NEW Earswick Musical Society has resumed rehearsals for its autumn production of Oklahoma! after taking a summer break.

The show is in the hands of director Ann McCreadie and musical director Don Pears.

The part of Curly will be played by Neville Maw, partnered by Helen Neville as Laurey. David Cox has been cast as Judd; Clark Howard as Will Parker; and Sarah Barker as Ado Annie, who relentlessly pursues both Will and Ali Hakim, played by Steve Kenwright.

Beryl Long will be Aunt Eller, who keeps a protective eye on Laurey. Oklahoma! will run at Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, from November 11 to 15 at 7.30pm nightly, and tickets can be booked at the Theatre Royal box office, tel 01904 623568.

The autumn season at the refurbished Rowntree Theatre is under way, with Shipton Theatre Company's 42nd Street show running all this week. Remaining performances are at 7.30pm tonight; 2.30pm and 7.30pm tomorrow. For tickets, ring 01904 764429/623568.

The season continues with Rowntree Players' production of the comedy Rumours on October 16 to 18 (box office, 01904 623568).

York Opera In Concert follows on October 19 (tickets, 01904 490303); Andrea Ferrebee presents the dance showcase Showtime 2003 on October 24 and 25; and Masquerade, the East Sutton Community Youth Theatre company, makes its Rowntree Theatre debut with Bugsy Malone from October 28 to November 1 (tickets, 01622 844321 or 07885 790781).

November's highlights are led off by York country and blues singer Suzy Martell and Friends, who perform a charity show in aid of the ear, nose and throat clinic at York Hospital on November 7 (box office, 01904 623568). Guests will include Eric Burdon of Sixties legends The Animals.

The North Yorkshire School of Theatre stages West Side Story on November 21 and 22 (tickets, 01423 817235 or 07815 865752 after 4pm); the Rowntree Players' pantomime, Dick Whittington, runs from December 9 to 13 (box office, 01904 623568); and the pre-Christmas jollification continues with Oddsocks Theatre Company's romp through Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre on December 15.

To end the Rowntree Theatre year, the Nestle Rowntree Band serves up the best of festive brass in the Christmas Concert on December 19 (tickets, 01904 425256).

Updated: 08:40 Friday, September 26, 2003