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Oscar Hammerstein Quotes

Quotes about Oscar Hammerstein's influence on songwriting

These quotes come from people describing what they learned from Oscar Hammerstein directly — treating a song like a one-act play with a beginning and an end — or reflecting on the Rodgers and Hammerstein era of Music.

I can't wait to play the Hammerstein shows. Things have been exploding in the last week, and that's going to be the exclamation point.

Quotes by Trey Anastasio

After the Rodgers and Hammerstein revolution, songs became part of the story, as opposed to just entertainments in between comedy scenes.

Quotes by Stephen Sondheim

Oscar Hammerstein was a surrogate father during all those many days, and weeks and months when I didn't see my own father.

Quotes by Stephen Sondheim

In the Rodgers and Hammerstein generation, popular hits came out of shows and movies.

Quotes by Stephen Sondheim

Creativity Quotes

I was essentially trained by Oscar Hammerstein to think of songs as one-act plays, to move a song from point A to point B dramatically.

Quotes by Stephen Sondheim

Rogers and Hammerstein were such a genius pair. They were able to touch on subject matter so far ahead of its time.

Quotes by Ruthie Ann Miles

I'm a Mexican girl from California, and I never grew up thinking I could be in a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. I didn't really see myself in that. Not that I didn't grow up loving Rodgers and Hammerstein, but I...

Quotes by Lindsay Mendez

And what could be a hotter ticket than the improbable triumph of 'The Book of Mormon,' the musical-comedy moon shot of the season? Its creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, of Comedy Central's 'South Park,' are the most unlikely Rodgers...

Quotes by James Wolcott

I've been singing Rodgers and Hammerstein all my life.

Quotes by Carmen Cusack

Emotion Quotes

I'd love to tackle a classic Shakespeare play or take on Nora Helmer in 'A Doll's House.' Musical theater, it's the classics like Rodgers and Hammerstein and Cole Porter's 'Kiss Me Kate.' I'm much more a Julie Andrews-type soprano than...

Quotes by Beth Behrs

Stephen Sondheim told me that Oscar Hammerstein believed everything that he wrote. So there's great truth in the songs, and that's what was so wonderful to find.

Quotes by Bernadette Peters

Rodgers and Hammerstein didn't mean anything to me. I just wanted to have a hit, I just wanted to be like those people on the radio. It was all of a case of the present tense with no projecting into...

Quotes by Art Garfunkel

It may sound amazing to people today, but Rodgers and Hammerstein were considered by - how can I put it? - the sort of opinion-making tastemakers and everything to be 'off the scale as sentimental.'

Quotes by Andrew Lloyd Webber

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Hammerstein quotes page about?
These are quotes referencing Oscar Hammerstein, the celebrated lyricist and mentor behind some of musical theater's most enduring shows, along with the Hammerstein Ballroom as a performance venue. The mix covers both his artistic legacy and his role as a personal influence.
Why do people search for quotes about Oscar Hammerstein?
Songwriters and theater fans often look for quotes that explain his lasting influence on how musicals are structured and written. A quote from someone he directly mentored carries extra weight for anyone studying the craft.
Is there a quote about how he shaped modern songwriting?
Yes, one songwriter credits Hammerstein with training them to treat a song like a one-act play, carrying it dramatically from a beginning to an end. It's a strong pick for our Creativity quotes page if you're covering songwriting craft specifically.
Does this page include anything about the Rodgers and Hammerstein era?
One quote reflects on how popular hit songs during that period typically came out of stage shows and movies rather than standing alone, a useful contrast for posts about how the music industry has changed. It pairs naturally with our Music quotes page.
Is there a more personal quote about Hammerstein as a mentor?
Yes, one quote describes him as acting like a surrogate father during long stretches when the speaker didn't see their own father. It's a touching addition for content about mentorship and Legacy, not just professional influence.

One line calls Hammerstein a surrogate father figure, a reminder that his Legacy was personal as much as professional.