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{{short description|20th-century American songwriting team}}
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[[Image:Rodgers & Hammerstein 1948 NYWT&S.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Richard Rodgers|Rodgers]] (left) and [[Oscar Hammerstein II|Hammerstein]] (right) watching auditions at the [[St. James Theatre]] on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in 1948]]
'''Rodgers and Hammerstein''' was a theater-writing team of composer [[Richard Rodgers]] (1902–1979) and lyricist-dramatist [[Oscar Hammerstein II]] (1895–1960), who together created a series of innovative and influential American [[musical theatre|musicals]]. Their musical theater writing partnership has been called the greatest of the 20th century.<ref name=Lubbock/>

Their popular [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] productions in the 1940s and 1950s initiated what is considered the "golden age" of musical theater.<ref name=Heritage>[[John Steele Gordon|Gordon, John Steele]]. [http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/1993/1/1993_1_58.shtml ''Oklahoma!''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100804175330/http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/1993/1/1993_1_58.shtml |date=August 4, 2010 }}. Retrieved June 13, 2010</ref> Five of their Broadway shows, ''[[Oklahoma!]]'', ''[[Carousel (musical)|Carousel]]'', ''[[South Pacific (musical)|South Pacific]]'', ''[[The King and I]]'' and ''[[The Sound of Music]]'', were outstanding successes, as was the television broadcast of ''[[Cinderella (Rodgers and Hammerstein musical)|Cinderella]]'' (1957). Of the other four shows the pair produced on Broadway during their lifetimes, ''[[Flower Drum Song]]'' was well-received, and none was a critical or commercial flop. Most of their shows have received frequent revivals around the world, both professional and amateur. Among the many accolades their shows (and film versions of them) garnered were 34 [[Tony Award]]s,<ref>Rodgers and Hammerstein began writing together before the era of the Tonys. ''Oklahoma!'' opened in 1943 and ''Carousel'' in 1945, but the first Tonys were not awarded until 1947.</ref> fifteen [[Academy Awards]], two [[Pulitzer Prize]]s (for ''Oklahoma!'', 1944, and ''South Pacific'', 1950) and two [[Grammy Award]]s.

==Previous work and partnerships==
[[File:Fly With Me poster.jpg|thumb|Program for ''[[Fly With Me (musical)|Fly With Me]]'', 1920]]
At [[Columbia University]], Rodgers and Hammerstein collaborated on the 1920 [[Varsity Show]], ''[[Fly With Me (musical)|Fly With Me]]''. The songs for the show were originally written by Rodgers (a freshman) and [[Lorenz Hart]]. Hammerstein, who was on the judging committee, added two songs in the revising stage. The three men collaborated again on the 1921 Varsity Show, ''You'll Never Know'', with Hammerstein as "Director of Production".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sing a Song of Morningside|url=https://www.thevarsityshow.com/about-sing-a-song-of-morningside|access-date=August 28, 2021|website=The Varsity Show}}</ref> Although Rodgers did not work with Hammerstein again until ''[[Oklahoma!]]'', they achieved success independently from each other. Rodgers [[Rodgers and Hart|continued to collaborate]] for more than two decades with Hart. Among their many [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] hits were the shows ''[[A Connecticut Yankee (musical)|A Connecticut Yankee]]'' (1927), ''[[Babes in Arms]]'' (1937), ''[[The Boys from Syracuse]]'' (1938), ''[[Pal Joey (musical)|Pal Joey]]'' (1940), and ''[[By Jupiter]]'' (1942), as well as many successful film projects.<ref name="guide">[http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/biographies/rodgers_hart.htm Rodgers and Hart Biography] Guide to Musical Theatre, accessed April 5, 2009</ref>

Hammerstein, a co-writer of the popular [[Rudolf Friml]] 1924 operetta ''[[Rose-Marie]]'', and [[Sigmund Romberg]] operettas ''[[The Desert Song]]'' (1926) and ''[[The New Moon]]'' (1928), began a successful collaboration with composer [[Jerome Kern]] on ''[[Sunny (musical)|Sunny]]'' (1925), which was a hit. Their 1927 musical ''[[Show Boat]]'' is considered to be one of the masterpieces of the American musical theater.<ref>[http://www.theatrehistory.com/american/musical005.html "Show Boat"], theatrehistory.com, excerpted from ''The Complete Book of Light Opera''. Lubbock, Mark. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1962. pp. 807–08.</ref>  Other Hammerstein/Kern collaborations include ''[[Sweet Adeline (musical)|Sweet Adeline]]'' (1929) and ''[[Very Warm for May]]'' (1939).  Although the last of these was panned by critics, it contains one of Kern and Hammerstein's best-loved songs, "[[All the Things You Are]]".<ref>Wilson, Jeremy. [http://www.jazzstandards.com/compositions-0/allthethingsyouare.htm "All the Things You Are (1939)"]. jazzstandards.com, accessed March 15, 2010</ref>

By the early 1940s, Hart had sunk deeper into alcoholism and emotional turmoil, and he became unreliable, prompting Rodgers to approach Hammerstein to ask if he would consider working with him.<ref>Layne, Joslyn. [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p84807|pure_url=yes}} Lorenz Hart Biography] at Allmusic, accessed September 23, 2009</ref>

==Early work==

===''Oklahoma!''===
{{Main|Oklahoma!}}
Independent of each other, Rodgers and Hammerstein had been attracted to making a musical based on [[Lynn Riggs]]' stage play ''[[Green Grow the Lilacs (play)|Green Grow the Lilacs]]''. When [[Jerome Kern]] declined Hammerstein's offer to work on such a project and Hart refused Rodgers' offer to do the same, Rodgers and Hammerstein began their first collaboration. The result, ''Oklahoma!'' (1943), marked a revolution in musical drama. Although not the first musical to tell a story of emotional depth and psychological complexity, ''Oklahoma!'' introduced a number of new storytelling elements and techniques. These included its use of song and dance to convey and advance both plot and character, rather than act as a diversion from the story, and the firm integration of every song into the plot-line.

''Oklahoma!'' was originally called ''Away We Go!'' and opened at the Shubert Theatre in [[New Haven]] on March 11, 1943. Only a few changes were made before it opened on Broadway, but three would prove significant: the addition of a [[wikt:Special:Search/showstopper|show-stopping number]], "[[Oklahoma (Rodgers and Hammerstein song)|Oklahoma!]]"; the deletion of the musical number "Boys and Girls Like You and Me", which was soon replaced with a reprise of "[[People Will Say We're in Love]]"; and the decision to re-title the musical after the song.

The original Broadway production opened on March 31, 1943, at the [[St. James Theatre]].  Although the typical musical of the time was usually written around the talents of a specific performer, such as [[Ethel Merman]] or [[Fred Astaire]], no stars were used in the production. Ultimately the original cast included [[Alfred Drake]] (Curly), [[Joan Roberts]] (Laurey), [[Celeste Holm]] (Ado Annie), [[Howard Da Silva]] (Jud Fry), [[Betty Garde]] (Aunt Eller), [[Lee Dixon (actor)|Lee Dixon]] (Will Parker) and Joseph Bulloff (Ali Hakim). [[Marc Platt (dancer)|Marc Platt]] danced the role of "Dream Curly", and [[Katharine Sergava]] danced the part of "Dream Laurey".  In ''Oklahoma!'', the story and the songs were considered more important than sheer star power. Nevertheless, the production ran for a then-unprecedented 2,212 performances, finally closing on May 29, 1948. Many enduring musical standards come from this show, among them "[[Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin']]", "[[The Surrey with the Fringe on Top]]", "[[I Cain't Say No]]", the aforementioned "[[People Will Say We're in Love]]", and "[[Oklahoma (Rodgers and Hammerstein song)|Oklahoma!]]". The popularity of these songs prompted Decca Records to have the original cast record the music from the show with the original orchestrations. This became the first musical to have an original cast recording, which is now a standard practice.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gross|first=Terry |title=How Rodgers and Hammerstein Revolutionized Broadway |work=NPR.org |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/04/09/600818943/how-rodgers-and-hammerstein-revolutionized-broadway |date=April 9, 2018 |access-date=February 11, 2022}}</ref>

In 1955, it was made into an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]]-winning [[Oklahoma! (film)|musical film]], the first feature shot with the [[Todd-AO]] [[70 mm film|70 mm]] [[widescreen]] process.  The film starred [[Gordon MacRae]] and [[Shirley Jones]], and [[Oklahoma! (soundtrack)|its soundtrack]] was No. 1 on the 1956 album charts.<ref>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r117173|label=Oklahoma! (MCA/Capitol)}}</ref><ref>The film was shot in two versions, the Todd-AO one, distributed by [[Mike Todd]]'s Magna productions, and a [[Cinemascope]] version for theatres that were not, at that time, able to handle Todd-AO. The Cinemascope version was released by [[RKO]] a year after the Todd-AO version and is the one that most audiences have seen.{{citation needed|date=May 2014}}</ref>

After their initial success with ''Oklahoma!'', the pair took a break from working together and Hammerstein concentrated on the musical ''[[Carmen Jones]]'', a stage version of [[Bizet]]'s ''[[Carmen (opera)|Carmen]]'' with the characters changed to [[African Americans]] in the contemporary South, for which he wrote the book and lyrics. The musical was adapted to the screen in 1954, and scored a [[Academy Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] Oscar nomination for leading lady [[Dorothy Dandridge]]. Rodgers and Hammerstein also received a special [[Pulitzer Prize]] in 1944 for ''Oklahoma!''.<ref>[https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/richard-rodgers-and-oscar-hammerstein-ii "Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II for ''Oklahoma!''"], Pulitzer.org, 1944, accessed November 16, 2019</ref>

===''Carousel''===
{{Main|Carousel (musical)}}

[[File:Use of Wondering.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"What's the Use of Wond'rin'&nbsp;" from ''Carousel'' (1947)]]
The original production of ''Carousel'' was directed by [[Rouben Mamoulian]] and opened at Broadway's [[Majestic Theatre (Broadway)|Majestic Theatre]] on April 19, 1945, running for 890 performances and closing on May 24, 1947. The cast included [[John Raitt]], [[Jan Clayton]], [[Jean Darling]], [[Christine Johnson (actress)|Christine Johnson]] and [[Bambi Linn]]. From this show came the hit musical numbers "The Carousel Waltz" (an instrumental),  "[[If I Loved You]]", "June Is Bustin' Out All Over", and "[[You'll Never Walk Alone]]".

''[[Carousel (musical)|Carousel]]'' was also revolutionary for its time – adapted from [[Ferenc Molnár]]'s play ''[[Liliom]]'', it was one of the first musicals to contain a tragic plot about an antihero;<ref>Hyland, p. 158</ref> it also contained an extended ballet that was crucial to the plot, and several extended musical scenes containing both sung and spoken material, as well as dance. The 1956 [[Carousel (film)|film version]] of ''Carousel'', made in [[CinemaScope 55]], again starred Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones, the same leads as the film version of ''Oklahoma!''

''Carousel'' is also unique among the Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals for not having an overture; both the stage and film versions began with the familiar ''Carousel Waltz''.  This music was included in [[John Mauceri]]'s [[Philips Records]] CD of the complete overtures of Rodgers and Hammerstein with the [[Hollywood Bowl Orchestra]].  It was also included in Rodgers' rare 1954 album for [[Columbia Records]] with the composer conducting the [[New York Philharmonic Orchestra]].<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000WZKCLA "''Richard Rodgers Conducts Richard Rodgers''], Columbia Odyssey, {{ASIN|B000WZKCLA}} accessed December 20, 2012</ref>

===''State Fair''===
{{Main|State Fair (1945 film)}}

In 1945, a [[Technicolor]] [[State Fair (1945 film)|musical film version]] of [[Phil Stong]]'s novel ''State Fair'', with songs and script by Rodgers and Hammerstein, was released. The film, a remake of a 1933 non-musical [[Will Rogers]] film of the [[State Fair (1933 film)|same name]], starred [[Jeanne Crain]], [[Dana Andrews]], [[Dick Haymes]], and [[Vivian Blaine]]. This was the only time the pair ever wrote a score directly for film. It was a great success, winning Rodgers and Hammerstein their lone [[Academy Award|Oscar]] together, for the song "[[It Might as Well Be Spring]]",<ref>[http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/search/results "Oscar Hammerstein II"], Search Results – Academy Awards Database, accessed April 29, 2019</ref> but it was also unadventurous material for them, compared with several of their Broadway shows.  In 1962, an [[State Fair (1962 film)|unsuccessful remake]] of the musical film was released.

In 1969, the [[St. Louis Municipal Opera]] presented the world stage premiere of ''[[State Fair (musical)|State Fair]]'' starring [[Ozzie and Harriet]] Nelson.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19690605&id=RFpIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rQEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6983,3544219 "Dorothy Manners"] ''Toledo Blade'', June 5, 1969</ref> The production was directed by [[James Hammerstein]], supervised by Richard Rodgers and choreographed by Tommy Tune.  ''State Fair'' finally arrived on Broadway on March 27, 1996, with [[Donna McKechnie]] and [[Andrea McArdle]], produced by [[David Merrick]], and received five Tony Award nominations.

==''South Pacific'' and important subsequent works==

===''South Pacific''===
{{Main|South Pacific (musical)}}

[[File:Final scene South Pacific.jpg|thumb|upright=1|alt=Emile and Nellie grasp hands as Emile's two children look on.|The final tableau in ''South Pacific'' (1949)]]
'''''South Pacific''''' opened on Broadway on April 7, 1949, and ran for over five years. Its songs "[[Bali Ha'i]]", "[[Younger Than Springtime]]", and "[[Some Enchanted Evening (song)|Some Enchanted Evening]]" have become standards.  The play is based upon two short stories by [[James A. Michener]] from his book ''[[Tales of the South Pacific]]'', which itself was the winner of the [[Pulitzer Prize for Fiction]] in 1948.  For their adaptation, Rodgers and Hammerstein, along with co-writer [[Joshua Logan]], 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]]. 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.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Most |first=Andrea |date=2000 |title='You've Got to Be Carefully Taught': The Politics of Race in Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'South Pacific' |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25068808 |journal=Theatre Journal |volume=52 |issue=3 |pages=307–337 |doi=10.1353/tj.2000.0091 |jstor=25068808 |s2cid=153722364 |issn=0192-2882|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

In the original production, [[Mary Martin]] starred as the heroine Nellie Forbush, and opera star [[Ezio Pinza]] starred as Emile de Becque, the French plantation owner. Also in the cast were [[Juanita Hall]], [[Myron McCormick]] and [[Betta St. John]].  The [[South Pacific (1958 film)|1958 film version]], also directed by Logan, starred [[Mitzi Gaynor]], [[Rossano Brazzi]], [[John Kerr (actor)|John Kerr]], [[Ray Walston]], and [[Juanita Hall]].  Brazzi, Kerr, and Hall had their singing dubbed by others.

===''The King and I''===
{{Main|The King and I}}

Based on [[Margaret Landon]]'s ''[[Anna and the King of Siam (book)|Anna and the King of Siam]]''—the story of [[Anna Leonowens]], governess to the children of King [[Mongkut]] of [[Thailand|Siam]] in the early 1860s—Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical ''The King and I'' opened at the [[St. James Theatre]] on Broadway on March 29, 1951, starring [[Gertrude Lawrence]] as Anna and the mostly unknown [[Yul Brynner]] as the king. This musical featured the hit songs "[[I Whistle a Happy Tune]]", "[[Hello, Young Lovers (song)|Hello, Young Lovers]]", "[[Getting to Know You (song)|Getting to Know You]]", "[[We Kiss in a Shadow]]", "[[Something Wonderful (song)|Something Wonderful]]", "[[I Have Dreamed (song)|I Have Dreamed]]", and [[Shall We Dance? (1951 song)|"Shall We Dance?"]]

''The King and I'' was followed by ''[[Me and Juliet]]'', which opened at the [[Majestic Theatre (Broadway)|Majestic Theatre]] on May 28, 1953. When ''Oklahoma!'' returned to Broadway on August 31, 1953, with ''The King and I'', ''Me and Juliet'' and ''South Pacific'' all still playing, Rodgers and Hammerstein had four shows appearing on Broadway at once.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=R&H's Alltime Mark With 4-Show B'way Takeover; Some Famed Precedents|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=August 26, 1953|page=1|url=https://archive.org/details/variety191-1953-08/page/n194/mode/1up?view=theater|access-date=March 12, 2024|via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>

''The King and I'' was adapted for film in 1956 with Brynner re-creating his role opposite [[Deborah Kerr]] (whose singing was largely dubbed by [[Marni Nixon]]). Brynner won an [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] as [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] for his portrayal, and Kerr was nominated as [[Academy Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]. Brynner reprised the role twice on Broadway in 1977 and 1985 and in a short-lived TV sitcom in 1972, ''Anna and the King''.

===''Cinderella''===
{{Main|Cinderella (Rodgers and Hammerstein musical)|l1=Cinderella}}

[[File:Stuart Damon Lesley Ann Warren Cinderella.jpg|thumb|180px|[[Stuart Damon]], as the Prince, and [[Lesley Ann Warren]], as Cinderella.]]
Based on the fairytale character and story of [[Cinderella]], Rodgers and Hammerstein created their only collaborative effort written for television. ''Cinderella'' aired on March 31, 1957, on [[CBS]].  More than 107&nbsp;million viewers saw the broadcast, and [[Julie Andrews]] was nominated for an [[Emmy Award]] for her performance in the title role.<ref>Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/70412-Lost-Cinderella-Footage-On-View-at-NYCs-Museum-of-TV-Radio "Lost ''Cinderella'' Footage On View at NYC's Museum of TV & Radio"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201164057/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/70412-Lost-Cinderella-Footage-On-View-at-NYCs-Museum-of-TV-Radio |date=February 1, 2014 }}, Playbill.com, June 20, 2002, accessed December 22, 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.emmys.com/celebrities/julie-andrews Julie Andrews: Awards & Nominees], Emmys.com, accessed December 22, 2012</ref><ref>The Nielsen TV rating for the program was 18,864,000 "homes reached during an average minute" of the broadcast. "[http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1957/1957-05-06-BC.pdf Ratings]", Broadcasting-Telecasting, May 6, 1957, p. 51</ref> Rodgers and Hammerstein originally signed to work with [[NBC]], but CBS approached them, offering the chance to work with Julie Andrews, and the two quickly agreed. Rodgers stated, "What won us over was the chance to work with Julie."  Andrews played Cinderella, with [[Edith Adams]] as the Fairy Godmother, [[Kaye Ballard]] and [[Alice Ghostley]] as stepsisters Joy and Portia, and [[Jon Cypher]] as Prince Christopher.  Though it was broadcast in color, and the major networks all had the new (B&W) videotape recorders from Ampex, a black and white [[kinescope]] is all that remains. It featured songs still treasured today, "In My Own Little Corner", "Ten Minutes Ago" and "Impossible: It's Possible." After the success of the 1957 production, another version was presented in 1965 and shown annually on CBS, starring [[Lesley Ann Warren]], [[Stuart Damon]], [[Celeste Holm]] and [[Walter Pidgeon]]. Yet another television version first aired [[Cinderella (1997 film)|in 1997]] on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], produced by [[Walt Disney Television]], starring [[Brandy (singer)|Brandy]], [[Whitney Houston]], [[Bernadette Peters]], and [[Whoopi Goldberg]]. Stage versions were also presented in London and elsewhere, and the musical was finally given a Broadway production, with a revised book by [[Douglas Carter Beane]], and incorporating four songs from the Rodgers and Hammerstein catalog, in 2013.

===''Flower Drum Song''===
{{Main|Flower Drum Song}}

Based on a 1957 novel by [[C. Y. Lee (author)|C. Y. Lee]], ''Flower Drum Song'' takes place in [[Chinatown, San Francisco|San Francisco's Chinatown]] in the late 1950s. The original 1958 production was directed by dancer/singer/actor [[Gene Kelly]].  The story deals with a young Chinese woman who illegally comes to America in hopes of marrying a wealthy young Chinese-American man, who is already in love with a Chinatown nightclub dancer. The young man's parents are traditional Chinese and want him to marry the new Chinese immigrant, but he is hesitant until he falls in love with her.  Though this musical did not achieve the popularity of the team's five most famous musicals, it was nevertheless a success and broke new ground by using a mostly Asian cast. The [[Flower Drum Song (film)|1961 film adaptation]] was a lavish, but much criticized, [[Ross Hunter]] production released by [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]].<ref>{{cite book  | last = Lewis  | first = David  | year = 2006  | title = Flower Drum Songs: The Story of Two Musicals  | edition = illustrated  | publisher = McFarland and Co.  | location = Jefferson, N.C.  | isbn = 978-0-7864-2246-3  |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nSwUAQAAIAAJ|pages=208–209}}</ref> A Broadway revival in 2002 starring [[Lea Salonga]] had a rewritten plot by playwright [[David Henry Hwang]] but retained the inter-generational and immigrant themes as well as most of the original songs.

===''The Sound of Music''===
{{Main|The Sound of Music}}

[[File:Mary_Martin_in_The_Sound_of_Music_by_Toni_Frissell.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Mary Martin]] and children in a publicity photo (1959)]]
''The Sound of Music'', Rodgers and Hammerstein's last work together, is based on the story of the Austrian [[The Story of the Von Trapp Family Singers|Von Trapp Family]]. Starring [[Mary Martin]] as Maria and [[Theodore Bikel]] as Captain von Trapp, it opened on Broadway at the [[Lunt-Fontanne Theatre]] on November 16, 1959, garnering much praise and numerous awards.  It has been frequently revived ever since.  The show was made into a [[The Sound of Music (film)|film]] in 1965 starring [[Julie Andrews]] as Maria and [[Christopher Plummer]] as the Captain.  It won five [[Academy Award|Oscars]], including [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]] and [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]], [[Robert Wise]]. Hammerstein died in August 1960, before the film was made, so when Rodgers was asked to create two new songs for the film ("[[I Have Confidence]]" and "[[Something Good (Richard Rodgers song)|Something Good]]"), he wrote the lyrics as well as the music.<ref>Hischak, p. 170</ref> ''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 most enduring of these include the [[The Sound of Music (song)|title song]], "[[Do-Re-Mi]]", "[[My Favorite Things (song)|My Favorite Things]]", "[[Climb Ev'ry Mountain]]", "[[So Long, Farewell]]" and "[[Sixteen Going on Seventeen]]". "[[Edelweiss (song)|Edelweiss]]" was the last song that Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote together.<ref>[http://www.rnh.com/bio/154/Hammerstein-II-Oscar "Oscar Hammerstein II"], rnh.com, Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, accessed October 28, 2014</ref>

==Legacy==
Rodgers and Hammerstein re-worked the musical theater genre.  Early 20th-century musicals, except for the [[Princess Theatre, New York City|Princess Theatre]] musicals and a few important examples like Hammerstein and [[Jerome Kern]]'s ''[[Show Boat]]'', were usually whimsical or farcical, and typically built around a star. Because the efforts of Rodgers and Hammerstein were so successful, 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. [[Stephen Sondheim]] has cited Rodgers and Hammerstein as having had a crucial influence on his work.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20041110225753/http://www.pbs.org/wnet/broadway/stars/hammerstein_o.html Hammerstein biography on PBS], pbs.org, accessed November 29, 2008</ref>

Rodgers and Hammerstein also use the technique of what some call the "formula musical". While some hail this approach, others criticize it for its predictability. The term "formula musical" may refer to a musical with a predictable plot, but it also refers to the casting requirements of Rodgers & 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.  However, this formula had been used in Viennese [[operetta]], such as ''[[The Merry Widow]]''.

William A. Everett and Paul R. Laird wrote that ''Oklahoma!'', "like ''Show Boat'', became a milestone, so that later historians writing about important moments in twentieth-century theatre would begin to identify eras according to their relationship to ''Oklahoma!''"<ref>Everett, p. 124</ref> In ''The Complete Book of Light Opera'', Mark Lubbock adds, "After ''Oklahoma!'', Rodgers and Hammerstein were the most important contributors to the musical-play form – with such masterworks as ''Carousel'', ''The King and I'' and ''South Pacific''. The examples they set in creating vital plays, often rich with social thought, provided the necessary encouragement for other gifted writers to create musical plays of their own."<ref name=Lubbock>Lubbock, Mark. [http://www.theatrehistory.com/american/musical030.html "American Musical Theatre: An Introduction"], theatrehistory.com, republished from ''The Complete Book of Light Opera''. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1962, pp. 753–56, accessed December 3, 2008</ref>

In 1950, the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein received [[The Hundred Year Association of New York]]'s Gold Medal Award "in recognition of outstanding contributions to the City of New York."{{citation needed|date=October 2016}} They were also honored in 1999 with a [[United States Postal Service]] stamp commemorating their partnership.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}} The [[Richard Rodgers Theatre]] in New York City is named after Rodgers. ''[[Forbes]]'' named Rodgers and Hammerstein second on its list of top-earning dead celebrities in 2009 at $235&nbsp;million.<ref>Miller, Matthew. [https://www.forbes.com/2009/10/27/top-earning-dead-celebrities-list-dead-celebs-09-entertainment_land.html?boxes=listschannelinsidelists "Top-Earning Dead Celebrities"], Forbes.com, October 27, 2009</ref> 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]].<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/proms/7959700/Proms-2010-Prom-49-A-celebration-of-Rodgers-and-Hammerstein.html :Proms 2010: Prom 49: A celebration of Rodgers and Hammerstein, review"], ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'', October 27, 2016</ref>

A [[revue]] of Rodgers and Hammerstein's songs, ''[[A Grand Night for Singing]]'', played on Broadway in 1993.<ref>[https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/a-grand-night-for-singing-4584 "''A Grand Night for Singing''"], Internet Broadway database. Retrieved October 27, 2025</ref>

==On television and film==
Rodgers and Hammerstein appeared on live telecasts several times.  They were guests on 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.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}} In 1954, they appeared on a memorable TV musical special, ''[[General Foods 25th Anniversary Show: A Salute to Rodgers and Hammerstein]]''.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}} They were the mystery guests on episode number 298 of ''[[What's My Line]]'', which first aired on February 19, 1956; blindfolded panelist [[Arlene Francis]] was able to correctly identify them.<ref>[http://www.tv.com/whats-my-line/episode-298/episode/95448/summary.html "Episode #298"], ''What's My Line'', season 7, episode 25, TV.com, February 19, 1956, accessed August 23, 2017</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/30893/Main-Street-to-Broadway/overview|title=Main Street to Broadway - Trailer - Showtimes - Cast - Movies - New York Times|date=November 18, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118184252/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/30893/Main-Street-to-Broadway/overview |archive-date=November 18, 2007 }}</ref> They also appeared in the trailer for the film version of ''South Pacific'' in 1958.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}

==Social issues==
While Rodgers and Hammerstein's work contains cheerful and often uplifting songs, they departed from the comic and sentimental tone of early 20th-century musicals by seriously addressing issues such as [[racism]], [[sexism]] and [[classism]] in many of their works.<ref>Hischak, p. 54</ref><ref>Rousuck, J. Wynn. [https://www.baltimoresun.com/1994/12/18/rodgers-and-hammerstein-remembered-for-their-art-and-their-emotional-impact-the-sound-of-their-music/ "Rodgers and Hammerstein remembered for their art and their emotional impact: The Sound of Their Music"], ''Baltimore Sun'', December 18, 1994, accessed August 15, 2015</ref> For example, ''[[Carousel (musical)|Carousel]]'' concerns domestic violence,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Billington |first=Michael |date=2012-08-21 |title=Carousel – review |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2012/aug/21/carousel-musical-review |access-date=2023-08-21 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> while ''[[South Pacific (musical)|South Pacific]]'' addresses racism.<ref>Rockwell, John. [https://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/02/arts/music-a-new-south-pacific-by-the-city-opera.html "Music: A new ''South Pacific'' by the City Opera"], ''The New York Times'', March 2, 1987, accessed June 5, 2013</ref> Based on the true story of the von Trapp family, ''[[The Sound of Music]]'' explores the views of Austrians on the [[Anschluss]], the takeover of Austria by [[Nazi Germany]] in March 1938.<ref>Gearin, Joan. [https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2005/winter/von-trapps.html "Movie vs. Reality: The Real Story of the von Trapp Family"], ''[[Prologue (magazine)|Prologue]]'' magazine, [[National Archives and Records Administration]], Winter 2005, Vol. 37, Issue No. 4, accessed April 2, 2008</ref>

==Work==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* '''1943''' ''[[Oklahoma!]]''
** 1955 [[Oklahoma! (film)|film version]]
* '''1945''' ''[[Carousel (musical)|Carousel]]''
** 1956 [[Carousel (film)|film version]]
** 1967 [[Carousel (1967 film)|TV version]]
* '''1945''' ''[[State Fair (1945 film)|State Fair]]'' (film)
** 1962 [[State Fair (1962 film)|remake]]
** 1996 [[State Fair (musical)|stage version]]
* '''1947''' ''[[Allegro (musical)|Allegro]]''
* '''1949''' ''[[South Pacific (musical)|South Pacific]]''
** 1958 [[South Pacific (1958 film)|film version]]
** 2001 [[South Pacific (2001 film)|TV version]]
* '''1951''' ''[[The King and I]]''
** 1956 [[The King and I (1956 film)|film version]]
** 1999 [[The King and I (1999 film)|animation]]
{{col-break}}

* '''1953''' ''[[Me and Juliet]]''
* '''1955''' ''[[Pipe Dream (musical)|Pipe Dream]]''
* '''1957''' ''[[Cinderella (Rodgers and Hammerstein musical)|Cinderella]]'' (television)
** 1958 [[Cinderella (Rodgers and Hammerstein musical)#Stage productions|West End version]] ([[pantomime]]-style adaptation)
** 1965 [[Cinderella (Rodgers and Hammerstein musical)#1965 version|TV remake]]
** 1997 [[Cinderella (1997 film)|TV remake]]
** 2013 [[Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella (Beane musical)|Broadway version]] (rewritten book with added songs)
* '''1958''' ''[[Flower Drum Song]]''
** 1961 [[Flower Drum Song (film)|film version]]
** 2002 [[Flower Drum Song#2002 revival|revival]] (rewritten book with one new song)
* '''1959''' ''[[The Sound of Music]]''
** 1965 [[The Sound of Music (film)|film version]]
** 2013 [[The Sound of Music Live!|live television version]]
** 2015 [[The Sound of Music Live (2015)|live television version]] (UK)

{{col-end}}

==See also==
*[[Rodgers and Hart]]
*[[Concord Music]], owner of the Rodgers and Hammerstein copyrights
*[[List of songwriter tandems]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book|last1=Everett|first1=William A.|last2=Laird|first2=Paul|author-link2=Paul Laird|title=The Cambridge Companion to the Musical|year=2002|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=0-521-79639-3|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/cambridgecompani0000unse_w4b7}}
* {{cite book |last1=Hischak|first1=Thomas |title=The Rodgers and Hammerstein Encyclopedia |year= 2007| publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-313-34140-3}}
* {{cite book|last1=Hyland|first1=William G.|title=Richard Rodgers|year=1998|publisher=Yale University Press|location=New Haven, Conn.|isbn=978-0-300-07115-3|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/richardrodgers00hyla}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last1=Nolan |first1=Frederick |author-link1=Frederick Nolan (writer) |year=2002 |title=The Sound of Their Music: The Story of Rodgers and Hammerstein |publisher=Applause Books |isbn=1-55783-473-3 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Purdum |first1=Todd |author-link1=Todd S. Purdum |title=Something Wonderful: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway Revolution |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n59MDwAAQBAJ |year=2018 |location=New York |publisher=Henry Holt and Company |isbn=9781627798341 |oclc=985072859}}

==External links==
* [http://www.rnh.com Rodgers and Hammerstein]
* [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Rodgers+&+Hammerstein Rodgers and Hammerstein] Discography at [[Discogs]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20020607051823/http://www.time.com/time/time100/artists/profile/hammerstein4.html Rodgers and Hammerstein] ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine's "100 most influential artists"
* [http://c250.columbia.edu/c250_celebrates/remarkable_columbians/rodgers_hammerstein.html Rodgers and Hammerstein] Columbia University Encyclopedia
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100824154144/http://fora.tv/2009/08/29/Rodgers_and_Hammerstein_in_the_21st_Century Theodore S. Chapin, of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization, discusses their copyright license philosophy]}} at Jacob's Pillow PillowTalk, August 29, 2009

{{Rodgers and Hammerstein}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodgers and Hammerstein}}
[[Category:Rodgers and Hammerstein| ]]
[[Category:American male songwriters]]
[[Category:American songwriting teams]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:American male musical duos]]