Pictured above: Mayor Ron Strouse, Mayor Larry Keller, Visit Bucks County’s Tourism Office Vice President, Paul Bencivengo & Oscar’s Grandson & Executive Director at HammersteinCenter.org, William Hammerstein, ESQ.
Local officials, community leaders, new committee members, board members and volunteers enthusiastically gathered to launch the latest campaign to once and for all, SAVE Oscar Hammerstein’s home, Highland Farm! Oscar’s home is the very place where he wrote all his most beloved works with partner Richard Rodgers, including Oklahoma, Carousel, South Pacific, The King & I and The Sound of Music! It’s also the very special place where he mentored Stephen Sondheim!
"The Friends of Oscar Hammerstein" committee members & volunteers include (alphabetical order): Emma Calvitto, Michelle Cho Churchill, Sandra Donnan-Alfano, Susan Dunning, Mandee K. Hammerstein, Rick James, Liz Johnson, JaQuinley Kerr, Pamm Kerr, Linda Lee, Matthew Knol, JoAnn Maroney, Armando Martinez, Bill Milnazik, Chanin Milnazik, Dr. Amanda Paschke, Greg Roth, Meg Roth, Tyler Tomlinson Esq., Robert Viagas
Highland Farm, located in Doylestown, PA is the undisputed buckle of the Bucks County Genius Belt. Yet, the current future of this landmark is in doubt. The Oscar Hammerstein Museum & Theater Education Center, aka, the Hammerstein Center is working diligently to raise necessary funds to save the property from demolition and turn it into a 2-part, immersive museum experience. The center is a recognized 501(c)3. If the campaign is successful by the December deadline, Oscar’s home will be restored to its original glory and primed for engaging, guided history tours and his large, 6,000 square-foot cattle barn will be adapted to serve as a 3-story, Broadway history browsing museum. Theater lovers, humanitarians and historians of all ages will come to know and love even more about the man who helped shape the culture of kindness and acceptance in a time when the world needed it the most, while discovering the multitude of ingredients involved that helped shape this man as one of history’s most artistic and theatrical contributors.
Video news clip above is contributed by the Bucks County Intelligencer’s staff reporter Kim Weimer during the introduction of the “Friends of Oscar Hammerstein” committee & their plans
Want to know more about the importance of house museums, see what our friends from the Wall Street Journal believe! This article was written after their private, 4-hour tour this summer (CLICK HERE - subscription required)
Be part of the movement, get more details and donate or pledge here: www.HammersteinCenter.org
Are you creative and enthusiastic and want to start your own Hammerstein Fundraiser to get on board with the cause? Be sure to contact Will@HammersteinCenter.org to help organize and promote your next Hammerstein fundraiser. Join other institutions and businesses throughout the area like the Bucks County Community College, The Raven, The Art of Sound, Doreen Taylor, Encore Bike Tours, New Feathers Productions and others…to help this worthy project succeed!!
