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Kander & Ebb & Liza Trivia Quiz

John Kander and Fred Ebb have written music for many artists, but their association with Liza Minnelli is legendary. About half of this quiz will focus on the composers' work with Liza; the rest will consist of other, hopefully interesting, questions.

A multiple-choice quiz by cmstrong. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
cmstrong

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
294,941

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
205

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Kander and Ebb wrote the first musical Liza ever had a part in, "Best Foot Forward."

True

False

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Question 2 of 10

2. Kander & Ebb's best known song from "Flora, the Red Menace" was which of the following? Hint

My Romance

Puttin' on the Ritz

Change Partners

A Quiet Thing

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which Kander-Ebb song was included in the movie "Cabaret" but not in the stage version? Hint

Money, Money

Maybe This Time

Mein Herr

Willkommen

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Question 4 of 10

4. Who co-produced the television special "Liza with a Z"? Hint

John Kander only

Neither Kander nor Ebb

Both Kander and Ebb

Fred Ebb only

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Several references cite "New York, New York" as Kander and Ebb's 'most famous' song. Where did Liza NOT perform this famous song? Hint

at the rededication of the Statue of Liberty in 1986

at the 1994 running of the Belmont Stakes

at the first pro sports event in NYC after 9-11

during her 2002 appearance with David Guest on "Larry King Live"

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Kander and Ebb originally wrote the show "The Act" for Lauren Bacall.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. John Kander got his start as a pianist for which notable comic actress/singer? Hint

Sophie Tucker

Beatrice Lillie

Mae West

Bette Midler

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Which one of the following musicals was NOT a Kander-Ebb collaboration? Hint

Zorba

A Chorus Line

Kiss of the Spider Woman

Chicago

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. All of the following have recorded Kander & Ebb songs EXCEPT: Hint

Robert Goulet

Frank Sinatra

Perry Como

Barbra Streisand

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Question 10 of 10

10. Ironically, just as Thomas Jefferson and John Adams had done before them, Fred Ebb and John Kander died within 24 hours of each other.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Kander and Ebb wrote the first musical Liza ever had a part in, "Best Foot Forward."

Answer: False

The 1963 off-Broadway revival of "Best Foot Forward" was written by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin (as was the original, which was on Broadway in 1941). Liza received a Theater World Award (Best Newcomer) for this performance.

2. Kander & Ebb's best known song from "Flora, the Red Menace" was which of the following?

Answer: A Quiet Thing

"A Quiet Thing" is consider by most critics to be the 'show stopper' of "Flora." A very moody and wistful song, "A Quiet Thing" was featured on one of Liza's early (pre-"Cabaret") solo albums. Liza has often cited "A Quiet Thing" as one of her favorites.

3. Which Kander-Ebb song was included in the movie "Cabaret" but not in the stage version?

Answer: Maybe This Time

Kander and Ebb's "Maybe This Time" was included on another one of Liza's pre-"Cabaret" solo albums. When Liza won the role of Sally Bowles in "Cabaret" she and John and Fred persuaded Bob Fosse to include it; the song was NOT a part of the original Broadway "Cabaret" score. "Money, Money" and "Mein Herr", also both written for the movie, have since become a staple part of stage productions.

4. Who co-produced the television special "Liza with a Z"?

Answer: Fred Ebb only

Fred Ebb was always a little bit more of a friend and mentor to Liza than John Kander and this, his first producing effort, was "a labor of love." Ebb also produced "Goldie and Liza Together" and "Baryshnikov on Broadway."

5. Several references cite "New York, New York" as Kander and Ebb's 'most famous' song. Where did Liza NOT perform this famous song?

Answer: at the 1994 running of the Belmont Stakes

Wikipedia cites two of these -- the one during the July 4, 1986 ceremony marking the rededication of the Statue of Liberty after extensive renovations, and in the middle of the seventh inning of a New York Mets game that was the first pro sports event in the metro area after the September 11, 2001 attacks as two of the "most memorable" live performances ever. The "Larry King Live" show with Liza and David Guest aired May 23, 2002 -- maybe not so memorable.

"New York, New York" *has* been performed at the Belmont Stakes but never by Liza.

6. Kander and Ebb originally wrote the show "The Act" for Lauren Bacall.

Answer: False

From Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Act_(musical)], " "The Act" is a musical with a book by George Furth, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and music by John Kander. It was written to showcase the talents of Kander and Ebb favorite Liza Minnelli."

"The Act" contained several interesting but less popular songs such as "City Lights" and "Shine It On". It also had one of Liza's more 'provocative' songs, "Arthur in the Afternoon", which was a little risque even for 1977! If you've ever seen it, I'm sure you will remember "the suspenders." :)

7. John Kander got his start as a pianist for which notable comic actress/singer?

Answer: Beatrice Lillie

According to John's Kennedy Center biography: "John Kander began his career in 1956 as the pianist for "The Amazing Adele" during its pre-Broadway run and for "An Evening with Beatrice Lillie" in Florida."

8. Which one of the following musicals was NOT a Kander-Ebb collaboration?

Answer: A Chorus Line

And there have been many more, including these lesser-known works which are among three of my all-time favorites: "The Happy Time", "Woman of the Year", and "Fosse."

9. All of the following have recorded Kander & Ebb songs EXCEPT:

Answer: Perry Como

Frank Sinatra had a huge hit with "New York, New York" and Streisand's hit "My Coloring Book" was also a Kander-Ebb collaboration. Robert Goulet recorded some of their lesser-known show tunes.

10. Ironically, just as Thomas Jefferson and John Adams had done before them, Fred Ebb and John Kander died within 24 hours of each other.

Answer: False

Fred Ebb died on September 12, 2004. As of 2008, John Kander is still living.

Source: Author cmstrong

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