"Cats" is a musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The show first opened in London's West End in 1981 and opened on Broadway in 1982. The London production ran for 21 years and on Broadway for 18 years. The song "Memory" is sometimes called "Memories" incorrectly and in the show is sung by the character Grizabella.
2. Ol' Man River
Answer: Show Boat (1927)
The musical "Show Boat" was first produced in 1927 by Florenz Ziegfeld. It is based on the best selling novel of the same name by Edna Ferber. The show follows there lives of stagehands, dock workers and performers on a Mississippi River show boat named the Cotton Blossom.
The music of the song "Ol' Man River" was composed by Jerome Kern with the lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. The song is sung from the point of view of a black stevedore on the show boat.
3. All That Jazz
Answer: Chicago (1975)
The opening song of the musical "Chicago" is "All That Jazz". The music was by John Kander and the lyrics by Fred Ebb. The musical is based on a 1926 play of the same name by Maurine Dallas Watkins. The show is set in the prohibition era in Chicago.
4. If I Were a Rich Man
Answer: Fiddler on the Roof (1964)
The song "If I Were a Rich Man" was written by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock. In the musical the song is sung by Tevye, the main character in the musical, which reflects his dreams. The musical is set in imperial Russia (1905) and Tevye, the father of five daughters, tries to maintain his Jewish religion and culture.
5. Some Enchanted Evening
Answer: South Pacific (1949)
"Some Enchanted Evening" is a tune from the musical "South Pacific" by Rogers and Hammerstein. The song is sung by the show's male lead, Emile de Becque who is a French plantation owner on a South Pacific island during WWII. He falls in love with an American navy nurse, Ensign Nellie Forbush from Arkansas.
6. Rose's Turn
Answer: Gypsy (1959)
The song was written by Jule Styne and with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The song is sung by Mama Rose reflecting the frustrations of life raising two daughters.
7. Summertime
Answer: Porgy and Bess (1935)
"Porgy and Bess" is an opera and the song "Summertime" composed by George Gershwin. The lyrics are by DuBose Heyward and based on his novel titled "Porgy" (1925). The song is sung a number of times through Porgy and Bess. The story is based on Porgy, a disabled black street-beggar in Charleston, South Carolina who tries to rescue his love, Bess from her lover and drug dealer.
8. Tonight
Answer: West Side Story (1957)
The song "Tonight" was introduced in the musical "West Side Story" and was written by Leonard Bernstein and the lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The song was sung by the two principal characters of Tony and Maria.
9. There's No Business Like Show Business
Answer: Annie Get Your Gun (1946)
Irving Berlin wrote the song "There's No Business Like Show Business" for the 1946 musical "Annie Get Your Gun". In the musical the song is sung by members of the Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. They are trying to tempt Annie Oakley to the production.
10. The Impossible Dream
Answer: Man of La Mancha (1965)
"The Impossible Dream" was composed by Mitch Leigh with the lyrics by Joe Darion. This is the most popular song from the musical "Man of La Mancha" and is sung by Don Quixote. The song also featured in the movie version of the same name in 1972 starring Peter O'Toole.
11. You'll Never Walk Alone
Answer: Carousel (1945)
"You'll Never Walk Alone" is a musical tune from the 1945 musical "Carousel" by Rogers and Hammerstein. In the musical the song is sung by Nettie Fowler as she tries to comfort Julie, her cousin, after Julie's husband Billy has died after a failed bank robbery.
The song became a hit in the 1960s for the Liverpool group Gerry and the Pacemakers. It has also become the signature song for the Liverpool Football Club.
12. Don't Rain On My Parade
Answer: Funny Girl (1964)
"Don't Rain On My Parade" was written by Bob Merrill and Julep Styne. Barbra Streisand performed the song in the 1964 Broadway musical "Funny Girl" and the film version of the same name in 1968.
13. Aquarius
Answer: Hair (1968)
"Aquarius" was a medley also with "Let the Sunshine In" and written for the 1967 musical "Hair". "Hair" was a rock musical with lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni with the music by Galt MacDermot. The musical tells the story of a group of hippies in New York City fighting against conscription into the Vietnam War.
14. I Got Rhythm
Answer: Girl Crazy (1930)
"I Got Rhythm" was composed by George Gershwin with lyrics by Ira Gershwin. Ethel Merman sang the song in the original Broadway musical "Girl Crazy" in 1930.
15. Something Wonderful
Answer: The King and I (1951)
"Something Wonderful" was sung in the Rogers and Hammerstein musical "The King and I". In the Broadway production the song was sung by Dorothy Sarnoff as Lady Thiang, the King's head wife. Yul Brynner played the role of the King of Siam in both the Broadway production (1951) and the film version in 1956.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor 1nn1 before going online.
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