Carefully Taught - A Presentation by Oscar Andrew “Andy” Hammerstein III

September 14, 2022, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm 

Member $17 / Non-Member $20 

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.

The Presenter

Andy Hammerstein studied landscape painting and ocular neurology at Hampshire College, graduating with a B.A. in fine arts. He furthered his art studies at the Art Students League, NYC, the Fine Arts Work Center, Provincetown, Mass., Parsons School of Design, NYC, and the Skowhegan School, E. Madison, Maine. He has worked on numerous TV, film, and theatre projects and his paintings have been exhibited widely. In 1997, Oscar wrote and curated the exhibit, "Direct From Broadway, A 200-Year History of New York City Theatre," for the Paine-Weber Gallery space, NYC.  

Andy has written many articles on the subject of NYC and its theatre. He has taught graduate-level NYC theatre history and musical theatre history – with emphasis on libretto writing - as an adjunct professor at Columbia University.  He lectures frequently at universities, institutes, and theatrical and civic organizations on his family's pivotal role in shaping the development of musical theatre and popular entertainment in this country from the 1860s to the present.  

Additionally, Andy has recently written a book entitled The Hammersteins - A Musical Theatre Family, a multi-generational portrait of his family's theatrical legacy. Also, he has represented his family's publishing interests on the board of EB Marks Music Publishing Co., NY.

Cancellation Policy: A one-week advance cancellation notice is required in order to receive a refund.