Auditions for a Musical Quiz - Which musical do they come from? | Musicals Mixture

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. My name is Ti Moune. I am an orphan who was adopted by a peasant couple after being saved from a flood during a terrible storm. I'm a teenager who loves riding around in fast cars. I later fell in love with Daniel after restoring him to health after his car crashed. I sing, "How it must feel to go racing wherever you please". What is my musical?

Answer: Once on This Island

The fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" by Hans Christian Andersen inspired Rosa Guy to write her 1985 novel "My Love, My Love; or, the Peasant Girl". This novel in turn inspired Lynn Ahrens and composer Stephen Flaherty to write the one-act musical "Once on This Island" which was first shown in 1990.

In this musical, a little girl is crying so the village storytellers tell her the story of the peasant girl Ti Moune who lives on an island in the Antilles. She has been "chosen by the gods for a magical fate". There is a lot of sadness in Ti Moune's life, but I won't say what happens next. I don't want to be a spoiler.

Ti Moune's song for the audition is called "Waiting for Life".

2. My name is Billy Bigelow. I spoke out for Julie and Carrie by mocking my boss, but that got me fired from my job. I got married to Julie. Unfortunately, I wasn't always kind to her, but when she became pregnant, I realised that I had to provide for them both financially. I chose the wrong option, a violent robbery. I hope I can make amends for what I did. I sing, "If I loved you, words wouldn't come in an easy way". What is my musical?

Answer: Carousel

The story of "Carousel" was based on the play "Liliom" by Ferenc Molnar. When Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein wrote their musical version in 1945, Liliom became Billy Bigelow, and the ending had a more positive outcome.

Billy's moments of domestic abuse are seen as controversial today, but his feelings of regret and his willingness to make amends for his mistakes make this a compelling story. "Carousel" has had many good reviews and has won many awards since 1945.

Billy's song for the audition is called "If I Loved You".

3. My name is Roxie Hart. It is February 1928. I am an aspiring vaudeville actress and chorus girl. I can't resist the temptation to cheat on my husband, Amos. The man I have been having an affair with, Fred Casely, wants to break off from our relationship. He goes about it in a very blunt and offhand way, so lose my temper, grab a pistol and shoot him. I get arrested. Can I find a good lawyer, get out of jail, and become famous? I sing, "He loves me so and it all suits me fine, that funny, sunny, honey hubby of mine". What is my musical?

Answer: Chicago

In 1926, journalist, playwright and screenwriter Maurine Dallas Watkins wrote a play called "Chicago". It was based on separate court cases of two women who were accused of murdering their lovers. This play was the inspiration for the 1975 musical "Chicago". It was written by John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse (the director and choreographer).

Roxie gets sent to Cook County Jail where she meets other women prisoners who are also accused of murder. One of these is the vaudevillian Velma Kelly. Velma doesn't want Roxie overshadowing her or using the same lawyer, Billy Flynn. This causes dissension between them.

Roxie's song for the audition is called "Funny Honey".

4. My name is Maria Vasquez (or Maria Nunez), or just Maria. I am an 18-year-old girl from Puerto Rico. I came to Manhattan with my brother Bernardo for an arranged marriage to Chino, his friend, but I fall in love with Tony. Tony falls in love with me. Bernardo, Chino and I belong to a gang called The Sharks. Tony belonged to the enemy gang called The Jets. Is love stronger than gang loyalty? I sing, "Only you, you're the only thing I'll see forever; in my eyes, in my words, and in everything I do". What is my musical?

Answer: West Side Story

The 1957 successful musical "West Side Story" was inspired by William Shakespeare's tragic play "Romeo and Juliet". Its creators were Jerome Robbins, Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, and Arthur Laurents. In the musical, the Capulets become The Sharks, and the Montagues become the Jets. It is set on the island of Manhattan in New York City. There is also a 2020 Broadway version that is set in the modern age with hip-hop and Latin-style choreography. The song "I Feel Pretty" and any jovialities were edited out.

Tony and Maria plan to make a life together and have children. Unfortunately, there is a switchblade fight involving Tony, Riff, and Bernardo. This is the start of a series of damaging incidents. You might want a happy ending to the story, but is that possible?

Maria's song for the audition is called "Tonight". This is normally a duet that she sings with Tony.

5. My name is Esther Smith. I'm 16 years old. I've got a crush on John Truett, the boy next door. We flirt and I suggest we go to the fairgrounds at the forthcoming World Fair in 1904. Later, I believe a lie that my sister, Tootie, told me about John, and I fall out with him. When I learn the truth, I regret the way I reacted and seek John's forgiveness. He accepts my apology. I sing "Clang, clang, clang went the trolley; ding, ding, ding went the bell". What is my musical?

Answer: Meet Me in St. Louis

The American writer Sally Benson wrote a series of vignettes which she compiled into the form of a novel in 1942 called "Meet Me in St. Louis". This became one of the inspirations for the highly successful 1944 Christmas musical movie also called "Meet Me in St. Louis". There were two screenwriters, Irvine Brecher and Fred F Finklehoffe.

Songs dating mainly from the year 1904 were adapted for the film. Older traditional songs were given instrumental arrangements, such as "Little Brown Jug". In addition, some new songs were written. I won't list all the composers here.

In 1989, a stage version of this musical opened on Broadway. The story of Esther and John is still important, but they are more closely intertwined with the stories of the other characters than in the film.

Esther's song for the audition is called "The Trolley Song".

6. My name is Eurydice. I am a young woman living in a post-apocalyptic world at the time of the Great Depression. I meet Orpheus who has no hesitation in asking me to marry him. We are both living in a state of poverty, so I don't feel this is the right time for marriage. Orpheus promises me that his music will be enough to provide for both of us. We promise to stay loyal to one another whatever trials and tests we face. I sing, "What I wanted was to fall asleep, to close my eyes and disappear like a petal on a stream". What is my musical?

Answer: Hadestown

"Hadestown" was inspired by the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. The music, lyrics, and book were all written by singer-songwriter, musician and playwright Anais Mitchell. The original version premiered in 2006. A new stage version was developed with the help of director Rachel Chavkin. That premiered in 2016.

Hadestown is an underground factory owned by Hades. Persephone is reluctant to return there for the winter. Orpheus is away working on his music, so Hades asks Eurydice to go with him on his train back to Hadestown. The Fates advise Eurydice to go with Hades to escape from poverty. She has to make a choice. Will she come to regret whatever decision she chooses?

Eurydice's song for the audition is called "Flowers".

7. My name is Jack Spriggins (or Jack Durden, or Jack Trott) depending on which version of my story you believe. I've got a cow called Milky White who won't give us any milk. My mother wants me to sell her. I meet a baker and his wife who offer to buy the cow from me for five magic beans. That must be a bargain. My mother scolds me when I get home. She doesn't believe that those beans are worth as much as a cow, or that they can be magical. I sing, "I guess this is goodbye, old pal. You've been a perfect friend". What is my musical?

Answer: Into the Woods

The 1987 musical "Into the Woods" brings together various fairy tale characters, such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Baker and his wife, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Jack. The music and lyrics were written by Stephen Sondheim. A book was written by James Lapine.

The original story of "Jack and the Beanstalk" is an English fairy tale. It is also known as "The Story of Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean". In the musical, just as in the fairy tale, Jack's mother scolds Jack and throws the beans onto the ground. One of the beans germinates and grows to become a giant magic beanstalk that reaches up into the sky. Jack has some climbing and exploring to do. What will he find?

Jack's song in the audition is called "I Guess This is Goodbye".

8. My name is Ruby. I have travelled all the way from Utah to New York City by bus with the hope of getting a part in a Broadway show. Someone in the chorus has just dropped out so I am given her role. A sailor called Dick finds my lost suitcase. All that's in there are my tap shoes. I faint with hunger and relief, but Dick catches me. We both fall in love with each other. I sing, "The weather's fair, but ever since I saw him depart, it's been raining, raining in my heart". What is my musical?

Answer: Dames at Sea

"Dames at Sea" is based on the six "Gold Diggers" musical movies released in the 1920s and 1930s. This stage musical was written by George Haimsohn, Jim Wise, and Robin Miller with its first showing in a coffee house in New York City in 1966. Its original name was "Dames at Sea or Golddiggers Afloat". The 2015 Broadway version was more ambitious. They used an orchestra for the first time and increased the number of dances and songs.

The character Ruby in the musical was based on the actress, dancer and singer Ruby Keeler. She acted in only one of the "Gold Diggers" films. This was the successful "Gold Diggers of 1933".

In "Dames at Sea", Ruby is a talented tap dancer who manages to get a job in the chorus. Unfortunately, there are plans for their New York City theater to be closed down and demolished. Thanks to Dick and Lucky, they can perform their show on the deck of a battleship instead. Their leading lady, Mona Kent, also has eyes on Dick. This upsets Ruby. However, Mona suffers from terrible seasickness on the ship even though the sea is calm, and the ship is still in its port of call. This might be good news for Ruby.

Ruby's song for the audition is called "Raining in My Heart".

9. My name is Caractacus Potts. I am an eccentric inventor and widower. I've got two children. They are Jeremy and Jemima. A young woman called Truly Scrumptious discovers my children playing truant at the junkyard. She brings them home where we live inside an old windmill. On the plus side, I can afford to buy and refurbish a derelict car called The Paragon Panther. Better than that, Truly, the children and I develop a closer relationship. I sing, "A gentle breeze from Hushaby Mountain softly blows o'er Lullaby Bay". What is my musical?

Answer: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

The author Ian Fleming wrote a children's novel called "Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang: The Magical Car". This was the inspiration for the 1968 musical-fantasy film "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang". Richard and Robert Sherman later wrote six more songs for the 2002 stage production which was given the same name as the film. It is sometimes known as "Chitty the Musical".

In this story, there is a country called Vulgaria ruled over by a villain called Baron Bomburst. Using sabotage many years earlier, his spies were to blame for the unroadworthy state of the Paragon Panther. Caractacus refurbishes the car. Truly and Caractacus take it for a drive and rename it Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Romance is in the air, but there is another problem. Baron Bomburst wants that car.

Caractacus' song for the audition is called "Hushaby Mountain".

10. My name is Katherine "Babe" Williams. I'm the leader of the Union Grievance Committee in a factory (but not the head of the union). The union is trying to get a raise of seven-and-a-half cents an hour for its workers. We deserve it but the bosses don't want to give it to us. I meet Sid Sorokin, the new factory superintendent. He shows a romantic interest in me even though we are on opposite sides in this industrial dispute. Maybe I could be interested, but I'm not at all in love. I sing, "All you gotta do is say hello to a man, and they've got you whispering in his ear". What is my musical?

Answer: The Pajama Game

In 1953, American writer Richard Bissell wrote a novel called "Seven and a Half Cents". This was the inspiration for the Broadway musical "The Pajama Game" which was first shown in 1954. The music and lyrics were written by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. There have been several Broadway and other revivals since then. The 2006 revival included the Richard Adler song "The Three of Us (Me, Myself and I)" for the first time.

The workers are expected to manufacture pyjamas at an alarming rate. They are employed by the Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. As the story progresses, Babe and Sid admit that they love each other. There are problems in their relationship. These are caused mainly because they are on opposing sides at work. There is even an annual company picnic attended by both Babe and Sid. Will there be a happy ending?

Babe's song for the audition is called "I'm Not at All in Love".

Source: Author Kenners158

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
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Auditions for a Musical Trivia Quiz

Which musical do they come from?

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