Broadway in the 1950s Trivia Quiz

Answer: Abe Burrows

"Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat": Veteran comedy writer and director Abe Burrows (1910-1985) successfully integrated characters and episodes from several Runyon stories with Loesser's memorable songs - which were composed before Burrows began work on the plot. "Guys and Dolls" was selected to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, but the award was cancelled because of Burrows' alleged (but unproven) Communist sympathies.

The "blacklist" wasn't just about Hollywood. Burrows and Loesser would win a Pulitzer later - in 1962, for "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."

Answer: Gertrude Lawrence

London native Gertrude Lawrence (1898-1952) enjoyed a successful career in the West End and on Broadway. Sadly, she passed away shortly after winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for this, her final role. Ms. Lawrence was buried in the dress she wore on stage for "Shall We Dance."

Answer: The Boy Friend

"The Boy Friend" (London 1953; Broadway 1954) was a British import in a decade dominated by American musicals - at least in the United States. The show played over 2,000 performances in the U.K., but only 485 on Broadway. Ms Andrews was destined for greater things; American audiences were very happy with her.

Answer: Cyril Ritchard

Australian-born actor Cyril Ritchard (1897-1977) was amiable and outgoing in person, yet jocularly menaced countless baby boomers as Captain Hook. He received the Tony Award for his portrayal - though only as "Best Featured Actor". The 1955 live television version of "Peter Pan" was one of the earliest major color broadcasts in the United States.

The 1960 broadcast was recorded to be enjoyed by future generations of children of all ages.

Answer: The Pajama Game

The plot of "The Pajama Game" (1954) centers on a labor dispute. The union wants a raise - of "7 1/2 Cents" an hour. Ah, the Fifties. The 1957 movie version featured almost all of the original Broadway principals, an unusual casting decision for Hollywood. The one addition was Doris Day.

Answer: Bob Fosse

Bob Fosse (1927-1987) won eight Tony Awards for Choreography; first for "The Pajama Game" in 1955, and second for "Damn Yankees" in 1956. Gwen Verdon was recognized as Best Actress in a Musical as well. The couple married in 1960. Fosse explored their complex relationship (and many other topics) in the movie, "All That Jazz" (1979).

Answer: John Michael King (Freddy)

Casting "My Fair Lady" (1956) proved difficult, though Broadway insiders expected it to be a major success. Noel Coward passed on the part of Henry Higgins, recommending Rex Harrison instead. Mary Martin declined to play Eliza. The producers chose relative newcomer Julie Andrews on the strength of her recent Broadway debut in "The Boy Friend." John Michael King was the lone American among the principals.

In a minor role, Oregon native and future Broadway stalwart Reid Shelton (1924-1997) played the "Butler" and understudied King as Freddy.

Answer: The Most Happy Fella

"The Most Happy Fella" (1956) has very little spoken dialogue. With three acts instead of the usual two and over 40 musical numbers including reprises, it is one of Broadway's longest and most "operatic" original works. The production played 676 performances - a fair hit, but only about half the run of "Guys and Dolls".

Many of the revivals in later years have been presented by opera companies.

Answer: Barbara Cook

"The Music Man" was the first Broadway musical by composer/lyricist Meredith Willson (1902-1984), who also co-wrote the book. Willson was born in Mason City, Iowa. He'd have been about the same age as young Winthrop Paroo. A classically-trained musician, Willson had a successful career in Hollywood and radio while working for over seven years on the score for "Music Man". New York's Juilliard School of Music named a dormitory after Willson, but Mason City has "Music Man Square," the Meredith Willson Museum, and even a mock-up of Marion Paroo's house.

The wonderful Barbara Cook deserves more interesting information than space permits. Let's wait for Broadway in the 1960s.

Answer: The Sharks

The other gang - the Jets - was originally noted as being "Polish-American" for no apparent reason. "West Side Story" boasted a constellation of creative talent: music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, choreography by Jerome Robbins, co-production by Hal Prince. Yet, it played only 732 performances in its initial Broadway run; the West End production ran much longer. "The Music Man" won the Tony for Best Musical of 1957. "West Side Story" gained some revenge with the 1961 movie version winning 10 Academy Awards - though the singing of stars Natalie Wood (Maria) and Richard Beymer (Tony) was dubbed by others.

Answer: Rose in "Gypsy"

"Rose's Turn" at the end of Act Two of "Gypsy" (1959) is considered one of the most challenging scenes in all of musical theater. Yet, Mary Martin took home the Tony as Best Actress for "The Sound of Music". Ethel Merman (1908-1984) reportedly quipped, "How are you going to buck a nun?" She wasn't alone. "Gypsy" was nominated in eight categories, but didn't receive a single Tony Award. Three successors won Tonys for Best Actress in revivals of "Gypsy": Angela Lansbury (1975), Tyne Daly (1990) and Patty LuPone (2008). Bernadette Peters was nominated in 2003, but did not win.

Answer: Tom Bosley

Tom Bosley (1927-2010) won a Tony for portraying the title character, New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia - though only for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. "Fiorello" shared the Tony Award for Best Musical with "The Sound of Music". Bosley is best-remembered for his role in the long-running television situation comedy "Happy Days" about ... life in the 1950s.

Answer: Once Upon a Mattress

Despite its salacious title, "Mattress" is a comic adaptation of the fairy tale, "The Princess and the Pea". At only 244 performances it was not a success on Broadway, but Carol Burnett received favorable reviews as Princess Winnifred. Television suited the show better than the stage. Ms Burnett starred in an abbreviated black-and-white version in 1954 with most of the original cast and a live audience, and color telecasts in 1972 and 2005.

Answer: Theodore Bikel

"The Sound of Music" is set in Austria. Mary Martin of Weatherford, Texas played Maria, but Theodore Bikel (Captain von Trapp) and castmate Kurt Kasznar (Max Detweiler) were both born in Vienna. Mr. Bikel reportedly disliked the role because it involved too little singing.

Some would say that suited Christopher Plummer, who played Captain von Trapp in the 1965 movie. His songs were dubbed by veteran Hollywood playback singer Bill Lee.

Answer: My Fair Lady

According to the Internet Broadway Database:

"My Fair Lady" - 2,717 performances 1956-1962
"The Sound of Music" - 1,443; 1959-1963
"The Music Man" - 1,375; 1957-1961
"The King and I" - 1,246; 1951-1954

In 1871, Sir William Gilbert wrote a straight play entitled "Pygmalion and Galatea" - just before his first collaboration with Sir Arthur Sullivan. What if they'd met a year earlier?

George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion" (1912) was inspired in part by Gilbert's play.

"My Fair Lady" is based on Shaw's play, but adds new scenes Shaw wrote for the 1938 movie version - especially the different and happier ending; happier if you identify with Henry Higgins and not Freddy.