Richard Rodgers

After long and highly distinguished careers with other collaborators, composer Richard Rodgers (1902-1979) and lyricist/librettist Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960) joined forces in 1943 to create the most successful partnership in American Musical Theatre. Oklahoma! (1943), the first Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, introduced an integrated form that became known as “the musical play.” Their shows that followed included Carousel (1945), the movie State Fair (1945; remade 1962; Broadway premiere, 1996), Allegro (1947), South Pacific (1949), The King and I (1951), Me and Juliet (1953), Pipe Dream (1955), the TV musical Cinderella (1957; remade 1965, 1997; Broadway premiere, 2013); Flower Drum Song (1958) and The Sound of Music (1959). Collectively, the Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals have earned Tony, Oscar, GRAMMY, Emmy, Pulitzer and Olivier Awards. LCT has presented Tony Award-winning productions of Carousel (1994), South Pacific (2008) and The King and I (2015).