The Playwrights Database
RICHARD RODGERS
(1902 - 1979)
Nationality:
USA
email:
n/a
Website:
n/a
Literary Agent:
Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization
Richard Rodgers's plays including biography, theatres, agent, synopses, cast sizes, production and published dates
Research: http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=8323
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Allegro
Four decades in the life of Joseph Taylor Jnr - from birth to middle life crisis. Joe at school, Joe at college. Joe marries his childhood sweetheart. Joe goes to work in the big city
Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers; Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; Book by Oscar Hammerstein II
1st Produced:
Majestic Theater, New York 10 Oct 1947
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
Original cast recording: RCA (52758) 1947
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Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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America's Sweetheart
Geraldine and Michael leave Minnesota for Hollywood. Geraldine becomes a big silent star but Michael doesn't make it. then the talkies come in Marion has a lisp - but Michael has a rich talking voice and he now becomes the big star
Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers; lyrics by Lorenz Hart; book by Herbert Field
1st Produced:
Broadhurst Theatre, New York 10 Feb 1931
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
-
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Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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Babes in Arms
-
Notes:
Written by Richard Rodgers And Lorenz Hart; music Richard Rodgers; lyrics Lorenz Hart
1st Produced:
Shubert Theater, New York 14 Apr 1937
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
Revival cast recording: New World (386) 1989
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Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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Boys from Syracuse, The
Identical twins - both get named Antipholus are separated when very young when the ship they are travelling in sinks. One twin ends up in Syracuse and the other in Ephesus. Both boys have a servant - both called Dromio who are also identical twins. the twins are now young men and the Syracuse Antipholus and Dromio go to Ephesus where they get mistaken for the other two
Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers. Lyrics by Lorenz Hart. Book by George Abbott
1st Produced:
Alvin Theater, New York 23 Nov 1938
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization -
Music:
Revival cast recording: DRG 1963
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Musical
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Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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By Jupiter
In the land of the amazons the women go to war and the men stay at home and look after the children and do the housework. Hercules leads an army of Greeks against the amazonians but he and his men are captured. Love blossoms between theseus one of the others leaders of the Greeks and the amazon Queen antiope. Everything is recorded by the Greek war correspondent Homer who has just a best selling book "the Iliad"
Notes:
Written by Lorenz Hart And Richard Rodgers; music by Richard Rodgers.
1st Produced:
Shubert Theater, New York 03 Jun 1942
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
Revival cast recording: RCa (LSO-1137) 1967
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Musical
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Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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Carousel
Billy Bigelow a carnival barker meets and marries mill worker Julie. Billy looses his job and Julie is pregnant. To get money Billy agrees to take part in a robbery but gets caught. Rather than face jail he kills himself and is sent Above. Fifteen years later he is allowed back to Earth for one day to see his daughter
Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers; lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; book by Oscar Hammerstein II.
1st Produced:
Majestic Theatre, New York 19 Apr 1945
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
Original cast recording: MCA (MCAD-10799) 1945
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Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
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Cinderella
the classic tale of Cinderella, the girl left to the devices of her evil stepmother and three evil stepsisters, who manages to rise above adversity with the help of her Fairy Godmother and is transported to the miraculous kingdom of dreams-come-true.
Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers; lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; book by Oscar Hammerstien II
1st Produced:
Coliseum, London 18 Dec 1958
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
Original London cast recording: TER (1045)
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Genre:
pantomime with lyrics
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: large cast
Further Reference:
Wearing - the London Stage 58.326
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Connecticut Yankee, A
On the eve of his marriage to Fay Morgan, David goes to see his former fiancee Alice. Fay sees them together and is angry and knocks David out with a champagne bottle. David finds himself in the Court of King Arthur. He is dubbed Sir Boss and given the task of industrialising the country. He introduces the radio and televison. He falls for Alisande. Morgana Le Fay King Arthur's evil sister is jealous and has Alisande kidnapped. David rescues her but finds himself back in the present. He realises that it is Alice he loves not Fay
Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers; lyrics by Lorenz Hart; book by Herbert Field. Based on the book by Mark Twain
1st Produced:
Vanderbilt Theatre, New York 03 Nov 1927
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
Broadway cast: Decca (440 013 560-2 1943
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Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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Dearest Enemy
-
Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers; lyrics by Lorenz Hart; book by Herbert Field
1st Produced:
Knickerbocker Theatre, New York 1925
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
Studio cast recording: Bayview (RN8W008) 1981
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Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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Ever Green
Harriet Green star of the Edwardian music hall discovers she is pregnant. She flees to South Africa and brings up the daughter she has away from the glare of publicity. Years later the daughter Harriet Hawkes goes to England to make her name on the stage. Tommy a publicity agent is struck at how much she looks like Harriet Green and persuades her to masquerade as her. the public are fooled - but everyone believes that Tommy is her son - which is a problem as Tommy and Harriet Hawk have fallen in love
Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers; lyrics by Lorenz Hart; book by Benn W Levy
1st Produced:
Adelphi Theatre, London 03 Dec 1930
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
-
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Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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Flower Drum Song
1950s San Francisco. Sammy Fong runs a nightclub. His family want him to settle down and arrange for a mail order bride to be sent over from China. Sammy does not think she will fit in with his life style - but his best friend is more of a traditionalists and Sammy thinks they will make a perfect couple
Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers; Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; Book by Oscar Hammerstein II And Joseph Fields; Based on the novel by C. Y. Lee
1st Produced:
St James Theatre, NY 01 Dec 1958
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
Theatre Communications Group, 2003 -
Music:
Original cast recording: Columbia (2009) 1958
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Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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Girl Friend, The
-
Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers; lyrics by Lorenz Hart; book by Herbert Field
1st Produced:
Vanderbilt Theatre, New York 1926
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
-
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Genre:
-
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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Heads Up!
Synopsis:
-
Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers; lyrics by Lorenz Hart; book by John McGowan; Paul Gerard Smith
1st Produced:
Alvin Theatre, New York 11 Nov 1929
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
-
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Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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I Married an Angel
A wealthy banker has had it with women. He vows that he will have nothing to do with them and will only marry an angel. An angel promptly flies in. He marries her - but it is a case of be careful what you wish for
Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers; Music orchestrated by Hans Spialek; Book by Richard Rodgers And Lorenz Hart; from A Hungarian play by Johann Vaszary; Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
1st Produced:
Shubert Theatre, New York 1938
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
Revival cast recording: aEI (002)
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Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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Jumbo
Synopsis:
-
Notes:
Music And lyrics by Richard Rodgers And Lorenz Hart; book by Ben Hecht And Charles MacArthur
1st Produced:
Hippodrome Theatre, New York 1935
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
-
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Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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King and I, The
Anna Leonowens arrives in the court of the King of Siam as tutor to his children. the king is consider a barbarian by Western governments and so he gets Anna's help to change his image
Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers; lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; book by Oscar Hammerstein II. Based on the biography "Anna And the King of Siam" by Margaret Landon.
1st Produced:
St James Theatre, New York 29 Mar 1951
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
Contained in: "Twelve American Plays 1920-1960" published by Scribner and Sons, 1969 -
Music:
Original cast recording: MCA (10049) 1951
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Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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Me and Juliet
During the run of a musical called "Me And Juliet" a chorus girl falls in love with the stage manager. they secretly get married. When one of the electricians who has been love with the chorus girl too finds out he tries to kill them
Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers; lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; book by Oscar Hammerstein II.
1st Produced:
Majestic Theatre, New York 28 May 1953
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
Original cast recording: RCA (61480) 1953
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Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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No Strings
Barbara a famous model meets an American writer, David in Paris. He has been suffering from severe writers block and has been spending his time hanging around in St Tropez and other high class French seaside resorts. Barbara believes that he will only start writing again if he goes back to the US. He agrees and asks her to come too - but she declines
Notes:
Music And lyrics by Richard Rodgers; book by Samuel Taylor
1st Produced:
54th Street Theatre, New York 15 Mar 1962
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
Original cast recording: Angel (64694) 1962
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Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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Oklahoma!
Cowboy Curly and farm girl Laurey are in love but will surly ranch hand Jed thwart them?
Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers; Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
1st Produced:
St James Theatre, New York 31 Mar 1943
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
Original cast recording: MCA (10798) 1943
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Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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On Your Toes
Phil "Junior" Dolan III teaches music at a university. He persuades the head of the Russian Ballet to put on a jazz ballet - "Slaughter On Tenth Avenue". Phil becomes involved with the prima ballerina Vera Barnova. Her jealous boyfriend gets to thugs to murder Phil. Meanwhile Phil has been forced to take over the male lead in "Slaughter"
Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers; lyrics by Lorenz Hart; book by George Abbott; Lorenz Hart; Richard Rodgers
1st Produced:
Imperial Theatre, New York 11 Apr 1936
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
Revival cast recording: MCA (11575) 1954
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Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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Pal Joey
Joey a second rate dancer and club MC has big ambitions - he wants his own club - "Chez Joey". He meets naive Linda and impresses her with his big talk. Later at the club bored married Vera arrives. Joey insults her and she leaves. Joey is ordered to apologise and the next time Vera is in the club she is so charmed they start an affair. One day when Joey is out with Vera at a shop where she is buying him new clothes Linda meets them and is shocked at what Joey is doing. Vera buys a club for Joey. On opening night two of the staff plot to blackmail Vera - Linda overhears and tells her. Vera calls in the police. Vera decides that Joey is not worth the bother and closes the club. She tells Linda that she can have him - but Linda does not want him either. Linda and Joey meet - but he ignores her to chase after another woman.
Notes:
George Abbott with John O'Hara. Music Richard Rodgers. Lyrics by Lorenz Hart. Based on the novel "Pal Joey" by John O'Hara.
1st Produced:
Ethel Barymore Theatre, New York 25 Dec 1940
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
Revival cast recording: Angel (64696) 1952
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Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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Peggy-Ann
Synopsis:
-
Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers; lyrics by Lorenz Hart; book by Herbert Field. Based on the musical "Tillie's Nightmare" by Edgar Smith And A Baldwin Sloane
1st Produced:
Vanderbilt Theatre, New York 1926
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
-
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Genre:
-
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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Pipe Dream
Homeless Suzy is arrested for stealing food. She is taken in by Madame Fauna who runs the Bear Flag Cafe - which is not really a cafe. . . Suzy meets a nice marine biologist - Doc
Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; book by Oscar Hammerstein II
1st Produced:
Shubert Theatre, New York 30 Nov 1955
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
Original cast recording: RCA (61481) 1955
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Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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Present Arms
Synopsis:
-
Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers; lyrics by Lorenz Hart; book by Herbert Field
1st Produced:
Lew Field's Mansfield Theatre, New York 1928
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
-
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Genre:
-
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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Simple Simon
Adventures in Nursery Rhyme Land
Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers; lyrics by Lorenz Hart; book by Guy Bolton; Ed Wynn
1st Produced:
Ziegfeld Theatre, New York 18 Feb 1930
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
-
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Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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Sound Of Music, The
Novice nun Maria is sent to be the governess of the Von Trapp children
Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers; Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; Book by Howard Lindsay And Russell Crouse; Based on "the Trapp Family Singers" by Maria Augusta Trapp
1st Produced:
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, NY 16 Nov 1959
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
Applause Books -
Music:
Original cast recording: Columbia (CK-32601) 1959
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Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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State Fair
Synopsis:
musical of crossed love and corn dogs.Originally a film, based on a novel by Phil Strong, it was patched together into a Broadway musical in 1996, with offcuts from the duo's insanely capacious back catalogue.
- Lucy Powell, Time Out London
Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers; lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; book by Tom Briggs; book by Louis Mattoli. Based on the film "State Fair" screenplay by Oscar Hammerstein II
1st Produced:
Music Box Theatre, NY, USA 1996
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
Original Broadway cast: DRG (94765) 1996
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Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: large cast
Further Reference:
-
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Too Many Girls
When his daughter, Connie, goes to college Mr Casey hires four football players to be her secret bodyguards. the college is in financial trouble and the four bodyguards give their fees to help. they join the football team and soon the team is the best around. One of the bodyguards Clint falls in love with Connie. When Connie finds out that he has been hires to protect her she leaves to go back to New York. the bodyguards follow - it is the eve of an important match
Notes:
Music by Richard Rodgers; lyrics by Lorenz Hart; book by George H Marion Jr
1st Produced:
Imperial Theatre, New York 18 Oct 1939
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
Revival cast recording: Painted Smiles (104) 1977
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Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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Two By Two
uses Noah and his ark to suggest that the corrupt world would find redemption in the strong family unit.
Notes:
from play the Flowering Peach by Clifford Odets, Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Martin Charmin, book by Peter Stone
1st Produced:
Imperial Theatre, New York 10 Nov 1970
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
Original cast recording: Sony (30338) 1970
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Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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