Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and (usually uncredited) director in musical theater for nearly 40 years. He won eight Tony Awards and two Academy Awards for Best Original Song. Many of his songs are standard repertoire for vocalists and jazz musicians. He co-wrote 850 songs.
He is best known for his collaborations with composer Richard Rodgers, as the duo Rodgers and Hammerstein, whose musicals include Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, and The Sound of Music. Described by Stephen Sondheim as an "experimental playwright", Hammerstein helped bring the American musical to new ... read more
David Henry Hwang is a Tony Award-winning playwright, screenwriter, and librettist. Born in Los Angeles, California in 1957, Hwang grew up in a Chinese American household and attended Stanford University where he earned a degree in English.
Hwang's breakthrough came in 1988 with his play "M. Butterfly," which won the Tony Award for Best Play and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. The play is based on the true story of a French diplomat who carried on a 20-year affair with a Chinese opera singer, only to discover that she was actually a man. "M. Butterfly" explores themes of gender, ... read more