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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