Broadway Stars To Headline Glamorous Evening For Hammerstein Museum

DOYLESTOWN, PA — The nonprofit Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center will present “Oh, What a Beautiful Evenin’,” an exclusive gala on October 21 at The Inn at Barley Sheaf Farm, Buckingham.

The glamorous evening with cocktails and a three-course gourmet dinner will feature entertainment by Broadway stars Christy Altomare (Anastasia, Mama Mia, Carrie), Justin Guarini (In Transit, Wicked, American Idol, American Idiot), and Hugh Panaro (Phantom of the Opera, Sweeney Todd, Les Miserables).

The talented and dynamic Ted Chapin, former President and Chief Creative Officer of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization, will host the event.

The gala will support the Hammerstein Museum’s fundraising campaign to restore Highland Farm in Doylestown, Oscar Hammerstein II's former home and creative epicenter, and for the museum’s educational programs and general operating expenses. The nonprofit made news
this past December when it purchased the Highland Farm property, preserving it for future
generations of musical theatre and history enthusiasts.

From left: Broadway stars Justin Guarini, Christy Altomare and Hugh Panaro. (Submitted)

The talented and dynamic Ted Chapin, former President and Chief Creative Officer of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization, will host the event.

The evening will include silent and live auctions, featuring uniquely Hammerstein-curated experiences including Broadway show tickets, a two-night stay at the von Trapp Lodge with Brewery Tour (Stowe, VT), a Hammerstein-themed original artwork by Bucks County artist James Feehan, and an exclusive private dinner at Highland Farm.

The Inn at Barley Sheaf Farm, the venue for the gala, is the former estate of George S. Kaufman. Oscar Hammerstein is known to have spent time with Kaufman here, where writers and celebrities of the time would often come for dinner or for the weekend.

The gala is being presented with support of a grant from the Bucks County Tourism Grant Program, along with generous sponsors including Café with Soul, Class-Harlan Real Estate and JoAnn & Paul Maroney, The Doylestown Inn, Eiseman Roofing Experts, Gemmi Construction, Golden Blossom Honey, Judith Ann Abrams Productions, Provident Bank, and von Trapp Brewing.
Tickets are available on the Hammerstein Museum website at hammersteinmuseum.org/2024-gala for $500 per person. To secure a table for 8 or 10 guests, contact Chris Hutton
(chutton.ohmtec@gmail.com).

Hammerstein Museum is a registered non-profit organization, and a portion of ticket purchases are tax-deductible. Businesses and individuals who are interested in sponsoring this exclusive event, or would like to donate an item for the live or silent auction, should contact Eileen Shapiro.

Dubbed the “Birthplace of the Modern American Musical,” Highland Farm was Hammerstein’s home and creative epicenter for the last 20 years of his life. It is where the Rodgers and Hammerstein collaboration was born and where Hammerstein composed the lyrics for many of their works, including Oklahoma!, South Pacific, Carousel, The King and I, and The Sound of Music.

Remarkably, at Highland Farm Oscar met and mentored a young Stephen Sondheim, who has said, “In one afternoon [at Highland Farm], I learned more about songwriting than most people do in a lifetime.”

More than 75 Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, Tony Awards, and Pulitzer Prizes can be directly traced back to Highland Farm.

The nonprofit’s mission is to honor the Broadway legend’s groundbreaking work as a lyricist, librettist, mentor, and humanitarian and to educate and inspire generations of creators and theatre-lovers, with special opportunities for diverse and underserved communities.

Highland Farm’s restoration will commence with the porch and balcony, which has already begun with the generous assistance of Doylestown historic architectural firm, Period Architecture LTD and Providence Engineering, other urgent projects include replacing the roof of the house and upgrading the climate control system. Combined costs for these initial projects are expected to be several hundred thousand dollars.

Public tours of Highland Farm are offered Friday to Sunday. Advance tickets are required. Private and group tours can be arranged by appointment. Information and the complete tour schedule can be found at hammersteinmuseum.org/tourinfo.