Oscar Hammerstein Museum Celebrates Ahrens and Flaherty at Fundraising Gala
The Oscar Hammerstein Museum & Theatre Education Center presented its Ockie Award to Tony-winning songwriters Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty during its Something Wonderful gala on October 4, 2026, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. The event at the Inn at Barley Sheaf Farm raised over $170,000 for Highland Farm restoration, education programs, and museum operations. Liz Callaway and Christy Altomare performed, including 'Journey to the Past' from Anastasia, with Flaherty on piano.
The Doylestown event took place at the Inn at Barley Sheaf Farm, once the Bucks County home of playwright George S. Kaufman. Proceeds exceeded $170,000 and were directed toward restoring Oscar Hammerstein II’s Highland Farm, learning initiatives, and museum work.
Ahrens and Flaherty, honored with the Ockie Award, wrote Broadway shows including Ragtime, Once on This Island, and Anastasia. The program paired Liz Callaway and Christy Altomare on “Journey to the Past,” with Flaherty at piano, and also featured four young winners from its international solo competition.
The gala’s support for restoration and education may help preserve Hammerstein’s theatrical legacy for students, theater artists, and local visitors. By honoring Ahrens and Flaherty and showcasing young performers, the event could encourage intergenerational appreciation of musical theater and strengthen Doylestown’s cultural tourism. The museum’s planned reopening may offer future educational opportunities, though its broader social reach will depend on programming and accessibility.