Community Corner
Brunswick School Students Enchanted by Author/Lecturer/Theatre Connoisseur Oscar Andy Hammerstein
(Greenwich, CT – March 29, 2011) – On a stop from his national book tour, author/lecturer Oscar Andy Hammerstein, grandson of the late lyricist-librettist Oscar Hammerstein II, appeared at Brunswick Upper School to talk to the students about the profound impact of his family on American musical theater. Andy’s recent book, THE HAMMERSTEINS: A Musical Theatre Family (Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers) is the story of one of Broadway's most productive and creative families. Sharing rare archival photos, theater blueprints, letters, programs, patents, memories and a unique chronology, the author recalled the creative continuum of his family, dating back to 1864, when Oscar Hammerstein I emigrated to America and established himself as a successful cigar merchant before turning his attention to the business of music and theatres.
“My great—great grandfather, Oscar Hammerstein I, turned Times Square, then Longacre Square, into the theatre capital of the world,” Andy said. “His sons, Willie and Arthur, carried on the tradition and nurtured such talents as Will Rogers, W.C. Fields, Al Jolson, Houdini, and Charlie Chaplin.”
During the 1940s and 1950s, Andy’s grandfather (and Willie’s son)—Oscar Hammerstein II—was integral in bringing the golden age to Broadway with such major musical hits as “South Pacific,” “Oklahoma,” “The King and I,” “Showboat,” “Carousel,” “Flower Drum Song,” and “The Sound of Music.” With high-kicking choruses and timeless story lines and lyrics, these memorable shows continue to enchant audiences worldwide.
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“Having Andy Hammerstein visit our Brunswick community was something we'll always remember,” said Alexander Constantine, Brunswick School’s musical/choral director and faculty member. “It was a privilege to have been given a peak into his vast knowledge of the American theater, and to have a truly behind-the-scenes insight to this ever-evolving musical genre that has surely influenced the artistic souls of our students.”
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