Why am I Singing That? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Chicago

The musical "Chicago" premiered on Broadway in 1975. Towards the end of the show, newly-acquitted accused murderers Roxie and Velma put aside their differences and form a new stage act where they sing about modern life in the song "Nowadays". The role of Roxie Hart was originated on Broadway by Gwen Verdon, and the role of Velma Kelly was originated by Chita Rivera.

Answer: Chicago

The 1975 musical "Chicago" centers largely around the accusations of murder against two rivals, Velma and Roxie, in 1920s America. It is a satire on the criminal justice system of that time and the effect of the media on justice. This is particularly evident in the character of Billy Flynn, a lawyer who relies on charm and drama to win his cases. Flynn sings "Razzle Dazzle" to describe how he manipulates juries into acquitting his clients by dazzling them with displays of dramatics to elicit sympathies. Billy Flynn was originally played by Jerry Orbach in 1975.

Answer: Chicago

In the 1975 stage musical "Chicago", Roxie Hart is accused of murdering her lover, with whom she cheated on her husband. Her husband, Amos, is largely ignored and forgotten in the media furore that surrounds her arrest and trial. He sings "Mister Cellophane" to describe his "transparency". Amos Hart was originally played by Barney Martin in 1975.

Answer: Annie Get Your Gun

Originally written in 1946, the stage musical "Annie Get Your Gun" includes the fictionalised love story of Annie Oakley and Frank Butler. As they work together in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, Frank falls for Annie and sings "My Defenses Are Down" to confirm his love.

The most famous iteration of this song was performed in the movie version of "Annie Get Your Gun" in 1950 by Howard Keel.

Answer: Annie Get Your Gun

The 1946 musical "Annie Get Your Gun" features music and lyrics from Irving Berlin, and one of its best-known showtunes is the duet "Anything You Can Do (I Can Do better)", performed by Annie Oakley and Frank Butler prior to a sharpshooting contest between them. Annie is persuaded to let Frank win to save his ego and their relationship. Ethel Merman originated the role of Annie Oakley in 1946 and sang this song with Ray Middleton as Frank Butler.

Answer: Annie Get Your Gun

In the 1946 stage musical "Annie Get Your Gun", Frank Butler, Annie Oakley's fellow sharpshooter and love interest, originally doesn't consider her a romantic partner. He sings "The Girl that I Marry" to describe his perfect woman, which is not a description of the tomboyish Annie.

However, later in the musical, he becomes enamoured of Annie and falls in love. This song was first performed on stage by Ray Middleton who played Frank Butler in the 1946 Broadway production.

Answer: Blood Brothers

Written by Willy Russell and first performed professionally in the UK in 1983, "Blood Brothers" is the story of twins Mickey and Eddie, who are separated at birth. They are raised by two families of different socioeconomic backgrounds and only meet as teenagers, when they sing "That Guy" to describe their wishes to be like the other. Eddie and Mickey were played by George Costigan and Andrew C. Wadsworth respectively in the original 1983 West End production of "Blood Brothers", where this song was first performed.

Answer: Blood Brothers

A nature vs nurture plot is central to the musical "Blood Brothers" (1983). At the end of the play, separated twins Mickey and Eddie are both killed after Mickey, in a fit of jealousy, starts an altercation with a gun. Their mother, Mrs Johnstone, rushes to stop them but is too late and sings "Tell Me It's Not True" as she grieves.The song was first performed on London's West End by Barbara Dickson in 1983.

Answer: Blood Brothers

In the 1983 stage musical "Blood Brothers", Mrs Johnstone is persuaded to give up one of her baby twins due to financial hardship but doesn't find it an easy option. The song "Easy Terms" is a showcase for her hurt, sorrow and grief at the decision she has felt compelled to make.

The original West End cast in 1983 included Barbara Dickson as Mrs Johnstone and she won a 1983 Lawrence Olivier Award for the role.

Answer: Hamilton

The 2015 stage musical "Hamilton" presents the story of Alexander Hamilton (a founding father of the United States) via a combination of rap and song. "My Shot" is Hamilton's first solo rap, in which he impresses his fellow revolutionaries with his ideas and determination to use his opportunities to free his country.

In the original 2015 Broadway production, Lin Manuel Miranda, the musical's writer, played Hamilton and performed this number himself.

Answer: Hamilton

Lin Manuel Miranda's 2015 musical "Hamilton" is a fictionalized biopic of Alexander Hamilton. Though Hamilton is best known for his status as a founding father of the United States, he was also known in his time for an extra marital affair and the resulting scandal.

His wife, played by Philippa Soo in the original 2015 Broadway production, sings "Burn" whilst contemplating their relationship after details of the affair are published by Hamilton himself in a pamphlet to clear his name from allegations of fraud.

Answer: Hamilton

In 2015's "Hamilton", the song "What'd I Miss?" is sung by Thomas Jefferson when he returns from France to take up his position as Secretary of State at George Washington's request. Thomas Jefferson is present for Act 2 of the musical only, so is played by the same actor that plays the Marquis de Lafayette in Act 1.

This is considered one of the hardest roles in a musical because Lafayette's numbers include extremely fast rapping in a French accent, while Jefferson's numbers (including "What'd I Miss?") are more melodic, requiring singing in an American accent.

The role was originated on Broadway by Daveed Diggs in 2015.

Answer: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Stephen Sondheim's 1979 musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" is a biopic of the fictional tale of Sweeney Todd, a serial killer and barber of Victorian London. The song "Poor Thing" is sung by protagonist Mrs Lovett upon her first meeting with Sweeney Todd as he returns to London from exile - it tells the tragic tale of what happened to his wife and daughter after Todd was exiled by Judge Turpin, the musical's main antagonist.

The role of Mrs Lovett was originated by Angela Lansbury on Broadway in 1979.

Answer: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Midway through Stephen Sondheim's 1979 musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street", Sweeney Todd and his accomplice Mrs Lovett decide that they should use the meat from corpses resulting from Todd's murder spree at his barber shop to fill the pies Lovett sells on the lower floor of the same building.

The song "A Little Priest" is a duet which provides some comic relief. The role of Sweeney Todd was originated on Broadway by Len Cariou in 1979.

Answer: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Towards the end of the 1979 musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street", Tobias Ragg, an orphan taken in by Mrs Lovett to work in her pie shop, starts to become suspicious of Sweeney Todd's murderous activities in the upstairs barber shop. Ragg originally believes that Mrs Lovett is innocent and swear to protect her through the song "Not While I'm Around". Though Tobias is a child, the role is traditionally played by a adult and it was originated by Ken Jennings in 1979 when he was 32 years old.