The Broadway songwriting team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II left behind a rich legacy of musicals, including South Pacific, The King and I and The Sound of Music. But, while Hammerstein died in 1960, Rodgers lived on for another 19 years, writing shows with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Martin Charnin, Sheldon Harnick, and even one show with Rodgers serving as his own lyricist.
One of the the post-Hammerstein shows, Do I Hear a Waltz?, was done last weekend by the Encores! series in New York. But samples from the others are heard May 21-23 as part of the Lyrics & Lyricists series at the 92nd Street YW-YMHA in Manhattan.
R&H authority Ted Chapin and SiriusXM host Bill Rudman serve as co-artistic directors and hosts of I Have Confidence: Rodgers After Hammerstein, a revue-style performance that will show video interviews, sing unearthed writings and delve deep inside Rodgers’ late-career collaborations.
The performances are scheduled to feature Ben Crawford, vocals; T. Oliver Reid, vocals; Betsy Wolfe, vocals; Karen Ziemba, vocals; Larry Pine, guest artist;
Robin Zeh, violin; Diane Barere, cello; Todd Groves, woodwinds; Dick Sarpola, bass; and Erik Charlston, percussion.
Lyrics & Lyricists shows are Saturday at 8 PM, Sunday at 2 and 7 PM, and Monday at 2 and 7:30 PM. Tickets start at $58 and can be ordered via phone at (212) 415-5500 or online at 92Y.org/Lyrics.