Rodgers and Hammerstein Essay -- essays research papers

Rodgers and Hammerstein Collaborations Oklahoma! The first collaboration of Rodgers and Hammerstein was entitled Oklahoma! The idea of the musical came from a play called Green Grow the Lilacs, written by Lynn Riggs in 1931. This story is about the state of Oklahoma at the turn of the century, when the Indian Territory joined the United States. It is the story of a girl named Laurey Williams and her (sort of) love triangle with two boys by the names of Curley McClain and Jud Fry. Laurey is in love with Curley, but she attends a dance with Jud instead. At the dance, Curley surprised Laurey by bidding an enormous amount on the basket of food she has prepared. They soon marry, and after the wedding, Jud starts a fight with Curley, but he loses. Jud is accidentally stabbed, but Curley was acquitted. Curley and his new wife live happily ever after in the great place of Oklahoma.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This musical opened at St. James Theatre on March 31, 1943 and ran for 2,212 performances. It was directed by Rouben Mamoulain and choreographed by Agnes de Mille. Oklalahoma! became so popular that it was decided to make it into a movie. The movie would be pretty similar, including some of the musical’s famous songs, such as â€Å"Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’,† â€Å"The Surrey With the Fringe on Top,† â€Å"People Will Say We’re In Love,† and â€Å"Oklahoma.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The film version of the same name was released October 11, 1955. Agnes de Mille again, choreographed it. Shirley Jones played the role of Laurey Williams, while Gordon MacRea played Curley McClain. Carousel On April 19, 1945 the musical Carousel opened at the Majestic Theatre in New York. It was based on the play entitled Liliom by Ferenc Molnar. This was a story about a young man named Billy Bigelow and his young wife Julie Jordan. Billy is a carnival barker, but soon looses his job. This upsets him because he knows that Julie is about to have a child, so he attempts to get more money by means of robbery. He then is forced to kill himself to escape arrest. Billy then goes to Heaven. Some time later, Billy is allowed to go back to earth for only 24 hours to see his unhappy daughter Louise, who is 15 years old. Billy steals a star to give to his daughter, but she refuses it. He slaps her in the face, but she isn’t upset by the action. Billy gets to know his daughter and gives her a better... ... and Hammerstein was also their last. The musical came from â€Å"The Trapp Family Singers,† by Maria Augusta Trapp. It opened on November 16, 1959 in New York and ran for 1,443 performances.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This was the story of a girl named Maria Rainer who is sent to the house of a widower named Capt. Georg Von Trapp, to watch over his children. They both fall in love with each other, but say nothing because Georg is engaged to a wealthy woman named Elsa Schraeder. They realize they are in love, and soon get married. They are forced to leave Austria because it has been invaded by the Germans. Georg must return to the navy. The two and the children escape the Germans.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many songs were incorporated into the story line, such as â€Å"The Sound of Music,† â€Å"My Favorite Things,† and â€Å"So Long, Farewell.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Sound of Music soon became a film. It premiered on March 2, 1965. Julie Andrews played the part of Maria, who played Cinderella before. There has been at least one revival since, on March 16, 1998 in New York. http://www.geocities.com/ding3371/ http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Booth/7900/