Kander and Ebb or Rodgers and Hammerstein? Quiz

Answer: Rodgers and Hammerstein

"South Pacific" opened on Broadway on April 7, 1949 in the Majestic Theatre, and ran for 1,925 performances. It was based on the book "Tales of the South Pacific" by James A. Michener. The music was written by Richard Rodgers and the lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II.

Richard Charles Rodgers was born on June 28, 1902, in Averne, Queens, New York City, NY, USA.
Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was born on July 12, 1895, in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, NY, USA.

The main story of "South Pacific" deals with Emile de Becque (originally played by Ezio Pinza), a wealthy French plantation owner living on the island. He meets and falls in love with a nurse named Nellie Forbush (originally played by Mary Martin). Nellie, dealing with her own prejudices, learns that Emile is the father of two children who are part Polynesian.

The subplot deals with Lt. Joseph Cable (originally played by William Tabbert) who is in the Navy serving in the islands during WWII. Bloody Mary (originally played by Juanita Hall), a local Polynesian woman, introduces Cable to her daughter, Liat (originally played by Betta St. John). Cable quickly falls in love but is not willing to marry Liat because she is Polynesian. Bloody Mary becomes angry and forbids him from seeing her again.

Both LT. Cable and Nellie need to decide if they can give up the prejudices they were taught in childhood for the people they love.

Answer: Kander and Ebb

"Chicago" opened on Broadway on June 3, 1975, in the 46th Street Theatre. The music was written by John Kander, and the lyrics were written by Fred Ebb.

John Harold Kander was born on March 18, 1927, in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. Fred Ebb was born on April 8, 1928, in New York City, NY, USA.

The story deals with women in prison in the Cook County Jail in Chicago, Illinois. It specifically focuses on two women, the first being Velma Kelly (originally played by Chita Rivera), who killed her husband and sister when she caught them together. She claimed, "I was in such a state of shock, I blacked out."

The other woman is Roxie Hart (originally played by Gwen Verdon). Roxie was having an affair with Fred Casley (originally played by Christopher Chadman) and then killed him when he tried to walk out on her. She told her husband Amos (originally played by Barney Martin) that someone broke into the house to rob them, so she had to kill him, and that Amos should take the blame because they go harder on women. Amos agreed until he discovered who the man was, and realized what was going on.

Billy Flynn (originally played by Jerry Orbach) is a top lawyer, with no scruples, for both Velma and Roxy. He has to get them both off, and he is going to put on a show to do it.

Answer: Rodgers and Hammerstein

"The Sound of Music" was a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical that opened on Broadway on November 16, 1959, in the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

Oscar Hammerstein went to college with Richard Rodgers' older brother, Mortimer. They were in a fraternity together, and Mortimer took Richard to see Hammerstein who was starring in a show at the school. That is when the composer and lyricist were first introduced.

"The Sound of Music" was their last musical together. Oscar Hammerstein died in 1960. Maria (originally played by Mary Martin) is working on becoming a nun, she is a postulant. She has a lot of trouble following the rules, and the Mother Abbess (originally played by Patricia Neway) sends her to go live with Captain Von Trapp (originally played by Theodore Bikel) and his seven children as he has lost his wife, and has trouble keeping governesses for long.

Maria is not thrilled to go, but then sees it as an opportunity. She quickly falls in love with the children. Then she falls in love with Captain Von Trapp. That scares her and she runs back to the convent. The Mother Abbess tells her that she cannot run from her problems.

Answer: Kander and Ebb

Kander and Ebb wrote "Kiss of the Spider Woman", which first opened on Broadway on May 3, 1993, in the Broadhurst Theatre.

Kander and Ebb met through their mutual publisher Tommy Valando.

"The Kiss of the Spider Woman" takes place in a prison in Latin America. Molina (originally played by Brent Carver) was in prison because he was gay, and was accused of being inappropriate with a minor. His cellmate, Valentin (originally played by Anthony Crivello), was a member of a revolutionary group believed to be trying to overthrow the government.

Valentin is homophobic and hates Molina instantly and warns him to stay on his side of the cell. Molina obsesses over Aurora (originally played by Chita Rivera), an actress who played the Spider Woman, whose kiss is deadly.

Answer: Rodgers and Hammerstein

"Carousel" was Rodgers and Hammerstein's second show. It opened on Broadway on April 19, 1945, in the Majestic Theatre. Before working with Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers wrote musicals with lyricist Lorenz Hart including, "Babes in Arms" and "The Boys from Syracuse".

"Carousel" is the story of Billy Bigalow (originally played by John Raitt), a carousel barker who is killed early on in the movie when he attempts to rob someone. He is married to Julie (originally played by Jan Clayton). He attempts a robbery because Julie is pregnant, and he is afraid he won't be able to provide well enough if Julie has a girl.

In Heaven, Billy learns that despite how he has made a mess of his life and his family's (he used to beat Julie, and Louise, his daughter (originally played by Bambi Lynn), has had to grow up without a father), he can still make things right.

Answer: Kander and Ebb

Kander and Ebb wrote "The Act", which opened on Broadway on October 29, 1977.

"The Act" was written specifically for Liza Minelli, a favorite of Kander and Ebb. The story is about Michelle Craig (Minelli) a former movie star. Michelle is washed up in Hollywood and tries to regain her fame in Las Vegas as a nightclub singer.

Liza Minelli won the Tony Award that year for Best Actress in a Musical. However, the show only lasted for 233 performances. According to sources, that may have been, at least in part, due to Minelli's behavior being a bit erratic at the time.

Answer: Kander and Ebb

Kander and Ebb wrote "Cabaret", which first opened on Broadway on November 20, 1966, in the Broadhurst Theatre.

Kander and Ebb not only composed for Broadway musicals, but they also composed for movies, including the Martin Scorsese film "New York, New York" (1977) which starred Liza Minnelli.

"Cabaret" starred Joel Grey as the Emcee at the Kit Kat Klub in Berlin, Germany shortly before the rise of the Third Reich. Sally Bowles (originally played by Jill Haworth), from England, was the star attraction at the club. Sally meets an American writer named Clifford Bradshaw (originally played by Bert Convy) and at first, they are friends, then they are lovers. Sally finds out she is pregnant, but isn't sure who the father is, and decides to have an abortion. Cliff tries to talk her out of it since it could be his, but she has it anyway. Cliff, who has decided to leave Germany and wants Sally to join him, becomes angry. However, he says he hopes she will still meet him in Paris.

On his way to Paris, Cliff begins to write a novel about his experiences: "There was a cabaret, and there was a master of ceremonies and there was a city called Berlin, in a country called Germany - and it was the end of the world."

Answer: Rodgers and Hammerstein

"Oklahoma!" first opened on May 31, 1943. It was Rodgers and Hammerstein's first musical collaboration. In total, they wrote nine Broadway musicals together. They also wrote "State Fair" (1945) which was a movie musical first, and "Cinderella" (1957) which was a TV musical first.

"Oklahoma!" is considered the first integrated musical. That is, the music, lyrics, and book were all written specifically for that show. Before that, it was common to take songs that worked well in one show and stick them in another show or to use a popular song. Also, the dancing was choreographed to that show, not just popular dances of the time, which also was often done.

"Oklahoma!" (the exclamation point is part of its title), takes place in an Indian Territory that is about to become "a brand new state" known as Oklahoma. They are having a box social where the ladies have donated picnic baskets for charity. Curly (originally played by Alfred Drake) tries to win Laurey's (originally played by Joan Roberts) basket. However, Jud Fry (originally played by Howard Da Silva) also wants the basket. Jud is not trusted by the cowboys or the farmers (who never see eye to eye on anything), but he has more money than Curly. In desperation, Curly sells his horse, and his gun to win the picnic basket, because the baskets come with a date with the girl who owns the basket.

Curly and Laurey get married. A drunk Fry goes after Curly, and they have a fight on some haystacks, and Fry falls and lands on his knife killing himself. Curly is charged with murder but is found not guilty by Andrew (originally played by Ralph Riggs) who acts as the judge.

Answer: Rodgers and Hammerstein

"The King and I" is a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. Richard Rodgers died on December 30, 1979. Oscar Hammerstein II died on August 23, 1960.

"The King and I" is the story of Anna Leonowens (originally played by Gertrude Lawrence), an English teacher who goes to Siam (now Thailand) to teach the King's (originally played by Yul Brynner) many children. The Broadway show does not give a number, but in the movie version he says he has "106 with five more on the way." Also, the king that this show is based on had 82 children!

At first, she finds the king to be barbaric. However, he has been learning about the way Europe and America do things, and he is trying to adapt somewhat to Western ways. Still, he won't change some things, like having multiple wives and concubines. She finds herself falling in love with the king, and he is falling for her, though neither can admit that because of where they come from. But they do realize they have become friends, until Tuptim (originally played by Doretta Morrow), a Burmese girl who was a gift to the king, tries to run away.

He goes to whip her himself, to show Anna that he is king and therefore what he says is correct. But she has gotten to him and he cannot do it. Defeated he runs off the stage in agony. Anna realizes he will always be barbaric and decides to leave Siam.

In 1985, Yul Brynner (who won a Tony in 1951 for Best Actor in a Musical), won a special Tony Award for having played the role of the King in "The King and I" in 4,525 performances. He also played the role in the 1956 movie version.

Answer: Kander and Ebb

Kander and Ebb's last musical collaboration was "Curtains". It opened on Broadway on March 22, 2007. Sadly Fred Ebb never got to see his final show make it to Broadway. He died on September 11, 2004.

"Curtains" is a murder mystery musical. The lead actress (originally played by Patty Goble) in a show was murdered during the play within the play. Detective Frank Cioffi (originally played by David Hyde Pierce) has to solve the mystery. However, he is more interested in the show itself, and its problems than finding out who killed the actress. He has a huge love of theatre.

Pierce won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for playing Cioffi.