RICHARD RODGERS AND OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II

After distinguished careers with other collaborators, composer Richard Rodgers (1902-79) and lyricist/librettist Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960) joined forces in 1942 to create the most successful partnership in the American musical theatre. Their output included Oklahoma! (1943), Carousel (1945), the movie State Fair (1945; remade 1962; Broadway premiere, 1996), Allegro (1947), South Pacific (1949), TheKing and I (1951), Me and Juliet (1953), Pipe Dream (1955), the TV musical Cinderella (1957; remade 1965, 1997); Flower Drum Song (1958) and The Sound of Music (1959). To date, the Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals have received several dozen major awards, including Pulitzers,Tonys, Oscars, Grammys and Emmys.