Rodgers and Hammerstein

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II never intended to become the most influential songwriting team of the 20th century, yet their collaboration would fundamentally reshape American musical theater. Before they ever wrote a note together, Rodgers was already a seasoned composer with a string of hits written for lyricist Lorenz Hart, while Hammerstein was a respected dramatist known for his work on operettas like Rose-Marie and Show Boat. Their paths first crossed in 1920 at Columbia University, where Rodgers, then a freshman, wrote music for the Varsity Show Fly With Me, and Hammerstein, serving on the judging committee, added two songs to the production. They collaborated again in 1921 on You'll Never Know, with Hammerstein directing the production, but they did not work together on a major Broadway show until Oklahoma! in 1943. This long gap between their early college collaboration and their first professional partnership was not due to a lack of interest, but rather because both men were deeply successful with other partners. Rodgers spent over two decades crafting hits like Babes in Arms and Pal Joey with Hart, while Hammerstein found critical acclaim with Jerome Kern on Show Boat and The Desert Song. The convergence of their talents was not a planned event but a necessity born from the collapse of Rodgers' previous partnership. By the early 1940s, Lorenz Hart had sunk into deep alcoholism and emotional turmoil, becoming increasingly unreliable. Rodgers, facing the end of his most productive creative relationship, approached Hammerstein to ask if he would consider working with him. Hammerstein, who had been looking for a new musical project based on Lynn Riggs' play Green Grow the Lilacs, agreed, and the stage was set for a partnership that would redefine the genre.

Oklahoma! Revolutionizes Theater

Oklahoma! opened at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven on the 11th of March 1943, and its Broadway debut at the St. James Theatre followed on the 31st of March 1943, marking a seismic shift in how musicals were constructed. Unlike the typical productions of the era, which were often built around the talents of a specific star like Ethel Merman or Fred Astaire, Oklahoma! featured no major stars in the original cast. Instead, the story and songs were considered more important than sheer star power, a decision that allowed the production to run for an unprecedented 2,212 performances before closing on the 29th of May 1948. The show introduced revolutionary storytelling elements, using song and dance to convey and advance both plot and character rather than serving as mere diversions. It was the first musical to have an original cast recording, a practice now standard in the industry, with Decca Records releasing the music with the original orchestrations. The production included enduring standards such as Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin', The Surrey with the Fringe on Top, and the title song Oklahoma!, which was added late in the development process. The original cast included Alfred Drake as Curly, Joan Roberts as Laurey, and Celeste Holm as Ado Annie, with Marc Platt dancing the role of Dream Curly and Katharine Sergava dancing Dream Laurey. The show's success was so profound that it earned Rodgers and Hammerstein a special Pulitzer Prize in 1944, and it was later adapted into an Academy Award-winning film in 1955, the first feature shot with the Todd-AO 70 mm widescreen process. The film starred Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones, and its soundtrack reached number one on the 1956 album charts, cementing the show's place in cultural history.

When did Rodgers and Hammerstein first collaborate on a major Broadway show?

Rodgers and Hammerstein first collaborated on a major Broadway show with Oklahoma! which opened on the 31st of March 1943. Their earlier college collaboration occurred in 1920 and 1921 but did not result in a professional Broadway production until this date.

What was the first musical Rodgers and Hammerstein created together and when did it open?

Oklahoma! was the first musical Rodgers and Hammerstein created together and it opened at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven on the 11th of March 1943. The Broadway debut followed on the 31st of March 1943 at the St. James Theatre.

Why did Rodgers and Hammerstein decide to work together after years of separate success?

Rodgers and Hammerstein decided to work together because Lorenz Hart sank into deep alcoholism and became unreliable by the early 1940s. Rodgers approached Hammerstein to ask if he would consider working with him after his previous partnership collapsed.

Which Rodgers and Hammerstein musical won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1950?

South Pacific won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1950 and was based on two short stories by James A. Michener from his book Tales of the South Pacific. The show opened on Broadway on the 7th of April 1949 and ran for over five years.

When did Rodgers and Hammerstein die and what was their final collaboration?

Oscar Hammerstein II died in August 1960 before the film version of The Sound of Music was made. The Sound of Music opened on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on the 16th of November 1959 and was their last work together.

Tragedy and Social Consciousness

Following the massive success of Oklahoma!, Rodgers and Hammerstein turned their attention to Carousel, which opened at Broadway's Majestic Theatre on the 19th of April 1945, and ran for 890 performances until the 24th of May 1947. Carousel was revolutionary for its time, adapted from Ferenc Molnár's play Liliom, and was one of the first musicals to contain a tragic plot about an antihero. The show featured an extended ballet that was crucial to the plot, along with several extended musical scenes containing both sung and spoken material. Unlike their other works, Carousel did not have an overture; both the stage and film versions began with the familiar Carousel Waltz, an instrumental piece that set the tone for the entire production. The show dealt with themes of domestic violence and redemption, a stark departure from the whimsical or farcical tone of early 20th-century musicals. The original cast included John Raitt, Jan Clayton, and Jean Darling, and the show produced hit numbers like If I Loved You and You'll Never Walk Alone. The 1956 film version, made in CinemaScope 55, again starred Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones, the same leads as the film version of Oklahoma!. The pair's next major work, South Pacific, opened on Broadway on the 7th of April 1949, and ran for over five years. Based on two short stories by James A. Michener from his book Tales of the South Pacific, the play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1950. The song You've Got to Be Carefully Taught was controversial due to its support of interracial marriage, and Rodgers and Hammerstein refused to remove it from the show, even if it meant the show failing. When the show was touring in Atlanta, Georgia, it offended some Georgian lawmakers, who proposed a bill to outlaw any entertainment they deemed to be inspired by Moscow. The original production starred Mary Martin as Nellie Forbush and opera star Ezio Pinza as Emile de Becque, and the 1958 film version starred Mitzi Gaynor and Rossano Brazzi, with singing dubbed by others. These works demonstrated the team's willingness to address serious social issues such as racism, sexism, and classism, setting a new standard for musical theater.

The Golden Age of Broadway

The King and I opened at the St. James Theatre on Broadway on the 29th of March 1951, starring Gertrude Lawrence as Anna and the mostly unknown Yul Brynner as the king. This musical featured hit songs like I Whistle a Happy Tune, Hello, Young Lovers, and Shall We Dance?, and it was followed by Me and Juliet, which opened at the Majestic Theatre on the 28th of May 1953. When Oklahoma! returned to Broadway on the 31st of August 1953, Rodgers and Hammerstein had four shows appearing on Broadway at once, a feat that had never been achieved before. The King and I was adapted for film in 1956 with Brynner re-creating his role opposite Deborah Kerr, and Brynner won an Oscar as Best Actor for his portrayal. The team's work continued to push boundaries, with The Sound of Music, their last work together, opening on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on the 16th of November 1959. The show starred Mary Martin as Maria and Theodore Bikel as Captain von Trapp, and it has been frequently revived ever since. The show was made into a film in 1965 starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, and it won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. Hammerstein died in August 1960, before the film was made, so when Rodgers was asked to create two new songs for the film, he wrote the lyrics as well as the music. The Sound of Music contains more hit songs than any other Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, and the film version was the most financially successful film adaptation of a Broadway musical ever made. The team's legacy was further cemented by their work on Cinderella, which aired on the 31st of March 1957, on CBS, and was watched by more than 107 million viewers. The show starred Julie Andrews, and it was nominated for an Emmy Award. The Rodgers and Hammerstein partnership was so successful that many musicals that followed contained thought-provoking plots with mature themes, and in which all the aspects of the play, dance, song, and drama were combined in an integrated whole.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

Rodgers and Hammerstein re-worked the musical theater genre, and their influence can be seen in the work of later composers like Stephen Sondheim. The team used the technique of what some call the formula musical, which refers to the casting requirements of Rodgers and Hammerstein characters. Typically, any musical from this team will have the casting of a strong baritone lead, a dainty and light soprano lead, a supporting tenor lead, and a supporting alto lead. Although there are exceptions to this generalization, it simplifies the audition process and gives audiences an idea of what to expect vocally from a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. The team received The Hundred Year Association of New York's Gold Medal Award in 1950, and they were honored in 1999 with a United States Postal Service stamp commemorating their partnership. The Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City is named after Rodgers, and Forbes named Rodgers and Hammerstein second on its list of top-earning dead celebrities in 2009 at $235 million. In 2010, the original film arrangements of the team's music were restored and performed at the Proms concerts in London's Royal Albert Hall by the John Wilson Orchestra. A revue of Rodgers and Hammerstein's songs, A Grand Night for Singing, played on Broadway in 1993. The pair appeared on live telecasts several times, including the very first broadcast of Toast of the Town, the original name of The Ed Sullivan Show, when it debuted on CBS in June 1948. They were the mystery guests on episode number 298 of What's My Line, which first aired on the 19th of February 1956, and blindfolded panelist Arlene Francis was able to correctly identify them. The pair made a rare feature film appearance in MGM's 1953 production Main Street to Broadway, in which Rodgers played the piano and Hammerstein sang a song they had written. Their work continues to be performed and celebrated around the world, with frequent revivals of their shows both professional and amateur.