All-time classics!
Composer Richard Rodgers had enjoyed great success over twenty years or more with his original lyricist partner Lorenz (Larry - the original "Dear, dear, Larry"?!) Hart creating musical comedies for Broadway, London & Hollywood like "Babes in Arms", " The Boys from Syracuse", and "Pal Joey". Their output included classic songs like "My Heart Stood Still", "The Lady Is a Tramp" and "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered".
At the same time, lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II had teamed-up with a number of composers (including Rudolf Friml, George Gershwin, and Jerome Kern) to create a series of classic operettas including "Rose Marie", "Song of the Flame", "Sweet Adeline", "Music in the Air", "Show Boat" and the famous all-black version of Bizet's "Carmen", renamed "Carmen Jones" .
Due to Larry Hart's failing health and eventual death, Rodgers joined forces with his long-standing friend Hammerstein (they first met in 1916) to form one of the great artistic partnerships of the 20th century. Their partnership merged Rodgers' achievements in musical comedy with Hammerstein's innovations in operetta to create a new form, the musical play.
Into this medium they infused emotional depth, complex characters, and believable, sing-able situations. Rodgers brought a sweeping, melodic form which combined wonderfully with Hammerstein's heartfelt poetry. In some ways, their different backgrounds were their strength, rather like the much earlier Gilbert & Sullivan - although G&S were never such good friends!
Starting with the mould-breaking "Oklahoma!" in 1943 ("No girls, no gags, no chance", according to one critic!) they created shows where the book, music, lyrics and choreography were fully integrated to form a cohesive unit. They continued their success through "Carousel", "South Pacific", "The King and I" to "The Sound of Music" in 1959.
Smash-hit songs from these shows included "Oh! What A Beautiful Morning", "People Will Say We're In Love", "You'll Never Walk Alone", "If I Loved You", "There Is Nothing Like A Dame", "Some Enchanted Evening", "Getting To Know You", "Shall We Dance", "Edelweiss", "Climb Every Mountain", "Do-Re-Mi", and "My Favourite Things".
Collectively, Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals went on to win 35 Tony awards, 15 Oscars, and a pair each of Pulitzer Prizes, Grammies, and Emmmies!
Over the years, BHOS has produced a number of Rodgers and Hammerstein shows...
...some more than once!
South Pacific (1979)
Carousel (1982)
Oklahoma! (1984)
South Pacific (Mar 1992)
Carousel (Oct 1993)
Oklahoma! (Oct 1995)
The Sound of Music (Nov 1997)
Carousel (Mar 2004)
