The Cambridge Companion to Rodgers and Hammerstein

Introduces Rodgers and Hammerstein's pathbreaking musicals from Oklahoma! to The Sound of Music, providing historical context and new critical perspectives.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's shows from Oklahoma! to The Sound of Music define the 1940s and 50s Broadway musical. They included hit songs that still resonate, won numerous awards, and have seen countless revivals. This book introduces each musical, the creators, and their collaborators, providing historical context and new critical perspectives.Sixty years after their final collaboration Rodgers and Hammerstein remain central figures in the world of musical theatre, and their global influence continues to be felt. This Companion presents their iconic work for a new generation of students, teachers and fans, giving both historical context and new perspectives on the partners, the people with whom they collaborated, and the shows they created. A chapter is devoted to each musical, from Oklahoma! to The Sound of Music, providing key information about that work in both its staged and film versions, and analysis of its distinctive features including those that present challenges for practitioners, audiences and researchers today. The volume also introduces the early careers of both creators and Rodgers's work after Hammerstein's death. The contributions represent a variety of complementary disciplinary backgrounds that can serve as models for future study not just on Rodgers and Hammerstein but also on musical theatre more generally.