Most Popular Books by Oscar Hammerstein

In het leven van de advocaat Oscar Hammerstein zijn drie data van veel belang. Wanneer hij in juli 1988 te horen krijgt dat hij besmet is met het hiv-virus – toentertijd een doodvonnis – stort zijn wereld in. Hij gaat gezond leven, veel sporten en zet alles op alles om te overleven. In de lente van 1994 wordt hij opgepakt wegens vermeende betrokkenheid bij het witwassen van crimineel geld en wordt zijn overlevingsinstinct voor een tweede maal aangesproken. Zes weken lang zit hij vast. Uiteindelijk wordt hij op alle punten vrijgesproken. De moord op zijn vriend Pim Fortuyn is het derde ijkpunt in Hammersteins leven. De dader is veroordeeld maar de littekens ervan zijn bij de advocaat én in onze samenleving nog zichtbaar. In Ik heb de tijd vertelt Hammerstein openhartig over zijn familie en vrienden, zijn Leidse studententijd en zijn carrière als advocaat aan de hand van deze drie levensbepalende gebeurtenissen.

The timeless enchantment of a magical fairy tale is reborn with the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm, and elegance. Originally presented on television in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, Rodgers & Hammerstein''s Cinderella was the most widely viewed program in the history of the medium. Its re-creation in 1965 starring Lesley Ann Warren was no less successful in transporting a new generation to the miraculous kingdom of dreams-come-true, and so was a second remake in 1997, which starred Brandy as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as her Fairy Godmother. In 1956 Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were indisputably the world''s most successful writers of musicals. Julie Andrews was a sparkling new star, having just triumphed in My Fair Lady. When her agent approached Rodgers and Hammerstein and suggested that the television audience would welcome a musical version of "Cinderella," it was an irresistible temptation for all. Everything about the project was right from the start. The CBS production team was quickly assembled. Richard Lewine, a distant cousin of Rodgers and a close friend, was the producer, Ralph Nelson the director. Howard Lindsay and his wife, Dorothy Stickney, were signed for the King and Queen; Jon Cypher played the Prince; the Stepmother and Stepsisters were made less frightening and more comic by Ilka Chase, Kaye Ballard and Alice Ghostley; rather than the standard old crone, the beautiful Edie Adams played the Godmother. Rodgers and Hammerstein approached the story with the honesty and simplicity that characterized all their work. They purposely did not seek to improve a story they felt was dramatically sound, as many writers are prone to do, instead concentrating on bringing the characters to life. Rodgers wrote in his autobiography Musical Stages, "In writing the story and the songs, Oscar and I felt that it was important to keep everything as traditional as possible, without any ''modernizing'' or reaching for psychological significance." When Hammerstein was asked where he found the version of Cinderella story he based his adaptation upon, he answered, "I looked it up in the encyclopedia." The marriage of music, lyrics and story in Cinderella exemplified their artistic philosophy; all elements held together integrally to illuminate the characters. As Rodgers explained, "Although a few of its songs have become popular, our score for Cinderella is another example of what theatre music is really about. No matter what the medium, a score is more than a collection of individual songs. It is, or should be, a cohesive entity whose word and music are believable expressions of the characters singing them...Like a symphony, concerto or opera, some portions have greater appeal than others, but it is the work as a whole that makes the overall impression." Cinderella succeeded. When it was broadcast on March 31, 1957, it was viewed by more people than any other program in the history of television.

History comes alive with this first release in a new collection of musical adaptations! From the beloved library of Rodgers and Hammerstein, The King and I is classic musical theater at its best, combining drama, music, dance and stagecraft for an unforgettable experience! Based on Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon, with book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a dazzling score by Richard Rodgers, this musical tells the classic story of the English widow, Anna Leonowens, and her young son and their life at the Royal Palace in Bangkok. Anna has been summoned by the King to serve as tutor to his many children and wives. While they both retain their respective traditions and values, Anna and the King grow to understand and eventually respect one another in this unique and uplifting story of East meets West. Running approximately 70 minutes, Getting to Know... The King and I is the perfect show to introduce young people up through 9th grade to the wonders of live theater. The all-inclusive ShowKit provides all you need to make your production a success! The ShowKit includes: * Director''s Guide * 2 Piano/Vocal Scores * 20 Lib