The Varsity Show: A Columbia Tradition

Rodgers and Hart and Hammerstein

Among the greatest composer and lyricist teams in the history of Broadway were Richard Rodgers (CC 1923) and Lorenz Hart (CC 1918), as well as Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II (CC 1916).  Rodgers and Hart were responsible for shows such as Babes in Arms, Pal Joey, The Boys From Syracuse, and On Your Toes featuring the brilliant lyrics of Hart.

 

Later, Rodgers and Hammerstein teamed up to write some of the best known Broadway musicals of the 20th century including Oklahoma!, South Pacific, The King and I, and The Sound of Music.

All three studied at Columbia and all worked on the Varsity Show.


Hammerstein donned blackface to portraty "Washington Snow" in 1916's The Peace Pirates.
Rodgers provided the music for 1923's Half Moon Inn and collaborated with Hart on 1920's Fly With Me.

The 1921 show You'll Never Know was the only show in which all three men worked together. Rodgers composed the music, Hart wrote the lyrics, and Hammerstein was the "Director of Production".


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