Headlining Stage Musicals Trivia Quiz

Answer: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Written by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics from Tim Rice, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" is a tongue-in-cheek retelling of the story of Joseph from the biblical book of "Genesis", focusing on Joseph's rise to fame following his dream interpretations for Egypt's pharaoh. The show is completely sung-through and doesn't feature any other dialogue.

Answer: Book of Mormon

"Book of Mormon" was written by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone who had previously worked together on projects including the animated television series "South Park". It premiered on Broadway in March 2011 with Andrew Rannells and Josh Gad playing Elder Price and Elder Cunningham respectively.

The musical tells the story of Mormon elders sent to Uganda on a religious mission and follows their progress in attempting to convert the Ugandan people to their church.

Answer: Wicked

Written by Stephen Schwartz and based on a book by Gregory Maguire, "Wicked" tells the story of the witches of Oz prior to the start of and during the "Wizard of Oz" stories written by Frank L. Baum. The story runs from the witches' schooldays, through to their encounters with Dorothy. The original Broadway cast featured Idina Menzel as Elphaba and Kristen Chenoweth as Glinda.

Answer: Phantom of the Opera

"The Phantom of the Opera" was originally a book written by Gaston Leroux. It was first adapted as a stage musical by Ken Hill in 1976 and later in the 1980s by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Michael Crawford played the Phantom in the original West End production.

The musical features a famous soprano who becomes the object of affection for a musical genius with a severe facial disfigurement that resides mysteriously within the theatre in which she sings. At each performance, many audience members are shocked and surprised when, during the production, a chandelier crashes towards the audience but stops short of actually touching them.

Answer: Lion King

Unusually, the stage musical "The Lion King" was adapted for stage from the 1994 Disney movie of the same name. Famously, much of the music was written by Elton John. The show debuted in Minneapolis in 1997 then premiered on Broadway later that year.

"The Lion King" tells the story of Simba, a lion prince, whose evil Uncle Scar attempts to make him believe that the killing of his father was his fault. Though he flees the kingdom at first, he eventually begins to understand his duty and what Scar has done and returns to rule.

Answer: Hamilton

"Hamilton" tells the story of the US 'founding father' Alexander Hamilton's life, from his childhood in the Caribbean to his eventual death, with strong focus on the impact of his personal indiscretions on Hamilton's political legacy.

The musical was inspired by a biography written in 2004 by Ron Chernow. Having premiered off-Broadway in early 2015, "Hamilton" moved to Broadway later that year.

Answer: Cats

Based on "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" by T. S. Eliot, this Andrew Lloyd Webber musical follows the "Jellicle" tribe of cats as they choose one amongst them to ascend to "the Heaviside Layer" and a new life. Though Grizabella, an aging ex-glamour cat, is now mocked and generally considered "past it", she eventually wins the coveted prize.

"Cats" debuted on Broadway in 1982 having opened on London's West End in 1981. Elaine Page starred as Grizabella in the original West End production, singing the show's seminal song, "Memory".

Answer: Starlight Express

"Starlight Express" is a rock musical written by Andrew Lloyd Webber which is particularly famous for the fact that its cast perform a number of dance routines on roller skates. The show premiered on London's West End in 1984.

Telling the story of a child's train set that comes to life, the musical depicts a spectacular train race across America, which is eventually won by Rusty, a rather decrepit steam train, after he becomes inspired by the legend of the Starlight Express.

Answer: Billy Elliot

"Billy Elliot" tells the story of a young boy in Northern England in the 1980s, whose dancing talent is not initially encouraged by his family. This takes place against the backdrop of the 1980s miners' strikes in the UK - as many of the miners considered Margaret Thatcher (then, the Prime Minister) to be the key antagonist in the cause of the strikes, the musical features a fictional Christmas show disparaging her.

The stage show is based on a 2000 film of the same name. Elton John provided the music, with lyrics from Lee Hall. It debuted in London in 2005, but this was a substitute venue as it had originally been hoped that the musical could open in Newcastle.

Answer: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

"How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" was originally a book written by Shepherd Mead in 1952. The musical satirises the book and Mead's life through the story of J. Pierrepont Finch, an ambitious window cleaner who reads Mead's book and very quickly (in two weeks in fact) rises up to chairman level in a large business.

The musical first premiered on Broadway in 1961 with Robert Morse as Finch and Bonnie Scott playing his secretary and love-interest, Rosemary.