Their production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! will premiere on July 21 and will be the first time the company has performed at The Capital.

Co-director and producer Julie Lovell said the cast were very excited to perform at such an iconic theatre.

Oklahoma! was the first musical created by the Rodgers and Hammerstein team. It premiered in 1943 and was adapted into an Oscar-winning film in 1955.

The story follows two young cowboys go head to head with an evil ranch hand and a traveling peddler for the hearts of the women they love.

“We decided to do something big and new,” she said.

“Oklahoma! hasn't been done in Bendigo for a while, so it's a bit different and this show has a lot of dance, so we will be able to feature our dancers.”

More than 60 students from every school in Bendigo will perform in the show as well as help behind the scenes.

“One of kids lives all the way down in Woodend and another out at Heathcote, so it is literally a conglomerate of students working together,” Ms Lovell said.

Nexus has been operating for seven years and aims to create an inclusive community for students with an interest in the arts.

“Because Bendigo is such a sports driven community, a lot of the theatre kids get pushed out or marginalised and not included in same capactiy,” Ms Lovell said.

“Nexus tries to create a community of kids who love the arts and who love drama.

“We have kids doing media, make-up ,set design, costuming and acting but at the end of the journey, the best part is the kids have had an awesome time with the show an they say ‘I have found my home’.”

Previously Nexus has perform other classic musicals including Beauty and the Beast, Pirates of Penzance, the Wizard of Oz and the Soudn of Music.

The development of Ulumbarra has also increase young people’s interest in the theatre.

“What we are seeing is kids who are seeing a future pathway in the arts,” Ms Lovell said.

“Ulumbarra has opened and now we have The Capital as well and both are booked out.

“Every school pulling in the arts more than they ever have, so we are trying to feed into that. We want to help build that culture in Bendigo.”

Nexus Youth Theatre’s production of Oklahoma is on at The Capital from July 21 to 23.

For more information or to buy tickets head to www.thecapital.com.au/Whats_On/OKLAHOMA