Wild Youth star David James Whelan and Cork musical theatre star Molly Lynch have said they hope the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre's new in-house production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! will inspire a new generation when it opens in Dublin this summer.
Directed by Claire Tighe, with musical direction by David Hayes and choreography by David Bolger, Oklahoma! stars Whelan as Curly McLain opposite Lynch as Laurey Williams in a run at the Dublin venue from 19 June to 5 July.
Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment, the pair both agreed they were looking forward to bringing a fresh perspective to the much-loved story while staying true to its spirit.
"The best thing about musical theatre, I think, is that different artists come together," Lynch said.
"Inevitably, what David brings to the project, alongside the different backgrounds and the choreography, will make it feel fresh and exciting. The material itself is of such quality that it's almost untouchable. In my opinion, it's perfect."
Watch: David James Whelan and Molly Lynch on Oklahoma!
Former Eurovision entrant Whelan - whose band represented Ireland in 2023 - said he only met his leading lady earlier this week.
"We've been thrown right in at the deep end," he said. "We've got to know each other through interviews, but we only actually met yesterday [Monday] at a photoshoot."
Wild Youth fans may see this as an unusual career move for the singer-songwriter, but he said performance has been part of his life since childhood.
"When I was younger, I was a stage school kid," he said.
"I would have done a lot of Billie Barry productions - singing and dancing and stuff like that, more heavily focused on singing. I did that from the age of 13 to 18. After that, I tried to go on to become a serious songwriter and form bands and stuff like that, and that was my life for years on end.
"I've gone full circle back to who I might have been if I'd stayed down that route."
He added: "I wouldn't say I'm a veteran at all of this craft, but I'm going back to it, if that makes sense."
Lynch praised the production as "a really brilliant showcase of Irish talent", adding that it was especially meaningful to return home for the project.
"I'm based in London now but it's just so wonderful to get to come home and have this big theatre champion so many actors who are working and grafting across the UK and Europe and to support what we do and lift us up," she said.
"I really think that energy and enthusiasm will hopefully inspire younger people who come and see this show to do the same and know that there is a place for them too."
Oklahoma! runs from 19 June to 5 July at Dublin's Bord Gáis Energy Theatre.
