Who Are Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II?
Richard Rodgers is an American composer born in 1902. He first partnered with Lorenz Hart, also known as Larry Hart, to write musicals like Pal Joey and Babes in Arms. He then went on to collaborate with Oscar Hammerstein II, writing many of the most popular shows in the American musical theatre canon. Richard Rodgers was the first ever EGOT winner, meaning he won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards. Beyond that, he also won the Pulitzer Prize and a Kennedy Center Honor for lifetime achievement in the arts. A Broadway Theater, the 46th Street Theatre, was renamed the Richard Rodgers Theatre in 1990. It has hosted many popular shows and is the current home of the blockbuster Hamilton.
Oscar Hammerstein II is an American lyricist born in 1985. He collaborated with many composers including Jerome Kern on the musical Show Boat, but his longest collaboration was with Richard Rodgers. Together they created some of the most well-known musicals of the genre, many of which are still being performed today. Composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim often referenced Hammerstein’s influence and mentorship, even calling him a surrogate father. Over his career, Hammerstein won two Oscars, eight Tony Awards, a Grammy Award and the Pulitzer Prize.