The origins of "Me and Juliet" can be traced to the early days of the relationship between Rodgers and Hammerstein. The musical "Oklahoma!" opened in 1943; it was Rodgers and Hammerstein's first work together and a massive hit. Soon after "Oklahoma!" opened, Rodgers began considering the idea of a musical set backstage at a theatre staging a musical. The production could explore different areas of the backstage world. Rodgers also saw it as the opportunity to write a pure musical comedy, without the serious themes which had marked their early works—such as the attacks on racism in "South Pacific", and the cultural tolerance in "The King and I".