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Of all the famous musical teams of the 20th century, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II are the most remembered and revered. Both had distinguished careers before their first professional collaboration in 1943, but together, they created a musical like no other before it's time, "Oklahoma!". It was the first of a new genre, the musical play, representing a unique fusion of Rodgers' musical comedy and Hammerstein's operetta. This play marked the beginning of the most successful partnership in Broadway musical history. Their other smash hits on Broadway were "Carousel"(1945), "Allegro" (1947), "South Pacific" (1949), "The King and I (1951), "Me and Juliet" (1953), "Pipe Dream (1955), Flower Drum Song (1958), and "The Sound of Music (1959). They also did a film, "State Fair" (1945), and the television musical, "Cinderella" (1957). | |
| Why were these two New Yorkers so successful in musical comedy, you ask? They brought to their work place a combination of talent and characteristics resulting in a musical manuscript of sweet simplicity and old fashioned romance. They both believed that the song served the play and not vice-versa, and all of their plays were sincere and honest. Joseph Fields, a collaborator on "Flower Drum Song", said that "Oscar really believed that love conquers all, that virtue triumphs, dreams come true."; and Rodgers felt similarly. "What's wrong with sweetness and light? Its been around for quite awhile. Even a cliche you know has the right to be true." When their musical would finally reach the theater, Rodgers and Hammerstein were sure to maintain a professional union between all members of a production team. Their success illustrated that it takes team work to produce a show; i.e., collaboration from all members at all times during the production. Collectively, the Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals earned 34 Tony Awards, 15 Academy Awards, two Pulitzer Prizes, Two Grammy Awards, and 2 Emmy Awards. In 1998 Rodgers and Hammerstein were cited by Time Magazine and CBS News as among the 20 most influential artists of the 20th century, and in 1999 they were jointly commemorated on a U.S. postage stamp. As producers, Rodgers and Hammerstein presented plays, musicals and revivals, including John Van Druten's "I Remember Mama", Anita Loss' "Happy Birthday", Irving Berlin's "Annie Get Your Gun", the national tour of "Show Boat" (1947-1949), and six of their own stage musicals, including the Pulitzer Prize winning "South Pacific" (1949) and the Tony winning "Sound Of Music". Additionally, they produced the motion picture version of "Oklahoma!", and founded their own music publishing firm, Williamson Music (named after their fathers who were both William). After Hammerstein's death in 1960, Rodgers continued to write for the Broadway stage. His first solo musical was "No Strings" which earned him two Tony Awards for music and lyrics. No, he wasn't finished yet. He continued his writing with "Do I Hear A Waltz?", "Two By Two", "Rex", and "I Remember Mama". Richard Rodgers died on December 30, 1979; and in March of 1990, Broadway's 46th Street Theater was renamed The Richard Rodgers Theater in his honor. | ||
| Year | Work | # Of Performances |
| 1943 | Oklahoma! | 2212 |
| Touring Company, 1943 | ||
| London, 1947 | ||
| Film Version, 1955 | ||
| 1945 | Carousel | 890 |
| London, 1950 | ||
| Film Version, 1956 | ||
| 1945 | State Fair, Film | Film Remake, 1962 |
| 1947 | Allegro | 315 |
| 1949 | South Pacific | 1925 |
| Touring Company, 1950 | ||
| London, 1951 | ||
| Film Version, 1958 | ||
| 1951 | The King And I | 1246 |
| London, 1953 | ||
| Film Version, 1956 | ||
| New York, 1977 | ||
| 1953 | Me And Juliet | 358 |
| |
Pipe Dream | 246 |
| 1958 | Cinderella, Television | |
| London Pantomime, 1958 | ||
| Television remake, 1965 | ||
| 1958 | The Sound Of Music | 1443 |
| Touring Company, 1961 | ||
| London, 1961 | ||
| Film Version,1965 |
| Return To Top |
| Song | Play/Show/TV Title | Artist | "Lover Come Back To Me" | "New Moon", Film, 1935 Hammerstein & Romberg |
Jeanette MacDonald/ Nelson Eddy |
| "This Nearly Was Mine" | "South Pacific", Broadway | Emile de Becque: by Bryn Telfel |
| "Step-Sisters Lament" | "Cinderella", CBS-TV, 3/31/1957 | Kay Ballard & Alice Ghostley, Step-Sisters |
| "Impossible" | "Cinderella", CBS-TV, 3/31/1957 | Edith Adams, Fairy Godmother (Sounds like Mary Martin) | "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful" |
"Cinderella", CBS-TV, 3/31/1957 | Jon Cypher, Prince |
