Rodgers And Hammerstein: Major Social Issues In Musicals

Musicals are usually known for their upbeat songs, dances, and the lighthearted stories that they tell through the art form known as theatre. What many people don’t know, is that since the beginning of theatre, musicals have dealt with serious social issues that have taken place within our society. Musicals have taken unique approaches in projecting impactful social movements and issues. In the past, musicals have made certain ideals, values, and perspectives easier for the people in society to understand and accept. One of the most prominent theatre production companies to deal with major social issues and that has had influence through their musicals is Rodgers and Hammerstein. Rodgers and Hammerstein have had many popular and relevant Broadway musicals that have been performed on different stages all around the world. Musicals such as Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King

In an interview, Oscar Hammerstein II stated, “at the time I wrote the song, I was perfectly conscious of the risks, but if you know the deal about the technique of songs, one of the pleasures of working is breaking those rules every once in a while”. Rodgers and Hammerstein had many achievements with their shows and songs that resulted in fifteen Academy Awards, thirty-four Tony Awards, two Grammys, and the Pulitzer Prize through their compositions. Musical productions from this pair sparked controversy and interest making them to find it difficult in communicating their perspectives. In an interview, when asked about viewers’ conformity in reference to the musicals, Rogers explained that “the best way to project these things and to get a response from an audience is to do them in a way they were done originally after we got finished correcting them ourselves”. Rodgers and Hammerstein became the most successful partnership of the 20th century through this type of defiance and their