Overview

A collection of the letters from and to American musical theater's greatest innovator that provides an entertaining look behind the scenes of Broadway Oscar Hammerstein II virtually invented the modern American musical, first with Show Boat and then in his celebrated collaborations with composer Richard Rodgers on Broadway classics like Oklahoma!, Carousel, and The King and I that continue to fascinate audiences today. A brilliant lyricist and playwright, Hammerstein innovated the American musical with his sophisticated storytelling that single-handedly elevated musical theater to a serious art form. But there were many more sides to Hammerstein: He was also a canny businessman, a successful producer, a mentor to Stephen Sondheim, and a social activist.This rich collection edited by Mark Eden Horowitz features hundreds of previously unpublished letters that show off all facets of Hammerstein's many engagements and his personality. Hammerstein's correspondence with major Broadway figures like Richard Rodgers, Stephen Sondheim, Jerome Kern, and Josh Logan tells the history of twentieth-century American show business while his exchanges with politicians and activists shed light on social issues of the period. What unites these letters across their vast range of themes is Hammerstein's compelling voice that reveals a man who was sharp, opinionated, and funny but also cared deeply about addressing the social ills that his musicals explored beyond the stage.

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9780197538180

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Reviews

[Hammerstein] wrote no memoir, so these letters are the closest we'll get to having Hammerstein reveal himself to us * Jeremy McCarter, The Wall Street Journal * No one who cares about what makes theatre work can miss this collection. * Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker * The best-of-the-best made it into the volume - letters that showcase not just the creative Hammerstein, but Hammerstein the businessman, the mentor, the activist, and occasionally, the corrector. * Bob Mondello, NPR's All Things Considered * We're here to celebrate one of the most astonishing pieces of musical theater scholarship I have ever come across, and that is...the amazing book, The Letters of Oscar Hammerstein. * Larry Maslon, NPR's Broadway to Main Street * Mark Eden Horowitz has given us a tremendous gift—this incredibly readable, lovable and fascinating compilation of letters, a detailed and revealing portrait of an American icon (not to mention one of my personal idols.) These hundreds of letters, both received and sent, have been painstakingly compiled, edited and annotated, and include letters to and from colleagues, critics, celebrities, total strangers and even a prissy lady grammarian. And are they ever priceless— by turns hilarious, deeply thoughtful, generous, politically engaged and warm. I'm tempted to include quotes, some of which made me laugh out loud, but I won't. I'll let Oscar speak for himself. This book is a full meal to devour in small, delicious bites. To read his letters is to understand what it means to live a meaningful life, not only in our esoteric world of theater but also on Planet Earth. * Lynn Ahrens, Tony-winning lyricist of Ragtime * This treasure trove of writings and letters from Oscar Hammerstein is an incredible deep dive into the heart and conscience of one of musical theater's most daring and original lyricists and librettists. Between this and Sondheim on Music, Mark Eden Horowitz' contribution to our art form is incalculable. What a gift. * Lin-Manuel Miranda, award-winning songwriter, actor, director, creator of In the Heights and Hamilton * Oscar Hammerstein was not just the musical theater's wisest man but one of 20th century America's most civilized and humane public voices. Mark Horowitz's tender, meticulous collection captures this beloved writer in all his cockeyed optimistic splendor. * Todd S. Purdum, author of Something Wonderful: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway Revolution * What a generous man Oscar was. To write so many letters that actually went into detail about the art and the craft (and life itself) was a time-consuming job. Reading them makes me feel proud and privileged to have known him. And sad that he isn't around. * Stephen Sondheim * Reading this remarkable collection of letters is like making the acquaintance of a bright, ambitious young man embarking on what he hopes will be a useful, successful career in the American theater then, as one reads, gradually becoming friends with a prodigiously gifted, deeply decent, thoroughly admirable man. When one reaches the end—of the book, and of Hammerstein's life—one feels both a profound sadness and a deep sense of gratitude for how much of that life, both personal and professional, Hammerstein has left behind in this volume. A wonderful resource for anyone interested in the history of the American theater. A wonderful read for anyone interested in the history of a uniquely consequential American life. * John Weidman, librettist of Pacific Overtures, Assassins, Road Show, and Contact *

Mark Eden Horowitz has given us a tremendous gift-this incredibly readable, lovable and fascinating compilation of letters, a detailed and revealing portrait of an American icon (not to mention one of my personal idols.) These hundreds of letters, both received and sent, have been painstakingly compiled, edited and annotated, and include letters to and from colleagues, critics, celebrities, total strangers and even a prissy lady grammarian. And are they ever priceless- by turns hilarious, deeply thoughtful, generous, politically engaged and warm. I'm tempted to include quotes, some of which made me laugh out loud, but I won't. I'll let Oscar speak for himself. This book is a full meal to devour in small, delicious bites. To read his letters is to understand what it means to live a meaningful life, not only in our esoteric world of theater but also on Planet Earth. * Lynn Ahrens, Tony-winning lyricist of Ragtime * This treasure trove of writings and letters from Oscar Hammerstein is an incredible deep dive into the heart and conscience of one of musical theater's most daring and original lyricists and librettists. Between this and Sondheim on Music, Mark Eden Horowitz' contribution to our art form is incalculable. What a gift. * Lin-Manuel Miranda, award-winning songwriter, actor, director, creator of In the Heights and Hamilton * Oscar Hammerstein was not just the musical theater's wisest man but one of 20th century America's most civilized and humane public voices. Mark Horowitz's tender, meticulous collection captures this beloved writer in all his cockeyed optimistic splendor. * Todd S. Purdum, author of Something Wonderful: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway Revolution * What a generous man Oscar was. To write so many letters that actually went into detail about the art and the craft (and life itself) was a time-consuming job. Reading them makes me feel proud and privileged to have known him. And sad that he isn't around. * Stephen Sondheim * Reading this remarkable collection of letters is like making the acquaintance of a bright, ambitious young man embarking on what he hopes will be a useful, successful career in the American theater then, as one reads, gradually becoming friends with a prodigiously gifted, deeply decent, thoroughly admirable man. When one reaches the end-of the book, and of Hammerstein's life-one feels both a profound sadness and a deep sense of gratitude for how much of that life, both personal and professional, Hammerstein has left behind in this volume. A wonderful resource for anyone interested in the history of the American theater. A wonderful read for anyone interested in the history of a uniquely consequential American life. * John Weidman, librettist of Pacific Overtures, Assassins, Road Show, and Contact *

What a generous man Oscar was. To write so many letters that actually went into detail about the art and the craft (and life itself) was a time-consuming job. Reading them makes me feel proud and privileged to have known him. And sad that he isn't around. * Stephen Sondheim * Oscar Hammerstein was not just the musical theater's wisest man but one of 20th century America's most civilized and humane public voices. Mark Horowitz's tender, meticulous collection captures this beloved writer in all his cockeyed optimistic splendor. * Todd S. Purdum, Author of Something Wonderful: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway Revolution *

This treasure trove of writings and letters from Oscar Hammerstein is an incredible deep dive into the heart and conscience of one of musical theater's most daring and original lyricists and librettists. Between this and Sondheim on Music, Mark Eden Horowitz' contribution to our art form is incalculable. What a gift. * Lin-Manuel Miranda, award-winning songwriter, actor, director, creator of IN THE HEIGHTS and HAMILTON. * Mark Eden Horowitz has given us a tremendous gift-this incredibly readable, lovable and fascinating compilation of letters, a detailed and revealing portrait of an American icon (not to mention one of my personal idols.) These hundreds of letters, both received and sent, have been painstakingly compiled, edited and annotated, and include letters to and from colleagues, critics, celebrities, total strangers and even a prissy lady grammarian. And are they ever priceless- by turns hilarious, deeply thoughtful, generous, politically engaged and warm. Im tempted to include quotes, some of which made me laugh out loud, but I wont. Ill let Oscar speak for himself. This book is a full meal to devour in small, delicious bites. To read his letters is to understand what it means to live a meaningful life, not only in our esoteric world of theater but also on Planet Earth. * Lynn Ahrens, Tony-winning lyricist of Ragtime * What a generous man Oscar was. To write so many letters that actually went into detail about the art and the craft (and life itself) was a time-consuming job. Reading them makes me feel proud and privileged to have known him. And sad that he isn't around. * Stephen Sondheim * Oscar Hammerstein was not just the musical theater's wisest man but one of 20th century America's most civilized and humane public voices. Mark Horowitz's tender, meticulous collection captures this beloved writer in all his cockeyed optimistic splendor. * Todd S. Purdum, Author of Something Wonderful: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway Revolution *

Author Information

Mark Eden Horowitz is Senior Music Specialist in the music division of the Library of Congress where he has been an archivist or co-archivist for the papers of Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers, Vernon Duke, Cole Porter, Frederick Loewe, Alan Jay Lerner, Leonard Bernstein and others. He is the author of the award-winning Sondheim on Music and served as the contributing editor for The Sondheim Review for ten years. He has taught the history of musical theatre at Georgetown and Catholic University.

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