Editing Oklahoma! (section)

====2012, Seattle, Washington, 5th Avenue Theatre====
The [[5th Avenue Theatre]]'s 2012 production, directed by Peter Rothstein, included African-American dancers and an African-American actor as Jud.<ref name=SGS>Strangeways, Michael. [https://archive.today/20130202033038/http://www.seattlegayscene.com/2012/02/review-oklahoma-at-the-5th-avenue-is-a-bit-problematic.html "''Oklahoma!'' at the 5th Avenue Is a Bit Problematic"], ''Seattle Gay Scene'', February 10, 2012</ref> The choice was intended, as in the Arena Stage production, to reflect the historical presence of African Americans in the Oklahoma territory, but it "has some audience members squirming in their seats ... they're seeing on stage one of the ugliest stereotypes in our history: an imposing black man ravaging a petite white woman [and] the white hero ... all but urges Jud to hang himself – and even pantomimes the act. Some see a clear reference to lynching."<ref name=Brodeur>Brodeur, Nicole. [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nicolebrodeur/2017557140_nicole21m.html "''Oklahoma'' seen in a new light"], ''The Seattle Times'', February 20, 2012</ref><ref>Goldstein, David. [http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/racial-profiling/Content?oid=12582804 "Racial Profiling"], ''The Stranger'', February 14, 2012</ref> The "Dream Ballet" had a sinister, sexual tone and ended with Jud dragging Laurey away to be raped. One critic noted the historical "license taken when an African-American farmhand is allowed to escort a white woman to the box dance. ... Maybe some people ... left with not so much a song in their head, but a question in their heart. And isn't that part of what theater is supposed to do?"<ref name=Brodeur/> Another wrote: "Rothstein's ''Oklahoma!'' is now the story of a crazy, sex obsessed black man ... lusting violently after his white mistress, who ends up murdered at the hands of a white man, who gets off scot free after a mock trial."<ref name=SGS/>