Broadway Buff? This Quiz Will Challenge Your Musical Knowledge!

Rent is loosely based on which opera?

Carmen

La BohÃ¨me

The Magic Flute

Madame Butterfly

Rent is loosely based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera “La BohÃ¨me.” It updates the opera’s storyline to follow a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling in New York’s East Village under the shadow of HIV/AIDS.

Which Broadway musical is known for the song “Memory”?

Cats

Rent

Hamilton

Wicked

Cats, composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and based on T.S. Eliot’s poems, is famous for the song “Memory.” This ballad, sung by the character Grizabella, is one of the most well-known songs in musical theatre.

Which composer is known for his work on “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”?

Stephen Sondheim

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Leonard Bernstein

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Stephen Sondheim composed “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” a dark musical thriller that showcases his talent for complex music and character-driven storytelling. The musical first premiered on Broadway in 1979.

In the Heights takes place in which New York City neighborhood?

Harlem

Washington Heights

Bronx

Brooklyn

In the Heights, created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, is set in Washington Heights. It explores the lives of the Latino community in this neighborhood, blending hip-hop, salsa, merengue, and soul music.

Which musical features the song “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina”?

Evita

Les MisÃ©rables

Cats

Phantom of the Opera

Don’t Cry for Me Argentina is a key song from “Evita,” which tells the story of Eva PerÃ³n, the First Lady of Argentina. The musical first premiered in London’s West End in 1978.

What year was “The Sound of Music” first performed on Broadway?

1955

1959

1965

1970

The Sound of Music first graced the Broadway stage in 1959. This beloved musical tells the story of the von Trapp family in Austria during the late 1930s, featuring iconic songs that have become classics.

What is the central theme of “A Chorus Line”?

The life of a famous composer

The trials and tribulations of Broadway dancers auditioning for a show

A family reunion during the holidays

A high school preparing for their annual musical

A Chorus Line focuses on the personal stories, struggles, and dreams of Broadway dancers auditioning for a spot in a chorus line. It’s a celebration of the unsung heroes of the Broadway musical and was groundbreaking for its time when it premiered in 1975.

Which of these musicals is set in France?

Chicago

Rent

Les Misérables

Hamilton

Les Misérables is set in France, spanning several decades of the 19th century. It’s based on the novel by Victor Hugo and covers themes of redemption, love, and revolution.

Guys and Dolls is based on the writings of which author?

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Ernest Hemingway

Damon Runyon

Mark Twain

Guys and Dolls is based on the stories of Damon Runyon, whose characters inhabited the world of New York City’s Broadway district. The musical, known for its memorable characters and catchy tunes, premiered on Broadway in 1950.

Which of these musicals was inspired by the painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”?

Sunday in the Park with George

Rent

Les MisÃ©rables

Phantom of the Opera

Sunday in the Park with George, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, was inspired by Georges Seurat’s painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.” The musical explores the challenges and rewards of creating art.

Who wrote the lyrics for “West Side Story”?

Tim Rice

Stephen Sondheim

Ira Gershwin

Oscar Hammerstein II

Stephen Sondheim, a legendary figure in musical theatre, wrote the lyrics for “West Side Story.” His work contributed significantly to the musical’s enduring popularity.

Which musical won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2016?

Hamilton

Wicked

Dear Evan Hansen

The Book of Mormon

Hamilton, created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2016. The musical uses a mix of hip-hop, jazz, and R&B to tell the story of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.

What year did “West Side Story” first debut on Broadway?

1955

1957

1960

1962

West Side Story debuted on Broadway in 1957, bringing a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” to the stage, set against the backdrop of New York City’s street gangs.

Chicago is based on real events that took place in what city?

New York City

Chicago

Los Angeles

New Orleans

Chicago is based on real events that took place in Chicago in the 1920s, focusing on the themes of celebrity criminal trials, media sensationalism, and the concept of the “celebrity criminal.”

What is the unique feature of the musical “The Fantasticks”?

It’s the longest-running musical in the world

It features a cast of over 100

It’s performed without any music

It’s entirely improvised

The Fantasticks holds the record as the longest-running musical in the world, captivating audiences with its simple, enchanting story and minimalistic production style since its opening in 1960.

Who composed the music for “The Phantom of the Opera”?

Stephen Sondheim

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Leonard Bernstein

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Andrew Lloyd Webber composed the music for “The Phantom of the Opera,” which is one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history and known for its memorable scores.

What is the setting for “Fiddler on the Roof”?

Anatevka, a small Jewish village in Russia

A high school in the United States

A factory in Victorian England

Fiddler on the Roof is set in Anatevka, a small Jewish village in Russia. The musical explores themes of tradition, family, and change amidst the backdrop of the Russian Revolution.

Which musical tells the story of Tevye and his daughters?

Fiddler on the Roof

My Fair Lady

Oklahoma!

South Pacific

Fiddler on the Roof centers around Tevye, a Jewish milkman, and his five daughters, exploring themes of tradition, family, and societal changes in early 20th century Russia.

The Lion King musical is famous for its use of what?

Live animals on stage

Innovative puppetry

Audience participation

Holographic technology

The Lion King musical is renowned for its innovative use of puppetry to bring characters to life, blending human actors with puppets in a visually spectacular way.

Who originally starred as Elphaba in “Wicked” on Broadway?

Kristin Chenoweth

Idina Menzel

Lea Salonga

Sutton Foster

Idina Menzel originated the role of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, in “Wicked” on Broadway. Her powerful performance, including the iconic song “Defying Gravity,” earned her widespread acclaim.