South Pacific Featured Music and Lyrics by Which Famous Duo?
South Pacific featured music and lyrics by the famous duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein. This World War II-themed musical was only one of the many popular musicals written by this talented pair.
You may have heard of Rodgers and Hammerstein during a trip to the theatre, or in a theatre class at school. Perhaps you just recognize their names because they are such an immense part of popular culture. Here's a list of some of the songs included in the famous musical, South Pacific.
- I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair
- A Cockeyed Optimist
- Bloody Mary
- There is Nothing Like a Dame
- I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy
- Younger Than Springtime
- Happy Talk
- Some Enchanted Evening
- Loneliness of Evening
- My Girl Back Home
- Now is the Time
- Twin Soliloquies
Background on Rodgers and Hammerstein
Chances are, you have heard at Rodgers and Hammerstein at some point in your life, even if it was just in passing. The team was comprised of Richard Rodgers, who lived from 1902 to 1979, and Oscar Hammerstein II, who lived from 1895 to 1960. Although the two have been deceased for awhile, their enormous legacy lives on. Revivals of South Pacific and their other plays have occurred not only on Broadway, but also in schools, local production companies, and other venues for the theatrical arts.
They primarily wrote and composed Broadway musicals during the 1940s and 1950s, a period which was considered to be the Golden Age of Broadway musicals. They both contributed to and were a product of that era and movement. They will always be remembered for the profound influence they had on theater as a whole.
Rodgers was the music composer, and Hammerstein wrote the lyrics. They won scores of prizes for their work, including:
- Thirty-four Tony Awards
- Fifteen Academy Awards
- The Pulitzer Prize
- Two Grammys
They wrote quite a number of productions; however, their five most famous works were:
- Oklahoma! (1943)
- Carousel (1945)
- South Pacific (1949)
- The King and I (1951)
- The Sound of Music (1959)
Story of South Pacific
You might just have to rent a film version or go see a local version yourself to find out the whole story. However, here's some background information.
The basic story is borrowed from a novel by James A. Michener, which is entitled Tales of the South Pacific. The play is set in the South Pacific during World War II. Be prepared for a true romantic comedy, with plenty of laughs, great music, and a wonderful source of entertainment for all.