Oscar Hammerstein II – Out of My Dreams

Pictured: Oscar Hammerstein

Photo credit: Courtesy of Rodgers & Hammerstein, an Imagem company

Celebrate one of the most acclaimed lyricist and librettist of the 20th century.

Oscar Hammerstein II – Out of My Dreams, airing Friday, March 16 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV/HD (DT21.1/cable 1011 and 11), is brimming over with movie clips from Hammerstein's greatest musicals. This new PBS special features interviews with Stephen Sondheim, Harold Prince, Shirley Jones, Mitzi Gaynor, Hammerstein family members and others. Oscar Hammerstein worked in the theater for more than 40 years, writing the lyrics for more than a thousand songs and the libretti for dozens of operettas and musicals performed on Broadway, in London and in Hollywood films. His legendary works include Rose-Marie (1924), Show Boat (1927), Oklahoma! (1943), Carousel (1945), South Pacific (1949), The King and I (1951) and The Sound of Music (1959).Viewers will learn more about Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific coming to the Auditorium Theatre in May 2012, and how to get exclusive tickets.

The special is hosted by Tony, Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated Matthew Morrison (“Glee”) — who starred in the 2008 Tony-winning revival of South Pacific as Lieutenant Cable.