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William Hammerstein dies at 82
12/03/2001 13:27 - (SA)
Washington - William Hammerstein, director, producer and a member of the fourth
generation of a family prominent in the American theatre for more
than a century, has died. He was 82.
Hammerstein died at home on Friday of complications from a stroke,
according to Theodore S Chapin, president of The Rodgers &
Hammerstein Organisation.
On Broadway, Hammerstein produced Neil Simon's first play, Come
Blow Your Horn, in 1961 and Garson Kanin's A Gift of Time, starring Henry Fonda and Olivia de Havilland.
As a director, his credits included numerous productions at New
York City Centre, the 1956 London premiere of Fanny and the 1979
Broadway revival and. national tour of Oklahoma! For television,
he produced The Bell Telephone Hour, The Arthur Godfrey Show, and various network specials.
Until shortly before his death, Hammerstein was active in the
management of the theatrical and music-publishing interests of his
father, Oscar Hammerstein II. His father, together with composer
Richard Rodgers, wrote such legendary musicals as Oklahoma!,
Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I and The Sound of
Music.
Hammerstein, who was born in New York, began his professional
career as a stage manager at the St Louis Municipal Opera, moving
on to Broadway and road productions. During World War II, he served
with the Navy in the South Pacific. After the war, he resumed work
in the theatre as a production manager, working for producer Leland
Hayward, directors Joshua Logan, and Garson Kanin, and others.
Hammerstein established and managed the New York City Centre Light
Opera Company, for which he was recognised with a special Tony
Award in 1957.
He is survived by his wife, Jane-Howard; his daughters, Patricia
Benner of Durham, North Carolina, Martha Hammerstein and Diana
Hammerstein, both of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, six grandchildren
and two great-grandchildren. - Sapa-AP
- SAPA
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