Richard Rodgers – A Celebration

In 1956 Hexham Amateur Stage Society presented ‘Oklahoma’ in the Forum Theatre and in every following decade we have performed a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. Shows composed by these two greats of musical theatre have been hugely popular in Hexham; Oklahoma 1956, 1965 and 1983, The King and 11958 and 1989, South Pacific 1964 and 1992, Carousel 1978 and 1994 and our most recent Rodgers and Hammerstein success ‘The Sound of Music’ in 2001. Richard Rodgers wrote nine Broadway Musicals with Oscar Hammerstein from 1943 to 1959 and twenty-six with his first lyricist partner Lorenz Hart with whom he worked with for twenty-four years. His music ranged from Broadway shows, original television and movie musicals, scores for documentaries and a ballet. After the death of Oscar Hammerstein in 1960 Richard Rodgers continued to compose. In 1962 his show ‘No Strings’ for which he wrote both music and lyrics, opened on Broadway. He collaborated with lyricist Stephen Sondheim for ‘Do I hear a Waltz’ 1965, and with Martin Charnin for ‘Two by Two’ in 1970 and for his last show ‘I Remember Mama’ in 1975. In the history of American musical and cinema Richard Rodgers is a • legendary talent and that Is why we at Hexham Amateur Stage Society celebrate the centenary of his birth with this concert.