OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II AND
STEPHEN SONDHEIM:
MENTOR AND STUDENT - PUTTING IT TOGETHER

Sheryl Flatow

DESCRIPTION: Oscar Hammerstein II and Stephen Sondheim, two of the most legendary figures in musical theatre history, never worked together. But their bond is perhaps stronger than that of any writing partners, as Hammerstein was a surrogate father and mentor to Sondheim. In fact, Sondheim has said, “If Oscar had been a geologist, I would have become one, too. On its surface, the work of Hammerstein, librettist and lyricist, and Sondheim, composer and lyricist, could not appear more different: Hammerstein is known for his simplicity and optimism, Sondheim for his complexity and more probing outlook. But these two romantics—and, yes, Sondheim, in his way, is as much of a romantic as Hammerstein—were forces of change in musical theatre. Using video and photos, Flatow will examine six shows by Hammerstein and four by Sondheim, exploring their approaches and working methods. She will also look at their personal lives, and the impact that the mentor had on his student.

EIGHT LECTURES:

1. Carousel: The show Time magazine called the “Best Musical of the 20th-Century.”
   
2. South Pacific: A Pulitzer Prize–winning tale of love and prejudice
   
3. The King and I: East Meets West in Siam.
   
4. Three in One: Allegro, Flower Drum Song, and The Sound of Music
   
5. Follies: The past is very much present at the reunion of a group of showgirls.
   
6. Sweeney Todd: A scary, funny masterpiece about a throat-slitting barber and his piemaking companion
   
7. Sunday in the Park with George: A Pulitzer Prize winner inspired by one of Georges Seurat’s famous paintings
   
8. Into the Woods: Familiar storybook characters take an amusing, moving journey of growth and self-discovery.

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Sheryl Flatow has written about theatre and dance for more than 30 years. She curated major exhibitions in San Francisco on Stephen Sondheim, Richard Rodgers, George Gershwin, George Balanchine, and several others. She has led pre-performance talks; moderated panel discussions on theatre and dance; and conducted public interviews with leading figures in the arts, including Patti LuPone, Barbara Cook, Natalia Makarova and Judith Jamison. She also wrote the CD liner notes for Into the Woods and Jerome Robbins’ Broadway.