The Rodgers and Hammerstein Encyclopedia

The Rodgers and Hammerstein Encyclopedia serves as a comprehensive reference guide to the works and careers of composers Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. The encyclopedia covers their collaborations from 1943-1959, including their nine stage musicals and two film projects. The book contains entries on every song, show, film, performer, collaborator, and key creative team member associated with the duo's productions. Each entry provides historical context, production details, and relevant background information about the subject's connection to Rodgers and Hammerstein's work. The volume includes rare photographs, original cast information, details about various revivals and adaptations, and documentation of the cultural impact of their shows. Production histories trace how shows evolved from concept through opening night and beyond. This reference work illuminates the revolutionary impact Rodgers and Hammerstein had on musical theater, showing how they integrated music, lyrics, and narrative in ways that transformed the American stage. Their innovations in storytelling and production continue to influence theater and film musicals today.

Very little public reader feedback exists for this reference book. Readers noted its comprehensive coverage of Rodgers & Hammerstein's works, with detailed entries on shows, songs, performers, and collaborators. Several reviewers appreciated the inclusion of lesser-known projects and adaptations. Criticisms focused on some factual errors and omissions. One Amazon reviewer pointed out missing credits for certain performers. Another noted inconsistencies in how thoroughly different shows were covered. Ratings: Amazon: 3.7/5 (3 reviews) Goodreads: No ratings or reviews WorldCat: No user reviews The limited number of public reviews makes it difficult to draw broad conclusions about reader reception. Most feedback comes from academic and library sources rather than general readers. No consensus exists on whether this serves better as a quick reference or in-depth research tool, as different readers used it for different purposes.

The Complete Book of Light Opera by Mark Lubbock This encyclopedia covers operettas and musical theater works from 1850-1950, offering detailed plot summaries, production histories, and composer information.

Broadway: The American Musical by Michael Kantor This companion book to the PBS series presents Broadway's history through archival photographs, biographical sketches, and chronicles of significant productions from the 1890s through modern times.

The Oxford Companion to the American Musical by Thomas S. Hischak This reference work contains entries on shows, performers, composers, directors, choreographers, and producers from the minstrel era to contemporary Broadway.

Broadway Musicals, Show by Show by Stanley Green and Cary Ginell This chronological guide provides facts, statistics, and background information for more than 300 musicals produced on Broadway since 1866.

American Musical Theatre: A Chronicle by Gerald Bordman This reference book presents a year-by-year documentation of musical theatre productions in America from 1866 through the twenty-first century, including cast lists, plot summaries, and production details.

🎭 Author Thomas S. Hischak is a Professor Emeritus of Theatre at the State University of New York College at Cortland, where he taught for 33 years 🎼 The encyclopedia covers not only Broadway shows but also film adaptations, television productions, and even unrealized projects by Rodgers and Hammerstein 🎬 The book includes detailed entries about performers who frequently appeared in R&H productions, including Mary Martin, Julie Andrews, and Yul Brynner 📚 Published in 2007, the encyclopedia contains over 200 entries and explores both the professional and personal relationship between Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II 🏆 The book documents how Rodgers and Hammerstein revolutionized musical theater by integrating songs seamlessly into storylines, a technique first showcased in their groundbreaking "Oklahoma!" (1943)