Hammerstein, Oscar
Born: July 12,
New York, New York
Died: August 23,
Doylestown, Pennsylvania
American songwriter
Oscar Hammerstein was perhaps the most influential lyricist and librettist (writer of opera lyrics) of the American theater. It was Hammerstein who reversed the process of musical writing, writing the lyrics first and then the score. Major musicals for which he wrote the lyrics include Showboat, South Pacific, The King and I, and The Sound of Music.
Theatrical roots
Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was born into a great theatrical family on July 12, , in New York City. He was named after both famous grandfathers, Horace Greeley (&#x;; famous antislavery newspaper publisher), and Oscar I, an opera promoter, as well as after the minister who wed his parents. His father, William, was the manager of Victoria, one of the most famous vaudeville theaters (involving a variety of acts) of its day. His uncle, Arthur, was a well-known producer. All were famous in their own right, but all of their success would be overshadowed by this new family member, Oscar II.
Oscar, or "Ockie" (his lifelong nickname), dabbled in theatrical activities as a youth,
Oscar Hammerstein II
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Who Was Oscar Hammerstein II?
With composer Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II wrote the groundbreaking musical Show Boat (). His collaboration with composer Richard Rodgers led to some of the most notable musicals in Broadway history including Oklahoma! (), Carousel (), South Pacific (), The King and I (), and The Sound of Music (), among others. The celebrated pair also worked on film adaptions of their work and garnered many top awards including two Pulitzers, multiple Academy and Tony awards, and two Grammys. Their work has been revived numerous times and remains popular among audiences.
Early Years
Oscar Hammerstein II was born in New York City on July 12, , into a family who worked in theater. His father, William, managed a vaudeville theater, while his grandfather, Oscar Hammerstein I, was a famed opera impresario. Hammerstein's uncle Arthur was a successful producer of Broadway musicals.
While Hammerstein was studying law at Columbia University, he began acting in the school's Varsity Show revues. At Columbia, Hammerstein met lyricist Lorenz Hart and composer Richard Rodgers. As his passion for theater began to eclipse his
About Oscar Hammerstein
Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was born on July 12, in New York City. Oscar studied at Columbia Law School, but left for the theatre, where he collaborated with various composers including Richard Rodgers to create many of the world's best-loved musicals such as Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King & I and The Sound of Music. Over his illustrious career, Hammerstein contributed lyrics to more than songs that have continued to reverberate around the world for generations.
Much as his achievements in theater took place behind the curtain, Oscar’s humanitarian work was as humble as it was extraordinary. Throughout his career, Hammerstein used his creative talents to elevate the social consciousness of audiences on topics such as racial oppression, civil rights, power and privilege. As a political activist, Oscar secretly wrote a speech for Democratic candidate Adlai Stevenson. In his home of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Oscar worked with Pearl S. Buck to support her humanitarian efforts. He co-founded her Welcome House, which matched more than 7, orphans and children from around the globe with adoptive families in
Oscar Hammerstein II
Oscar Hammerstein II was born on July 12, in New York City. His father William was a theatre manager and, for many years, director of Hammerstein&#;s Victoria, the most popular vaudeville theatre of its day. His uncle, Arthur Hammerstein, was a successful Broadway producer and his grandfather, Oscar Hammerstein, a famous opera impresario.
Hammerstein started writing lyrics for the Columbia University Varsity shows while studying law. His earliest works included musical comedies written with a Columbia undergraduate seven years his junior named Richard Rodgers. (The varsity show, Fly With Me, was composed by Rodgers with lyrics by both Hammerstein and a fellow classmate of his named Lorenz Hart.) Withdrawing from Columbia Law School after his second year to pursue a career in theatre, Hammerstein took a job with his uncle as an assistant stage manager.
In Hammerstein&#;s first play, The Light, was produced by his Uncle Arthur; it lasted four performances. Undaunted, he continued to write both lyrics and librettos, principally with Otto Harbach as his collaborating author. His first success, with Harbach, Vincent Youmans and Herbert Stothart, was Wil
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