Who are you? What year are you? What are your interests?
My name is Owen Gudex! I am a Junior at Homestead and I am interested in many things, including theater, music, and film! As an aspiring music composer, I am surrounded by the arts and I hope to score original pieces for film, television, and video games!
What exactly do you do for Oklahoma!?
I play a character named Will Parker, whose goal throughout the show is to win Ado Annie (another character)’s hand in marriage. He comes across many obstacles, including Ado Annie’s grumpy father and her obsession with other men.
Why did you join Oklahoma!?
I’ve always been a fanatic towards theater, dating all the way back to 2nd grade. I’ve been a part of the Homestead productions ever since my freshman year and I’m a huge fan of musicals. I had a blast with Hello Dolly! last year, and I wanted to do it again with Oklahoma! especially since this is THE show that kickstarted the modern musical.
Tell us a story from rehearsal, pit practice, or crew session.
So I was in a rehearsal with Aidan Bigonia (who plays Ali Hakim), and Chris Elst was in the process of choreographing a portion of the scene where I was supposed to lift Aidan off the ground. The problem is, that man is TALL and I’m so much shorter than him. We’ve been hyping that bit up ever since the read-through of the script, so finally getting to block it was so exciting.
What is Oklahoma! about? Why should people come to see it?
I’m glad you asked! This show is about love (gasp), drama (gasp), and cowboys (yee haw)! So essentially the main plot follows a dude named Curly. He wants to take a girl named Laurey to a box social but has to face the obstacle that is Jud Fry, who is already taking Laurey to the box social. But here’s the tea; Laurey doesn’t want to go with Jud. Meanwhile, an innocent Persian peddler named Ali Hakim is thrown into a predicament where a girl by the name of Ado Annie takes interest in not just him, but SO MANY OTHER GUYS, one of these fine gentlemen being Will Parker (played by myself). Will actually is in love with Ado Annie and gets jealous of Ali Hakim for being with Ado Annie, and feuds with the peddler throughout the show. The thing is, Ali Hakim doesn’t want beef with Will- he just wants to get away from Ado Annie. So to reiterate, this show is about love (gasp), drama (gasp), and cowboys (yee haw)!
What do you hope the audience will think about in the car as they drive home after this show?
“When’s the next show?”
Anything else you want to talk about?
I would like to thank Young Sheldon TikTok videos for helping me build my Southern accent.
Act Out 
Why no blog on Hello Dolly? I stumbled upon your production via YT, in a blue funk mood.one night, thinking of the good times in hs theater, in particular being Ambrose in my HS senior spring musical, mumblemumble years ago…yours was most impressive, esp Elise, Ryan K, Grayson, Owen (those two were a hoot and a half).
And Matthew as Ambrose. Hope you all go from HS to further your awakening talents to the benefit of this sick.old world that desperately needs it. Cheers!