Oscar Hammerstein & Stephen Sondheim

Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein

Early Life and Career

impact on technical theater industry

Early Life and Career

Influence on Industry

• Born in NYC June 28, 1902
• Attended Columbia University and later The Institute of Musical Art, which is now Juliard
• Earliest credits in 1920 for a series of musicals for Broadway, London and Hollywood
• collaborated with many different lyricists/authors such as Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II
• won a number of awards (Oscars, Pulitzers, Tonys, Grammys and Emmys)
• Published over 900 songs and 40 Broadway musicals
• Some musicals produced with hart were "On Your Toes," "Babes in Arms," and "I'd Rather Be Alright"
• Some with Hammerstein include, "Oklahoma," "The King and I," Flower Drum Song," and "Cinderella"(On TV)
• Together hammerstein and Rodgers won 34 Tony awards, 15 Academy Awards, 2 Pulitzer Prizes, 2 Grammy Awards and 2 Emmys
• Despite his collaboraters deaths Rodgers continued to work alone and Write for Broadway

Oscar Hammerstein II was considered a very important person in technical theater's history. people consider him one of the most important book writers and say that he brought musical theater to its full maturity. Hammerstein was considered one of the more tough-minded and socially conscious theater artists. many of hammerstein and his collaborater's productions are very sincere, and portray their true beliefs in what they wrote. He wrote lyrics for major musicals such as, "The King and I," "The Sound of Music," and "Showboat"

Roders and Hammerstein were considered very influential because of the Musical Comedy that Rodgers brought and Hammersteins Operetta. This fusion was a milestone for American Musical Theater. Theirs was one of the most successful partnerships in broadway history. The "Times magazine" even cited the two among the 20 most influential artists of the 20th century. In 1999 the two appeared on a US postage stamp. after Hammerstein's death Rodgers continued working on musicals such as "No Strings" and "DO I Hear a Waltz?" Hammerstein won Two Tony Awards for "No Strings. "

One of Rodgers fellow composers said that "Of all the writers whose songs are considered and examined in this book, those of Rodgers show the highest degree of consistent excellence, inventiveness, and sophistication...[A]fter spending weeks playing his songs, I am more than impressed and respectful: I am astonished."

• Born in NYC in 1895
• Comes from a family involved with theater (father managed Victoria theater and produced vaudeville shows)
• attended Columbia university and Columbia law school
• American Librettist, Theatrical PRoducer, and theater director of musicals
• after his fathers death, he performed in his first show, "On Your Way," and continued to write and perform throughout his college life
• Quit law school to pursue law school and went on as an apprentice with otto Harbarch
• His first musical, "Always You" came out of his apprenticeship
• Hammerstein II continued to collaborate with other composers throughout his life
• Nominated for 5 academy awards for best original song and won 1- "The Last Time I Saw Paris"
• Won Pulitzer Prize for "Oklahoma" and a Tony Award for Multiple other musicals

Hammerstein died at his home on August 23, 1960. on September 1, 1960 All lights on broadway were turned off to honor "The Man Who Owned Broadway"

Rodgers died in NYC on December 30, 1979. March 27, 1990 he was honored with Broadway's highest accolade when the 46th Street Theater was named after Rodgers and became the home to the Richard Rodgers Gallery. In 2002 Rodgers birth was celebrated with books, music, Retrospectives and performances. Many schools are now named after Rodgers.

Two of the Most Influential People in Musical Theatre's History