Their shows are American classics: “Oklahoma!,” “Carousel,” “The King and I,” “Sound of Music” and “South Pacific,” to list just some of them.
Their songs are classics of the American Songbook. Inspirational, but perhaps a little corny (“Climb Every Mountain,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and “My Favorite Things.”)
But few people know that Rodgers & Hammerstein were the radical pioneers of the “book musical” (where the songs were integrated into the story, as opposed to just dropped in for fun like the old vaudeville shows that proceeded them). And they were the first musicians to tackle serious subjects such as spousal abuse, suicide, male chauvinism and, especially, racism — in a time when even the movies wouldn’t touch such subjects.
This SDG will not only take us through their work — show-by-show (and, of course, we’ll be listening to some amazing music and seeing some spectacular video along the way) — but will also tell you who these two very different men were, what was their relationship and how they made it work - until it didn’t anymore.
Besides their songs, which will be the soundtrack to this SDG, the core book will be Todd Purdum’s brilliant “Something Wonderful: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Broadway Revolution,” which explores their fascinating lives and collaboration, show-by-show.
Don’t believe us. Here’s what The New York Times has to say about the book: “Something Wonderful” offers a fresh look at the milieu and circumstances that contributed to the creation of some of the musical theater’s greatest and most enduring treasures.”
Don’t believe the Times? Here’s what The Washington Post has to say:
“Todd S. Purdum offers a great introduction for newbies and enough fresh insights to engage readers familiar with the story. A veteran political reporter, Purdum goes moonlighting to delightful effect in “Something Wonderful.” His journalistic skills are evident in this affectionate tribute to the team that rewrote the rules for American musical theater. “Something Wonderful” is thoroughly researched and briskly written, seamlessly blending a chronological narrative of the productions with cogent analyses of their effect on American culture.”
So what’s not to like? Great songs, great stories (and some great gossip thrown in) — led by two show tune-loving hosts!!
