Rodgers and Hammerstein
By: Sydney Terry
The Dynamic Duo
● Rodgers creates and composes the songs
● Hammerstein writes and publishes the plays
★ Together they make the perfect team!
Let's start with Rodgers
Richard Rodgers➔ Born: June 28, 1902➔ Richard Rodgers grew up in Arverne, New York City, NY
➔ Was the second born to Dr. WIlliam Rodgers and Mamie Rodgers
➔ Was born to a theatre loving family (Grandparents were partial to Opera)
➔ Was accepted into Columbia University in 1918
Rodgers Personal Life
● In 1930 Rodgers married Dorthy Belle Feiner
● In 1931 they had two daughters, Mary and Linda Rodgers
● Dorthy Belle Feiner died in 1992● Mary Rodgers became a composer● Rodgers’ had two grandsons, Adam
Guettel and Peter Melnick● Both his grandsons became composers as
well
- The picture above shows Richard Rodgers with his daughter Mary Rodgers.
Rodgers’ Career
● Richard Rodgers has always been an exceptional composer and famous musical pioneer
● Rodgers has won every major award possible in his field.
● Once Rodgers became a student at Columbia University he began composing on another level
● While there he wrote the school’s famous Varsity Show.
● He began collaborating with Lorenz Hart (Rodgers was the composer and Hart was the lyricist.)
● He then began collaborating with Hammerstein and Hart in 1942.
● When Lorenz Hart became to ill to write Hammerstein and Rodgers continued their collaboration until Hammerstein’s death in 1960.
How Has He Impacted The Theatre?
● He has impacted the theatrical music up to the modern day
● He now has a theatre dedicated and named after him.
● This theatre was opened in 1924● The theatre now has 1,319 seats● Before the theatre was dedicated to
Richard Rodgers, it was called, “Chanin’s 46th Street Theatre.
Now, Hammerstein
Oscar Hammerstein II➔ Born: July 12, 1895
➔ Hammerstein was raised in New York City
➔ Hammerstein’s father, William, managed a vaudeville theatre
➔ Hammerstein’s grandfather was a famous opera impresario
➔ Hammerstein went to Columbia University to major in pre-law
➔ Eventually he had a passion for theatre and he asked his Uncle Arthur to employ him as the stage manager for one of his upcoming productions.
Hammerstein’s Personal Life● He married his loving wife, Myra Finn● The couple had two children, William and Alice
Hammerstein● Hammerstein divorced his wife Myra in 1929● He then remarried to Dorthy Blanchard Johnson
within the same year● He had one son with her, James Hammerstein● He suffered through stomach cancer● Hammerstein eventually died on August 23,
1960 due to his stomach cancer● In his honor, on September 1, 1960 at 9 pm
Broadway turned off their lights.
Hammerstein’s Career● Once Hammerstein’s Uncle Arthur
announced him as the new stage manager in 1919, Hammerstein was afforded the chance to rewrite scripts that needed improvements
● In 1919 he wrote his first play, “The Light”
● He then went on to helping Rodgers write his varsity show called, “Fly with me”
● While writing his play, “Rose Marie”, Hammerstein met Jerome Kern
● They teamed up right then, and became a duo
● This duo created the production, “Show Boat”
● He eventually broke off his partnership with Kern and became partners with Richard Rodgers
● This dynamic duo went on to produce their first musical together, “Oklahoma!”
How Has He Impacted The Theatre?
● He is best known for his songwriting partnerships
● The generation Hammerstein● He extinguished Broadway.● He created great books for musicals● He also was a great lyricist ● Was known for his ability to weave
a plot with numerous subplots.
Musicals Created Together➢ Oklahoma
➢ Carousel
➢ The King and I
➢ South Pacific
➢ State Fair
➢ Allegro
➢ Me and Juliet
➢ Pipe Dream
➢ Flower Drum Song
Oklahoma!
What is Oklahoma about?● This western musical is staged around the love
story of a cowboy, Curly, and a winsome farm girl, Laurey. They have a bumpy road to love.
➢ This show earned Rodgers and Hammerstein both Pulitzer Prizes.
➢ On January 01, 1944 this musical won the London Evening Standard Award.
Side facts:
Carousel
What is Carousel about?
● The play takes place in Maine during the 19th Century
● The play shows a Carnival Baker, who is too overwhelmed and ends up taking his own life.
● He is then allowed to come back to earth for only one day (fifteen years later).
Side Facts: ➢ On November 30, 1944 it won best musical
➢ On January 01, 1945 it was awarded 8 awards.
The King and I
What is the musical about? ● It is a musical centered around a woman who is called to be the tutor to the emperor’s children.
● She ends up falling and in loving with the emperor (as does he).
Side Facts:
➢ By 1952 it won 3 awards.➢ By 1996 it won another 3 awards
State Fair
What is the musical about?
● This musical is about the family that leaves behind their farm and head to the Iowa state fair.
● Throughout the play, the many family members encounter people who show them love, excitement, and anticipation.
Side Facts:➢ This musical was originally written as a
screenplay➢ Milwaukee Journal-Sentine Described the
musical by saying, “A pure delight… Sweeter and more fun than cotton candy.”
Flower Drum Song
What is the musical about?
● This musical takes place in San Francisco’s Chinatown.
● The play is centered around an enticing dancer whose friend’s father is losing a battle against his kids with rock n’ roll, baseball, and other things from the traditional American lifestyle.
Side Facts:
➢ On January 01, 1959 this musical won 6 nominations including best musical
Cinderella (1965)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCItA-a-xg0
(1:45)
Bibliography
http://www.biography.com/people/richard-rodgers-37431
www.biography.com/people/oscar-hammerstein-ii-932688
http://www.rnh.com/show/36/Flower-Drum-Song#shows-awards
http://richardrodgerstheatre.com/
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