Grandson of the renowned Broadway librettist & lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, Andy Hammerstein is internationally-recognized as a writer, lecturer and family historian who has devoted much of his adult life to preserving the archives and influences of one of the most celebrated family legacies in musical theater of all time. 

In this talk, Andy presents Oscar II through a political lens. While Hammerstein's name may be synonymous with traditional Broadway musicals, his work was often overtly political and decidedly progressive: South Pacific's seminal "You've Got To Be Carefully Taught" confronted hatred head-on; The Sound of Music famously dramatized the dangers of Fascism; Carmen Jones brought Bizet's opera Carmen to Broadway with an all-black cast — in 1943 no less. Horrified by the emergence of the Third Reich on the global stage, and later by rampant racial injustice in the United States, Hammerstein became a human rights champion and voice in the civil rights movement, co-founding the Hollywood Anti-Nazi League, and lending support to the Southern Negro Youth Congress, American Committee for the Protection of Foreign Born, National Federation for Constitutional Liberties and myriad social justice organizations. He also applied his magic pen to speeches by Democratic Presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson. 

Following this compelling presentation, attendees will enjoy the musical stylings of The Brentwood Brass Ensemble. The ensemble will perform selections from Rogers & Hammerstein's vast and enchanting musical repertoire, while attendees may chat with Andy and indulge in delicious savory and sweet nosh and wines.

For ticket and venue Information, visit https://www.ccmoa.org