SOUNDS OF MUSIC: A collection of albums and sheet music lines the walls at the Oscar Hammerstein Museum & Theater Education Center in Doylestown, Pa. The museum is celebrating Hammerstein’s 130th birthday July 12 and 13 with concerts during tours, and is holding a singing competition for area youths.
By Wendy Greenberg
A musical theater legend’s 130th birthday is being celebrated with — what better— his musical theater pieces, sung by professional singers known to the area during tours of his former residence.
The Oscar Hammerstein Museum & Theater Education Center in Bucks County, Pa., will celebrate the birthday of Oscar Hammerstein II with performances by singers Keith Spencer, Meredith Beck and Meg Flather during tours of Highland Farm, 70 East Road, Doylestown, Pa., on July 12 and 13.
The museum and education center is dedicated to the preservation of lyricist and librettist Hammerstein’s Doylestown home, a place where he and wife Dorothy lived for the last 20 years of his life, and where, with collaborator Richard Rodgers, the landmark musicals Oklahoma, South Pacific, The Sound of Music, Carousel, and The King and I were written. It is where he mentored a local youth, Stephen Sondheim, who grew up to be another legend of musical theater. The nonprofit purchased the Highland Farm property in December 2023 and is curating the museum on the site.
The tours include the history of the musicals of Rodgers and Hammerstein, and also show off some recently donated artifacts, such as a rocking chair on the iconic rounded porch; an inkwell set donated by his grandson Will; a collection of nearly 40 cast albums and sheet music; a gift from Ron Jacobs, a retired professor; and Oscar and Dorothy Hammerstein’s bar cart, a gift from the Young/McCoy family. The house also now shows Sondheim’s report cards from nearby George School, where he attended.
Each tour during July 12 and 13 will have a special performance. On Saturday, July 12, museum visitors for the 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. tours will be treated to a performance by Doylestown singer Meredith Beck. Beck’s work spans performing, writing, and directing, and she has appeared with Bristol Riverside Theatre, Bucks County Playhouse, 11th Hour Theatre, Cape May Stage, and more. Among the Barrymore winner’s favorite roles is South Pacific’s Nellie Forbush. She also performs with her Irish band, The Galway Girls, and serves on the National Council of Actors’ Equity.
Visitors on the 1 and 3 p.m. tours will hear songs from Keith Spencer. Spencer, familiar to Princeton audiences, is a stage and concert performer known for roles in classic American musicals, including his portrayal of Carousel’s Billy Bigelow and Joe in Show Boat, which connect him to the Hammerstein legacy. He recently performed as a featured soloist in Porgy and Bess with the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey, and through his company, Enspire Productions, celebrates the African American experience and supports community causes.
On Sunday, July 13, New York City-based cabaret singer Meg Flather will perform for tours at noon, 2, 3, and 5 p.m. She brings a contemporary perspective to the Rodgers and Hammerstein songbook. In her acclaimed show ‘Rodgers & Hammerstein 2021+,” Flather explores the enduring relevance of their music, highlighting themes of social justice, gender roles and global awareness.
Information and tickets for the Hammerstein Birthday Celebration weekend can be found at hammersteinmuseum.org/oscar-s-130th-birthday-celebration. Beyond the birthday event, public tours of Highland Farm are offered Friday to Monday through the fall. Private and group tours can be arranged by appointment. Advance tickets are required for all tours.
The museum is also holding a youth singing competition, with registration open through July 18. The Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center’s fifth annual Hammerstein International Youth Solo Contest, open to vocalists ages 16-18, is a celebration of Hammerstein’s lyrics. Winners will receive a cash prize, a voice lesson with a Broadway teaching artist, and an opportunity to perform at the Hammerstein Museum gala on October 19 in Doylestown, Pa. The first four years of the contest attracted nearly 700 performers representing five continents and 28 states. The contest is open to singers in elementary, middle and high school categories, and a local division for Bucks County residents. The first round of finalists, judged by local musicians and educators, will be announced August 4.
For information visit hammersteinmuseum.org/25-solo-contest or email chuttono@gmail.com.
Recently, the Museum was the recipient of a $500,000 grant through Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program and is raising funds to meet the matching requirements for unlocking the grant money. The museum hopes to restore the farmhouse porch and balcony, add a new roof, improve the HVAC systems, and continue to launch meaningful community programs.
For more information, call (215) 346-7320, extension 1, or visit hammersteinmuseum.org.
Tickets for the combined tour and birthday concerts are $35. Saturday’s performances are sponsored by On Demand Programs and Events. Sunday’s shows are sponsored by Eiseman Exterior Experts. Sweet treats will be provided by Le Macaron French Pastries of Doylestown, Pa.