Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960) was librettist, playwright, producer, and director who is best known for his collaborations with Richard Rodgers. As Rodgers and Hammerstein, the pair were key players during the golden age of musical theater, creating wildly successful classic plays such as The Sound of Music, The King and I, Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, and the television musical Cinderella. Hammerstein co-wrote more than 850 songs, winning eight Tony Awards as well as two Academy Awards for Best Original Song.