Rodgers Hammerstein
Musical theater lovers will rejoice upon discoveringRodgers & Hammerstein, the visually rich, musical-by-musical overview of one of Broadway's most creative duos. Ethan Mordden traces the output of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II from their first musical project together (Oklahoma) to their very last (The Sound of Music). With each of these, readers are given detailed (and sometimes critical) notes on the production processes and behind-the-scenes tidbits. The media backlash againstAllegro--due to choreographer Agnes de Mille firing a cast dancer she had conflicts with--is explained, as is the opening night flop ofMe and Juliet. And, though less remembered today, Mordden gives us detailed notes and pictures fromPipe Dream, the pair's ill-fated adaptation of John Steinbeck'sCannery Row. The real magic behindRodgers & Hammerstein, though, isn't in these ephemeral notes but in the book's lavish illustrations. Backdrop designs, cast recording album covers, and production photos tell a story here that words simply cannot. There have been numerous books chronicling the genius of Rodgers & Hammerstein (and, truth be told, many serve as better introductions to the duo), but few capture and illustrate the pair's magic like this one.--Jason Verlinde