Rodgers and Hammerstein Changin Musical Theater History
There are many well-known lyricists and composers, but only a few leave such a mark as Rodgers and Hammerstein. This duo produced nine musical plays during their partnership and caused a profound change in musical comedy. They set the standards that are followed to this day in musical history. They created the modern musical that we all know and love.Before they became Rodgers and Hammerstein, they were simply Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, both of New York City. Hammerstein, born in 1895, was brought up in a theatrical family. His father was an "operatic impresario", otherwise known as an opera director or manager. He built the Harlem Opera House(1888) and the Manhattan Opera House(1906) and also introduced many new singers to the US. From a very young age Hammerstein II committed to the theater even though his family discouraged him. As soon as he was old enough to have a job in his father's theatrical business, he devoted himself to his duties and learned as much as he could about play production and the labors of the theater artist. Oscar eventually teamed up with author Otto Harbach and composer Vincent Youmans to produce Wildflower. With help from Harbach, Hammerstein began to create professional material
While still in high school, he wrote scores for two amateur shows, One Minute Please and Up State and Down, after which he was encouraged to find a lyricist and begin a professional song-producing arrangement. This was a big step for the 1920s and a huge victory when the show was so widely appreciated. "Whats wrong with sweetness and light? Its been around for quite awhile. Their other shows 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). Even a cliche you know has a right to be true"5 This concept keeps people going back to see musicals, because no matter how tragic things are you can always find a ray of hope in a musical. The principles they created were as follows. Showboat was the first show that indicated Hammerstein's great talent. Getting to know him: A Biography of Oscar Hammerstein II. In the late 1930s though, Hart and Rodgers grew apart because of emotional problems Hart was having. New York: Columbia University Press, 1994. New Haven: Yale University Press, 19985) Kislan, Richard. Broadway man Lew Fields saw the show and informed the duo that he intended to use some of their songs in his next Broadway musical, Poor Little Ritz Girl2 . For example, in The Sound of Music, the country is about to enter war, people are being arrested and there is tragedy everywhere, but the VanTrappes escape, which occurs to show that there is hope.
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