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A Simple Sondheim Assessment Trivia Quiz

Stephen Sondheim is perhaps the single most important person in Broadway history, so what can you tell me about this composer and lyricist?

A multiple-choice quiz by anthonyrappfan. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
anthonyrappfan

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
225,309

Updated
Aug 26 24

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
561

Last 3 plays: jasa9092 (8/10), Guest 69 (8/10), turtle52 (10/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Where was Sondheim born? Hint

Detroit, Michigan

England

New York City, New York

Albany, New York

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Sondheim was raised by both of his parents.

True

False

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which other musical theatre lyricist was Sondheim's mentor? Hint

Jonathan Larson

Oscar Hammerstein II

Lorenz Hart

Cole Porter

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. What was the first Broadway musical Sondheim wrote both music and lyrics for? Hint

Company

Sweeney Todd

Gypsy

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which of these people has Sondheim not worked with? Hint

George Furth

James Lapine

Harold Prince

David Mamet

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Question 6 of 10

6. For which show did Sondheim win his first Tony award? Hint

Gypsy

Saturday Night

West Side Story

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. What religion did Sondheim practice? Hint

Judaism

Catholic

He was an atheist

Lutheran

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Question 8 of 10

8. Sondheim's most autobiographical musical, "Sunday in the Park with George" lost the Tony Awards for Best Musical to what show? Hint

Cats

The Wiz

Oliver!

La Cage Aux Folles

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which other musical theatre composer did Sondheim mentor? Hint

Jonathan Larson

Jerome Kern

Oscar Hammerstein II

Lorenz Hart

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. How many songs were added to the 2004 production of "The Frogs", for which Sondheim wrote the music and lyrics? Hint

Eight

Seven

Two

Four

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Most Recent Scores

Today : jasa9092: 8/10
Oct 30 2024 : Guest 69: 8/10
Oct 19 2024 : turtle52: 10/10
Oct 11 2024 : Guest 160: 7/10
Oct 09 2024 : Guest 99: 6/10
Sep 30 2024 : Guest 109: 6/10
Sep 25 2024 : Guest 70: 5/10

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Where was Sondheim born?

Answer: New York City, New York

Stephen Joshua Sondheim was born to Herbert and Janet Sondheim on March 22, 1930. He grew up on the Upper West Side and later lived in Pennsylvania, where he met Oscar Hammerstein II, of Rodgers and Hammerstein fame.

2. Sondheim was raised by both of his parents.

Answer: False

When Stephen was ten, Herbert abandoned the family and Sondheim lived with his mother, "Foxy". She was a hypochondriac and had a very negative impact on his life.

3. Which other musical theatre lyricist was Sondheim's mentor?

Answer: Oscar Hammerstein II

Oscar Hammerstein II was a famous musical theatre lyricist whose credits include "Oklahoma!", "South Pacific" and "Carousel". Hammerstein died in 1960 of cancer, having won six Tony Awards for his work.

4. What was the first Broadway musical Sondheim wrote both music and lyrics for?

Answer: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" is about a slave, Pseudolus, who longs for his freedom. To earn it, he must unite a young man named Hero with the lady he loves, Phylia.

5. Which of these people has Sondheim not worked with?

Answer: David Mamet

Sondheim partnered with Lapine to write "Into the Woods", "Passion" and "Sundays in the Park With George". Harold Prince directed many of Sondheim's projects in the 1960's and 1970's. George Furth wrote "Follies", for which Sondheim wrote the music and lyrics. David Mamet is known for writing straight plays such as "Glengarry Glen Ross".

6. For which show did Sondheim win his first Tony award?

Answer: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" opened on the eighth of May in 1962, with Zero Mostel as Pseudolus. The book was written by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart.

7. What religion did Sondheim practice?

Answer: Judaism

Sondheim never was a particularly strict Jew. In fact, the first time he was inside a synagogue was when he was 17!

8. Sondheim's most autobiographical musical, "Sunday in the Park with George" lost the Tony Awards for Best Musical to what show?

Answer: La Cage Aux Folles

"La Cage Aux Folles", with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and book by Harvey Fierstein, involves a gay couple, Albin and Georges who respectively perform at and manage a nightclub. When Georges' son brings his fiance's anti-homosexual parents home, Georges needs to get rid of Albin!

9. Which other musical theatre composer did Sondheim mentor?

Answer: Jonathan Larson

Jonathan Larson is probably best known for writing the book, music and lyrics to the rock opera "Rent", based on Puccini's "La Boheme". Larson died an untimely death in 1995 at 35 from Marfan's Syndrome.

10. How many songs were added to the 2004 production of "The Frogs", for which Sondheim wrote the music and lyrics?

Answer: Seven

"The Frogs" is a loose adaptation of Aristophanes' play. It ran from July 22, 2004 to October 10, 2004 and starred Nathan Lane, who played Dionysos, and Roger Bart, who played Xanthias. Lane and Bart had previously been seen together in Mel Brooks' "The Producers".

Source: Author anthonyrappfan

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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