Lyrics & Lyricists

Oscar Hammerstein II, in collaboration with Richard Rodgers and others before him, created some of musical theater’s most iconic shows and enduring songs.

Beloved for their simplicity, sentiment, and heart, Hammerstein’s lyrics have also at times been under-appreciated for those very qualities. In this all-new Lyrics & Lyricists show, Tony nominees Dick Scanlan and Malcolm Gets take a fresh look at the soul and spirit of the man behind the seemingly simple lyrics – one with a keen understanding of human nature, and ahead of his time in his commitment to social justice and multiculturalism. Through a deep dive into the wide-ranging source material that captivated and inspired Hammerstein (a Cherokee-authored play, a German film, a feminist novel) – resulting in masterworks from Oklahoma! to The Sound of Music to Carousel to Show Boat and more – we celebrate the complexity of the American Songbook optimist who explored the dark but always saw the light.