More Musicals Trivia Quiz

Answer: Let Me Entertain You

"Gypsy: A Musical Fable" was loosely based on the life of striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee. It opened on Broadway in New York City on May 21, 1959. Ethel Merman starred as Rose but the song mentioned here was sung by Rose's daughter Louise (Sandra Church). She was pushed into doing a burlesque routine by her mother who wanted her to be successful in vaudeville, which was on the wane.

Answer: You're The Top

"Anything Goes", about a zany cross-Atlantic voyage, with music and lyrics by Cole Porter, opened in 1934. "You're the Top" was a sort-of punch list of what was important in the 1930s. Two of the characters (Ethel Merman as Reno Sweeney and William Gaxton as Billy Crocker) sang the song to reaffirm their friendship, each complimenting the other on how great they were. Paul Whiteman's orchestra recorded a version of the song and it became a top-five hit.

Answer: Younger Than Springtime

1949's "South Pacific" was one of many successful musicals put together by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. It was based on the book "Tales of the South Pacific" by James A. Michener, and centered on U.S. military personnel stationed on a Pacific island during World War II. Surprisingly for the time, there was a message of the effects of racial prejudice. "Younger than Springtime", one of several songs from the play that have become standards, was sung by U.S. Marine officer Lt. Joseph Cable to island resident Liat as the two fell in love, much to her mother's delight.

Answer: Almost Like Being in Love

Brigadoon is a magical Scottish village that only appears for one day every 100 years. Or, it could be a musical by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe. In the story an American tourist, Tommy, who was in Scotland at just the right time, met and fell in love with Fiona, who lived in Brigadoon.

The song here was sung by Tommy rhapsodizing about Fiona after spending the afternoon with her and not knowing what effect an outsider might have on the village's existence.

Answer: How To Handle A Woman

The 1960 musical "Camelot", based on the legend of King Arthur's court, starred Richard Burton as Arthur, Julie Andrews as Guenevere and Robert Goulet as Lancelot. The song in this question was sung by Arthur, who despite being the king was rather unsure of himself, particularly in matters of romance.

While wondering how to please Guenevere he remembers advice Merlin the magician had given him: "love her...simply love her." A movie version with a different cast was made in 1967.

Answer: On A Clear Day

Another Alan Jay Lerner musical, "On a Clear Day..." was loosely based on a 1926 book by John L. Balderston about a woman who had ESP and was reincarnated. Though the story line was disliked by many critics, the musical score was praised. "On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever)" was sung by the character Dr. Mark Bruckner, a psychiatrist, who was treating the main character, Daisy. She appeared to be psychic and so could see past and future, therefore, forever.

Answer: What I Did For Love

Starting as an Off-Broadway production, "A Chorus Line" moved to Broadway in July, 1975. The play was set on a bare stage and followed 17 performers auditioning for a chorus line in a play. "What I Did for Love" is one of the best-known songs from the musical; it was in response to the director asking the aspirants what they would do when they could no longer dance.

The dancers agreed that trying to attain their dreams would be worth what they had to give up to get there. It has been recorded by several singers over the years.

Answer: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

Richard Rodgers teamed up with Lorenz Hart for this 1940 musical. The Broadway show starred Gene Kelly as small-time nightclub performer Joey Evans, and Vivienne Segal as the wealthy Vera Simpson, who sang "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" after surprisingly falling in love with Joey, who would attempt to take advantage of her wealth.

A 1957 movie version of the play starred Frank Sinatra and Rita Hayworth.

Answer: Show Me

"My Fair Lady" was based on the 1913 play "Pygmalion" by George Bernard Shaw. In the 1956 musical (another Lerner and Loewe production), Julie Andrews played Eliza Doolittle, a London flower seller with a strong Cockney accent who wanted to better herself. Prof.

Henry Higgins, a phonetician played by Rex Harrison, agreed to teach her proper English. In doing so he fell in love with her, but so did socialite Freddy Eynsford-Hill (John Michael King). The song "Show Me" was sung by Eliza to Freddy, indicating that actions meant more to her than words.

Answer: Miracle of Miracles

The play was based on several stories by Sholem Aleichem about Jews living in western Russia at the turn of the 20th century. It was about Tevye, a milkman who attempted to follow traditional Jewish ways in a changing world. The musical opened in 1964, and was the first musical to reach 3,000 performances in its original run. "Miracle of Miracles" was sung by Motel Kamzoli (Austin Pendleton), a timid tailor who found himself in love with one of Tevye's daughters.

He hoped that the love was reciprocated and that Tevye would let them marry, because a matchmaker traditionally arranged marriages and she was promised to someone else.