplots involving love triangles and a lively rivalry between farmers and cowboys, set in a Western Indian territory just after the turn of the century.

The plot revolves around Laurey, who is torn between two men vying for her attention – the handsome, cocky Curly and the dark, scary farm hand Jud.

Laurey is played by Leslie Schafer, senior in music, who says she tries to stretch her character beyond the basic one dimension.

“Eve didn’t want Laurey to be your everyday, generic `pretty girl’ type of character,” she says. “The challenge is to definitely make Laurey an interesting character.”

The major struggle of Schafer’s character is to resolve her feelings toward Curly, who she won’t admit to wanting to be with.

“You know she and Curly want to get together,” Schafer says. “But they both have an extreme amount of pride that always gets in the way.”

Playing opposite Schafer as Curly is sophomore in LAS open option, Trevor Helmers. Helmers says not only is playing the role of Curly a challenge, but taking the steps to look like him is a struggle as well. In addition to a pair of $200 chaps, a cowboy hat and boots, Helmers had to add a little spunk to his coif to match the name of his character.

“I had to get my hair permed,” he explains. “So that has been the hardest part of being in the show. I have to look at myself in the mirror with a perm. I also have to put up with the smell.”

Helmers adds that his character’s entire objective throughout “Oklahoma!” is to win Laurey’s love. However, like Laurey, his stubborn tendencies get in the way.

Jud, played by Garin Buttermore, senior in performing arts, is Curly’s competition, and makes a mess of things in his grand plan. Schafer calls Jud a “pawn” in Laurey and Curly’s flirtations and says Jud forces him into many trying situations in “Oklahoma!”.

Rich Fulkerson, junior in chemical engineering, plays the role of Will Parker, who is involved in his own love fiasco with Ado Annie Carnes, played by Courtney Luttrell, junior in music.

“Will is probably the stupidest character on stage,” Fulkerson says. “He just doesn’t understand. He’s there to get a few cheap laughs.”

Fulkerson says his obstacle in the show is to get over his and Ado’s fear of settling down with one person, leaving both characters’ flirtatious tendencies behind.

He adds that his favorite aspect of the show is the dancing, which was choreographed by student Kelly Bartlett. He says the scenes of the guys dancing incorporate stunts, jumping, acrobatics and intense dance moves that will keep the audience attentive throughout the performance.

Himmelheber agrees that the dance aspect of the show brings out the volumes of talent the cast has to offer, and the range of choreography is phenomenal.

Quite possibly the most well-known dance scene in “Oklahoma!” is the dream ballet which occurs at the end of Act One during a disturbing dream Laurie has about getting married to Curly.

“This scene is historically unique because it’s the first true dream ballet,” Himmelheber says. “It’s the first time we’re allowed to see the main character’s innermost thoughts and fears via dance.”

Another piece that will be an audience highlight is the song “Kansas City,” which Himmelheber describes as a “little beefcake show” between the boys. And of course, the song everyone knows, “Oklahoma!”, will be a fiery number in the second act.

The set design is simple and features an authentic-looking turn of the century farmhouse Himmelheber calls “the beast.” Set director Bob Sunderman included many details such as a surrey and hay wagon to help achieve the authenticity of the farm scenes.

The costumes, put together by theater professor Linda Pisano, emphasize the contrast and rivalry between the farmers and cowboys by having the cowboys donned in blues and the farmers in earthtones. Himmelheber says the women will wear dresses and be layered with several petticoats. The men will have holsters and guns in addition to leather, fur and suede chaps.

Jen Spencer, senior in journalism and mass communication, is a member of the Veishea 2001 executive board, and is the producer for “Oklahoma!”. Stars Over Veishea has been running since 1922, and “Oklahoma!” was once a main feature back in the 1960s. SOV is one of Iowa State’s long-standing traditions and is primarily student-produced. Spencer believes this year’s production will live up to the high expectations SOV always aims to achieve.

“Oklahoma! is such a popular show,” she says. “Everybody has a connection to it. . It’s a classic.”

“Oklahoma!” plays Friday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at Stephens Auditorium. Tickets range from $6-$10 for students. They are available at the Iowa State Center Ticket Office and Ticketmaster outlets.