Bucks Cultural Institutions Collaborating On 1st Ever Hammerstein Celebration

NEW HOPE, PA — Four of Bucks County’s leading cultural institutions are joining forces for the first time to create “Oscar, James and Pearl: Exploring the Legacy of South Pacific,” a month-long celebration of the life, legacy and enduring Bucks County connections of legendary lyricist and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II and his peers, Pearl S. Buck and James A. Michener.

The collaboration brings together Bucks County Playhouse, the Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center, the Michener Art Museum, and the Pearl S. Buck House in a coordinated effort to celebrate Hammerstein’s artistic achievements, humanitarian values and enduring Bucks County legacy, while exploring the connections among some of the region’s most influential cultural figures and non-profit organizations.

The initiative marks the first coordinated marketing and programming partnership among all four institutions, creating a countywide cultural experience built around a shared historical figure and theme.

Inspired by Hammerstein’s July birthday and Bucks County Playhouse’s production of “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific,” running through July 26, the initiative will feature free public programs, special events, and a new passport designed to encourage audiences to experience the county’s rich artistic and historical resources.

The Hammerstein Home at Highland Farm in Doylestown.

The Pearl S. Buck House in Perkasie. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The Michener Art Museum in Doylestown.

While the participating organizations have supported one another’s work over the years, this marks the first time all four institutions have coordinated programming, marketing, and audience engagement around a single shared initiative.

"At Bucks County Playhouse, we are proud to celebrate Oscar Hammerstein II — a legendary theater artist who changed the course of musical theater and remains an important part of Bucks County's cultural history," said Nicole Hackmann, executive director of Bucks County Playhouse. "This collaboration allows audiences to experience South Pacific not only as a beloved Broadway musical, but also as a gateway to exploring the life, work, and Bucks County legacy of its celebrated lyricist and librettist. We are thrilled to join with our cultural partners to create an experience that extends far beyond the walls of any one institution."

Hammerstein lived at Highland Farm in Doylestown from 1940 until he died in 1960. During those years, he wrote many of the works that transformed the American musical, including “South Pacific”, “The King and I” and “The Sound of Music.” His legacy continues to resonate throughout the region and across the American theater landscape.

The collaboration also highlights the interconnected histories of the participating institutions. The Michener Art Museum is named for James A. Michener, whose Pulitzer Prize-winning “Tales of the South Pacific” served as the source material for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s landmark musical.

Pearl S. Buck and Oscar Hammerstein II were contemporaries, friends and advocates for many of the same humanitarian causes, sharing a commitment to international understanding, cultural exchange and social justice.

Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theater Education Center is focused on the preservation of Oscar’s Doylestown Home, Highland Farm, and his extraordinary legacy. Musical performances at the events are underwritten by Barabra Donnelly Bentivoglio.

Throughout July, each participating organization will host a public program examining a different aspect of Hammerstein’s life, work and influence.

The series begins Wednesday, July 1, at 4:45 p.m. at Bucks County Playhouse with a post-performance Spotlight Series presentation, “Oscar Hammerstein: The Journey of Highland Farm,” presented by Julie Flack of the Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center. The talk will explore Hammerstein’s life, creative legacy, humanitarian spirit and years spent in Bucks County.

On Wednesday, July 8, at noon, the Michener Art Museum will present “Hirschfeld Draws Rodgers & Hammerstein,” featuring David Leopold of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation. The presentation will explore Al Hirschfeld's iconic drawings of Rodgers & Hammerstein, “South Pacific” and the Broadway artists whose work helped define American musical theater, including rare images from the original Broadway production and subsequent revivals.

The Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center will host a special musical evening Wednesday, July 15, at 7 p.m., featuring vocalist Nathaniel Hackmann, who has headlined acclaimed recordings of Rodgers & Hammerstein classics for Chandos Records, celebrating Hammerstein's work and legacy.

The month concludes Wednesday, July 29, at 5 p.m. at the Pearl S. Buck House with “Taking Action Through Storytelling: Pearl S. Buck and Oscar Hammerstein.” The program will explore how two of Bucks County’s most influential cultural figures used storytelling, literature and the arts to promote understanding, compassion and social change.

All “July with Oscar” programs are offered free of charge and are open to the public. The public may register for individual or all events. Advance registration is required and may be completed through BucksCountyPlayhouse.org.

Another centerpiece of the initiative is the new “July with Oscar” passport, available through BucksCountyPlayhouse.org. Events and the Passport Program are separate initiatives. Attendance at the events does not require a purchase to participate.

Priced at $114, the package includes:

• One ticket to Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific at
• Bucks County Playhouse (select performances)
• One admission to the Michener Art Museum
• One admission to the Pearl S. Buck House
• One admission to the Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center

The passport offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience the breadth of Bucks County’s cultural offerings while exploring the life and legacy of one of America’s most celebrated theatrical artists.

Organizers said they hope the initiative will not only honor Hammerstein’s contributions but also encourage audiences to discover new institutions, engage more deeply with the region’s cultural resources and experience firsthand the benefits of collaboration among Bucks County’s arts and heritage organizations.

Additional details, registration for free events and passport sales are available at BucksCountyPlayhouse.org or by calling 215-862-2121.