Where in the World are These Works? Quiz

"Les Miserables", or "Les Mis" as it is affectionately called, is based on Victor Hugo's classic novel of the same name. The original musical was in French with lyrics by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel and music by Claude-Michel Schonberg. It had its premiere in Paris in 1980.

It was adapted into English by producer Cameron Mackintosh and lyricist Herbert Kretmer, and opened on the West End in 1985 with multiple overseas tours since. It has become one of the most celebrated and enduring musicals worldwide. Known for its compelling characters and sweeping score while exploring themes of justice, redemption, love and sacrifice.

The story is set against the backdrop of 19th-century France and follows the lives of various characters, primarily focusing on the convict Jean Valjean after his release from prison. He is pursued by the staunch moralist Inspector Javert for breaking bail, once found he escapes to fulfill a deathbed promise to care for the daughter of one of his destitute workers Fantine.

Valjean takes the daughter, Cosette, and flees his home. Many years later we meet them again and their story becomes intertwined with the fates of a group of young revolutionary students led by the fearless Enjoras, the idealistic Marius who falls in love with Cosette, and a young street girl called Eponine who is in love with him and completes a love triangle. Their stories all play out amidst the background of a doomed revolution and its aftermath.

"My Fair Lady" with lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Lowe, is based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play "Pygmalion". Its first release was on Broadway in 1956 and it became the longest running musical to that date. The hit London premiere was two years later in 1958; Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews starred in both productions.

The story revolves around Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl, who becomes the subject of a bet between a linguistics professor, Henry Higgins, and his friend Colonel Pickering. Higgins boasts that he can transform Eliza into a refined lady simply by teaching her to speak correctly with an upper-class accent.

Eliza undergoes rigorous training and the relationship between her and Higgins evolves at the same time as she does, which leads to themes involving class, identity, independence and personal transformation.

In 1964 it became an American musical comedy-drama film, still starring Rex Harrison, but replacing Julie Andrews with Audrey Hepburn. The movie won that year's Academy Award for Best Picture.

Canadian husband and wife team Irene Sankoff and David Hein wrote the book, music and lyrics to "Come From Away". It premiered in Ontario in 2013, opened on Broadway in 2017 and in the West End in 2019, becoming a critical and box office success.

The musical is based on the true story that unfolded in Gander, Newfoundland after the September 11 attacks in the US. 38 planes were in the air at the time and had to land somewhere due to airspace closures. Gander still had an International Airport as it used to be an important refuelling stop for transatlantic aircraft.

Nearly 7000 passengers and crew found themselves stranded for a week after the attacks in the small Newfoundland community. The characters are based on real residents and travellers who have to come to terms with the horror of what has happened and the sheer logistics of coping with the influx of people that nearly doubled the population.

The musical explores themes of compassion, resilience, friendship and human kindness in even the darkest of times. Considering the subject matter the musical is surprisingly uplifting and portrays the triumph of humanity over hate.

"Hamilton" is a biographical musical, with music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, that follows the story of US Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. Miranda himself starred as Hamilton for the first two years on Broadway commencing in 2015. The show then toured the US for two years and commenced a West End run.

The narrative follows Hamilton from his childhood in an impoverished Caribbean island to his pivotal role in the American Revolution and delves into his relationships with other leading key figures and his personal life up to his death in a duel with Aaron Burr.

The musical has a mixture of rap, hip-hop, traditional and rhythm and blues which has gained it widespread acclaim for its ability to attract more contemporary audiences. Though not to everyone's taste, it is still a cultural phenomenon.

It is also known for its culturally diverse casting and themes mostly exploring ambition, legacy, honour and the complexities of leadership.

"Sarava" is based on the 1966 book "Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands" by Brazilian author Jorge Amado. The musical was written by N. Richard Nash with music by Mitch Leigh. It opened on Broadway in January 1979, where it only ran for 177 performances due to poor reviews.

It was following in the footsteps of a 1976 Brazilian film of the same name. The film was so successful in Brazil it was their highest grossing movie for the next 35 years. Either the musical didn't do it justice or it did not translate well to American audiences.

The story is a basic comedy set in Bahai, Brazil beginning with the death of Dona Flor's husband, Vadinho, during Carnival. After a period of mourning Dona Flor marries a local pharmacist named Teodoro and all goes well until their first anniversary when Vadinho returns as a ghost.

The intention was for a light comedy showing life's unpredictability and the willingness to try and enjoy it no matter what happens, but, according to the critics, the musical slipped into melodrama and a sense of comical tragedy.

"Evita" is the fourth collaboration of the famous composer/lyricist duo Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Tim Rice. As with some of their previous works, it was first released as a rock concept album in 1976 and then began its West End production in 1978 and Broadway a year later.

The musical chronicles the life of Eva Peron, wife of Argentinian President Juan Peron. It follows her story from humble beginnings as an illegitimate child in an obscure small town, her meteoric rise to fame in Buenos Aires, her marriage which led to her becoming the iconic First Lady of Argentina and her death at just 33 from advanced cervical cancer.

The musical only really has three main characters - Eva, Juan and Che the social commentator. Che is presented as the voice of 'everyman' who is mostly critical of Eva's way of doing things until the end, when we see a grudging understanding.

The main themes include ambition, power, celebrity and charisma all set amongst the backdrop of political upheaval and social change in 1940s' Argentina.

Lloyd-Webber and Rice's second musical, "Joseph" started life in 1968 as a 15-minute 'pop cantata' at a London school. It then became a 35-minute musical in 1972 and was finally released in the West End as the present musical in 1974. The pair had written a previous musical, "The Likes of Us", but this was their first to be staged.

The musical is based on the Biblical story of Joseph from the Book of Genesis. It begins in Caanan with Jacob, who had 12 sons but very obviously favoured Joseph - a fact that is not missed by his brothers. When Jacob gives Joseph a multi-coloured coat it is the last straw, and the brothers sell him into slavery and tell their father he is dead.

The musical follows Joseph's slavery in Egypt, his unjust imprisonment and his ability to interpret dreams, which leads him to a position of power as the Pharaoh's right-hand man and a final reconciliation with his brothers.

The underlying themes are those derived from the Bible story - faith and trust in God, resilience, forgiveness and the power of dreams.

"The Book of Mormon" is a satirical musical created by Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Robert Lopez. Parker and Stone are well known for creating "South Park" and Lopez was a creator on "Avenue Q". The original concept for a musical about the Mormons began in 2003 but it was 2011 before it opened on Broadway and the West End was two years later.

The story follows two young Mormon missionaries, Elder Price and Elder Cunningham, who are sent to Uganda for their 2-year mission. Once there they find themselves trying to spread the Word in a community full of poverty and disease that is run by a ruthless warlord.

The musical is full of politically incorrect humour and irreverence as it shows the clash between these optimistic, idealist missionaries and the Ugandan villagers who have a lot more to think about than their spiritual life. Despite its lack of respect, it does also touch on the themes of understanding, friendship and self-discovery.

The Disney movie "Moana" was released in 2016 to great acclaim. With a screenplay written by Jared Bush and songs by Opetaia Foa'i, Mark Mancina and Lin-Manuel Miranda, its soundtrack was a top seller.

Although rumours abound of one in the works, the full film has not become a stage musical as of 2023. Disney has released a "Moana JR" - a 60-minute edition of it to the stage. This musical still contains all the songs from the movie.

The story revolves around Moana, a young Polynesian girl, who is chosen by the ocean to save the heart of the Goddess, Te Fiti, and save her island from ecological disaster in the process. She is joined by the demigod Maui in her journey.

The choreography and language in the musical were developed in collaboration with an Oceanic Trust to ensure the cultural and linguistic integrity of the Pacific Islands where it is set. It also explores the themes of identity, courage and environmental stewardship.

"Priscilla, Queen of the Desert", opening in Sydney in 2006, is an Australian jukebox musical based on the famous 1994 movie "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert". The musical is by Stephan Elliot and Allan Scott and is based on Elliot's movie. The score is created by many pop songs from the era.

The show follows two gay drag queens, one young and one aging, and a transgender woman travelling from Sydney to Alice Springs to perform in a drag show. They travel by road in a bus they have painted pink and name Priscilla.

All three are at a crossroads in their lives and have their own emotional struggles they are dealing with and some very real physical issues - the Australian outback in general at the time was not a very enlightened place.

Apart from the iconic pop and disco songs, the show is known for its dazzling costumes and makeup and it follows strong themes of identity, friendship, acceptance and the power of self-expression.