Rodgers & Hart - A Celebration
Music by Rodgers, Richard | Lyrics by Lorenz Hart | Concept by Richard Lewine and John Fearnley
From their first hit song in 1925 through their final show-stopper in 1943, the prolific team of Rodgers & Hart was continually redefining the musical theatre with its wit, freshness and intelligence. In this rousing pastiche, the first act sets the stage for romance while the second act is comprised of their more satiric gems. The brief narration highlights the Rodgers & Hart story, but it's the songs that explain their success. Perhaps master tunesmith Irving Berlin summed it up best: 'Tuneful and tasty, schmaltzy and smart-music by Rodgers, lyrics by Hart.'
Cast Size: No Chorus • Small (1-10) • Medium (5-21). Vocal Demands: Easy • Moderate. Dance Requirements: Some Dancing Required • Minimal. Good For: High School • College/University • Amateur/Community • Professional Theatre • Religious Organization.
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About The Show
Production Info
To request the rights to make merchandise for this show email brian.sherman@rnh.com.
Fan Info:
Irving Berlin said it best: "Tuneful, tasteful/Soulful, smart/Music - Rodgers/Lyrics - Hart." read more
Although it has been nearly 35 years since Rodgers & Hammerstein's final collaboration, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, took the Great White Way by storm, it was in fact a new Rodgers & Hammerstein musical that ushered in the fall season on Broadway read more
I had a, well, magical experience on Saturday night. Andy Einhorn, the indefatigable conductor and musical director of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA, invited me to sit in the orchestra pit of the Broadway Theatre during the performance. Because the pit is big enough, there is a space where, once the orchestra members are settled in their seats, a chair can be placed safely, between the bows of the violins and the constant instrument shifting of the woodwind section. Read more →
With the 9 Tony Award nominations for Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA announced this morning, once again Rodgers and Hammerstein stand tall and proud among the best of Broadway.
Read more →
Read more →
As I am now based in London, where Rodgers & Hammerstein is launching our own European theatrical licensing division – R&H Theatricals Europe – I had the great pleasure of hopping down to Madrid for 24 hours in late December, to see SONRISAS…, meet the cast and equally hardworking crew, and revel in a production of the timeless musical that seems to “bloom and grow forever” – and everywhere.
Read more →
Read more →
July 28, 1910
May 13, 1975
"This remarkable revelry has been fashioned out of wit, insight, and affection by people who not only like Rodgers & Hart but understand what they are about." — New York Daily News
"A champagne- fizz of an evening...wise, mocking, lovely, tuneful...always bewitching ...their songs not only became an indelible part of American musical theatre history but also helped to define the very terms we use to speak of love." — The New York Times, January 01, 1997
Song #
Song Name
Character Name
Play
Other Versions
3
Thou Swell
Girl 3, Boy 3
4
The Girl Friend
Boy 2, Boy 3, Girl 2, Girl 3
12
Ins't It Romantic
Boy 1, Girl 3
14
My Romance
Boy 3
15
Where Or When (Excerpt)
Boy 2
20
How About It?
Boy 3
21
Love Me Tonight
Boy 2
24
Little Girl Blue
Girl 2
26
Blue Moon Sequence: Prayer
Girl 1
27
The Bad In Ev'ry Man
Girl 2
28
Manhattan Melodrama
Boy 2
30
Jonny One-Note
Boy 2
36
Travel Sequence: Any Old Place With You
1st Couple
37
On A Desert Isle
2nd Couple
38
The Most Beautiful Girl In The World
3rd Couple
39
A Great Big Town (Chicago)
Boys
46
I Didnt Know What Time It Was
Girl 3, All
49
'Cause We Got Cake
All
53
Blue Room
2nd Couple
58
Spring Is Here
Girl
62
Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildrered
Girl
67
Jupiter Forbid (Reprise) - Finale Ultimo
All
Excerpted from "Rave Revues!," as featured in Happy Talk, Volume 1, Issue 2 - Winter 1994:
"From their first hit song in 1925 through their final show-stopper in 1943, the prolific team of Rodgers & Hart were consistently redefining the musical theatre with their wit, freshness and intelli-gence. RODGERS & HART: A CELEBRATION is a rousing pastiche, the first act setting the stage for romance while Act 2 is comprised of their more satiric gems. A brief narration highlights their careers but it's the timeless songs that explain their success. RODGERS & HART: A CELEBRATION is written for 3 women and 3 men and can be easily expanded as desired. The score includes "My Funny Valentine," "Where Or When," "The Lady Is A Tramp" and "Ten Cents A Dance." "
Vocal Range of Characters:
Written By: Richard Lewine
It was at the GARRICK GAIETIES in 1925 that I first heard Rodgers and Hart's songs. I wasn't very old but I knew enough to be bowled over by their wit, freshness and intelligence.
The years went by, and I came to know Dick and Dorothy Rodgers quite well. I was a frequent guest and pianist at their parties, and what everyone wanted to hear were those songs. We played them and we sang them and I'm sure everyone felt some inner and personal nostalgia about them: 'Tuneful and tasty, schmaltzy and smart -- music by Rodgers, lyrics by Hart' is the way Irving Berlin put it.
RODGERS & HART: A Celebration had its beginnings when John Fearnley and I were at lunch one day. John had been closely associated with Richard Rodgers as casting director for Rodgers and Hammerstein, and by this time I had long been connected with Dick professionally, having produced the original Rodgers and Hammerstein television special of CINDERELLA when I was at CBS. John wondered aloud if it mightn't be a good idea to do a show about Lorenz Hart. That was over our drink, but by about salad it had become a show about Rodgers and Hart. As time went on it became obvious that what really mattered was to hear those wonderful songs and by dessert the show was about the songs and was made up of them.
We went directly from lunch the four blocks to Dick's office, told him about our conversation and Dick clapped his hands together and said, 'Now that's a good idea.' It was. The show ran successfully on Broadway, then again in Chicago, then Los Angeles and now -- as it turns out -- all over the place.
Playbill VIP:
MAKE YOUR OWN PLAYBILL! Playbill VIP allows you to create your very own Playbill Program. We have provided Playbill with all of the credits, song listings, musical numbers and more so that most of the work is already done for you. Just add your productions details, photos of the cast and share it with all of your friends. Learn more: www.playbillvip.com
STANDARD
- RODGERS & HART - Orchestra Package (6 Books)
- 1 – PIANO-CONDUCTOR ACT I
- 1 – PIANO-CONDUCTOR ACT II
- 1 – REED I (Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet, Alto Sax)
- 1 – REED II (Oboe, Clarinet, Tenor Sax, Optional English Horn and Bass Clarinet)
- 1 – PERCUSSION (see list below)
- 1 – BASS (Doubling Sandpaper Blocks)
- Rehearsal Set (14 Books)
- 10 – Libretto-Vocal Books
- 1 – Logo CD
- 2 – PIANO-CONDUCTOR ACT I
- 2 – PIANO-CONDUCTOR ACT II
- 0 – Digital Logo
ADDITIONAL
- Libretto/Vocal Books 10 pack
- 10 – Libretto-Vocal Books
- RODGERS & HART - PRE-PRODUCTION PACKAGE
- 1 – Libretto-Vocal Books
- 1 – PIANO-CONDUCTOR ACT I
- 1 – PIANO-CONDUCTOR ACT II
3 Men
COMMENTS: The New York production featured six men and six women, each with more or less equal-sized roles. In Los Angeles and at Chicago, the casts comprised three men and three women. It is not always necessary, however, for the cast to be evenly divided between men and women; further, it can be an excellent vehicle for two stars and several supporting players.
Materials Notes
CUSTOMER NOTE: A few of the pages in the instrumental parts for this score have been reproduced from the original masters and may present some difficulty for the players who are reading them. Please ask you musical director to peruse the orchestra parts in advance of your first orchestra rehearsal in order to address any problems that might otherwise arise. For further assistance please contact our Director of Music, Bruce Pomahac, at 212-699-6563. Thank you.
CUSTOMER NOTE: A few of the pages in the instrumental parts for this score have been reproduced from the original masters and may present some difficulty for the players who are reading them. Please ask you musical director to peruse the orchestra parts in advance of your first orchestra rehearsal in order to address any problems that might otherwise arise. For further assistance please contact our Director of Music, Bruce Pomahac, at 212-699-6563. Thank you.
CUSTOMER NOTE: A few of the pages in the instrumental parts for this score have been reproduced from the original masters and may present some difficulty for the players who are reading them. Please ask you musical director to peruse the orchestra parts in advance of your first orchestra rehearsal in order to address any problems that might otherwise arise. For further assistance please contact our Director of Music, Bruce Pomahac, at 212-699-6563. Thank you.
Trap Set, Wood Block, Triangle, Bells, Vibraphone, Timpani, Temple Blocks, Shell, Optional Castanets, Wind Whistle, Slapstick, Bell Tree, Xylophone.
Featured News
Soulful...smart...rodgers...hart
Irving Berlin said it best: "Tuneful, tasteful/Soulful, smart/Music - Rodgers/Lyrics - Hart."
Read MoreRave Revues!
Although it has been nearly 35 years since Rodgers & Hammerstein's final collaboration, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, took the Great White Way by storm, it was in fact a new Rodgers & Hammerstein musical that ushered in the fall season on Broadway
Read MoreMedia Rights
*Currently media rights for Rodgers & Hart - A Celebration are not available. Please contact customer service with any questions.
