War in Musicals Trivia Quiz

Answer: American Revolutionary War

"Dearest Enemy" has the distinction of being the first musical written by the powerhouse duo of Richard Rodgers (music) and Lorenz Hart (lyrics) (with book by Herbert Fields), although it was their second work to see production (after "The Garrick Gaieties") in 1925.

Set in 1776, this musical comedy is based on a true event where a contingent of the British army occupied the grounds and house of Mary Lindley Murray, who managed to delay General Howe and his senior officers with cake and wine (and conversation) long enough to allow Major General Putnam of the Continental army to pass by unnoticed as they retreated from the Battle of Brooklyn.

It premiered in Baltimore in early September, running for a week before opening on Broadway. There, "Dearest Enemy" fared moderately well, running for 286 performances between September 18, 1925, and May 22, 1926.

Answer: American Revolutionary War

Written and composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, "Hamilton" follows the life story of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, based on the biography written by Ron Chernow. Miranda described his musical as, ""America then, as told by America now," with the music largely drawing from hip-hop and rap styles, and casting historically white characters with non-white actors.

While "Hamilton" was not solely set during the Revolutionary War, the musical was divided into two acts, with Act I occurring during the war (1776 to 1789) and Act II from 1789 until Hamilton's death in a duel in 1804.

"Hamilton" premiered in January of 2015 Off-Broadway, before making the move to Broadway in July. "Hamilton" had a run of 1,440 shows on Broadway between then and the forced closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic in March of 2020. Productions resumed in September of 2021.

Answer: American Civil War

"Maggie Flynn" was first produced in 1968, based on a book by Morton DaCosta with music and lyrics by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss. While it was not a commercial success, the musical did garner a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor for Jack Cassidy.

Set in New York during the Draft Riots of 1863, "Maggie Flynn," received criticism for being too heavy-handed in its analogy to the Vietnam War protests of the day. The story revolved around the titular character's relationships (one with a soldier) and her work with an orphanage for black children as they all get caught up in the riots, with the orphanage getting burned down in the end.

"Maggie Flynn" only managed a run of 82 performances and 6 previews from its opening on October 23, 1968.

Answer: American Civil War

"Shenandoah" was a 1974 musical that was based on the 1965 movie of the same name, screenplay by James Lee Barrett. For the musical, the music was composed by Gary Geld, with lyrics by Peter Udell, and book by Barrett, Udell and Philip Rose.

The story follows Charlie Anderson and his family living in the Shenandoah Valley (Virginia) as they try to avoid involvement in the Civil War. Unfortunately, Charlie is drawn in when Union soldiers take his youngest son Robert prisoner, and then things get worse when he loses his eldest two sons to other war-related tragedies. In the end, he is reunited with Robert, but it is a bittersweet consolation, given all that had occurred.

"Shenandoah" opened in East Haddam Connecticut and had a pre-Broadway run in Boston in late 1974, before opening on Broadway on January 7, 1975. It had a run of 1,050 performances, ending on August 7, 1977. It had a Broadway revival in 1989, as well.

Answer: World War I

"Oh, What a Lovely War!" was a 1963 musical developed by Joan Littlewood and her Theatre Workshop in London, England. When the idea for the musical was first presented to her, Littlewood was against anything to do with World War I, and anything military (including uniforms).

The concept of the musical is that it is a satire on World War I, presenting a comedy in the acting and utilizing songs of the era, while simultaneously broadcasting statistics and facts about the war on a screen behind the actors that punctuated the horrors of the war. This juxtaposition worked well, showing audiences how ludicrous was the vulgarity of war, and how people could lose their individuality to the cause of the higher authority.

"Oh, What a Lovely War!" opened at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, where Littlewood ran her Theatre Workshop, before opening on London's West End. The following year in September, it opened on Broadway, running until January of 1965 after only 125 shows. Since then, the production saw a 2002 revival in London, a 2010 UK tour, and a 2014 revival in Stratford.

Answer: World War I

"The Hello Girls" was produced in 2018 with music and lyrics by Peter Mills and book by Mills and Cara Reichel, collaborating together on their fifth production.

Based on the little-known true story of female bilingual telephone operators who served in the U.S. Army overseas during World War I (1917-18), and how they helped turn the tide of the war. Following their return to the United States, they then had to fight for recognition and equality for their service.

"The Hello Girls" saw its initial Off-Broadway run from November 13 to December 22, 2018.

Answer: World War II

"From Here to Eternity" was produced in 2013 with music and lyrics by Stuart Brayson and Tim Rice with book by Bill Oakes. It was adapted from the 1951 novel of the same name by James Jones, which was made into a very successful (Best Picture winning) 1953 movie that starred Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Frank Sinatra, Deborah Kerr, and Donna Reed.

The story is set in Hawaii in 1941 shortly before the events of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and revolves around the experiences of the soldiers of G Company at the Schofield Barracks, particularly those of First Sergeant Milt Warden, Private Angelo Maggio, and Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt.

"From Here to Eternity" had its world premiere at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London's West End on September 30, 2013, running until March 29, 2014 with a total of 145 performances. It showed for the first time in the United States in 2016, and had a subsequent Off-West End revival in 2022.

Answer: World War II

"South Pacific" was the fourth collaboration for Richard Rodgers (music) and Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics), with book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan, based on the 1947 novel "Tales of the South Pacific" by James Michener .

The setting of "South Pacific" is an unnamed island in... you guessed it, the South Pacific... during World War II. Ensign Nellie Forbush is a US Navy nurse stationed at a local hospital who becomes enamored of a local plantation owner, Emile de Becque. They begin a relationship, but when she discovers that he has two half-Polynesian children from a previous marriage, her racial prejudices force her to leave him. Emile, now without the prospect of Nellie, agrees to go on a dangerous mission with a US Marine (Lt. Cable), and when Cable is killed and Emile goes missing, Nellie takes care of Emile's children, eventually overcoming her prejudices and learning to love them.

"South Pacific" opened on Broadway in February of 1949 and would have an extensive run of 1,925 performances, while earning Tony's for Best Musical and in all four acting categories (the first to do so). Film adaptations followed in 1958 and 2001.

Answer: Vietnam War

"Miss Saigon" was first produced in 1989 with music by Claude-Michel Schönberg and lyrics by Alain Boublil and Richard Maltby Jr., with book by Schönberg and Boublil. It was based on the 1904 opera "Madame Butterfly" by Giacomo Puccini, with an updated setting changing from the original Japan (geisha and American lieutenant) to Vietnam (Vietnamese bar girl and American marine).

The musical relates the tragic love story of a 17-year-old Vietnamese bar girl (Kim) and an American marine (Chris) during the final days of the Vietnam War. After spending a passionate night together, they are torn apart by the fall of Saigon and Chris is forced to leave without her. Years later, Chris returns to Vietnam with his American wife and discovers that he has a son with Kim, who has been working as a prostitute in a brothel. The musical explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the devastating effects of war on individuals and society.

"Miss Saigon" opened in London's West End in September of 1989, running for ten year and closing after 4,264 performances on October 30, 1999. And in 1991, it began its run on Broadway, also closing after ten years in January of 2001, with 4,092 performances.

A very popular musical, in spite of casting controversies (Caucasian actors cast in Asian roles), it has seen revivals in the West End (2014-16) and Broadway (2017-18), and has seen tours and productions in many other countries around the world.

Answer: Vietnam War

"Movin' Out" is a jukebox musical that features the music and lyrics of Billy Joel songs, but done in such a manner where the actors don't actually sing any of the songs, and just dance while the 'piano man' sings the various songs.

The story follows a group of friends from working-class families in New York during the 1960s and 70s. The central character is Tony, who is a rebellious and restless youth who dreams of escaping his hometown and making a name for himself. Along with his friends, he experiences the joys and struggles of growing up, falling in love, and serving in the Vietnam War.

"Movin' Out" opened in Chicago in June of 2002, then moved to Broadway in October, playing a total of 1,303 performances and 28 previews, closing on December 11, 2005. Its West End run was much shorter, lasting just a few months, September 2006 to February 2007, for a total of 105 shows.