With a majority of scenes set in ancient Egypt, "Aida" was based on the 1879 Giuseppe Verdi opera. The story focuses on a Nubian woman, Aida, who has been captured by a group of Egyptian soldiers. This adaptation featured music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice. Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang wrote the book for the 2000 musical.
The Broadway run of the musical lasted for 1,852 performances and won the Tony Award for Best Musical Score.
2. Bombay Dreams
Answer: India
The 2002 musical opened in London's West End and later moved to Broadway where it ran for 284 performances. The story focuses on a aspiring actor who hopes to find success in the film industry of India's Bollywood. The musical was set in Bombay (Mumbai), India.
The book was by Meera Syal and Thomas Meehan, with music by A. R. Rahman and lyrics by Don Black. The soundtrack album received a Gold certification in the United Kingdom.
3. Brigadoon
Answer: Scotland
The titular Brigadoon was a village in the highlands of Scotland which only appeared one day every 100 years. The musical had book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. "Brigadoon" would run for 581 performances on Broadway beginning in 1947 and is known for songs such as "Almost Like Being in Love".
4. The Desert Song
Answer: Morocco
With a 1926 Broadway opening, "The Desert Song" ran for 465 performances. Set in Morocco, the musical tells the story of a group of rebels against French colonial rule. The book and lyrics were by Oscar Hammerstein II, Otto Harbach and Frank Mandel with music by Sigmund Romberg. The musical was filmed more than once and revived on Broadway in addition.
5. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Answer: Italy
Set in ancient Rome, the musical was inspired by the plays by the Roman playwright Plautus. A slave tries to assist his young master's potential relationship with his pretty next door neighbor in return for his freedom. Stephen Sondheim wrote the music and lyrics, with a book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart.
The musical would open on Broadway in 1962 and run for 964 performances. The song "Comedy Tonight" opens and concludes the musical.
6. Kismet
Answer: Iraq
Running for 583 performances on Broadway, "Kismet" was set in the city of Baghdad, found in the modern nation of Iraq, in some indeterminate time in the past. The main character is a poor poet who uses his wits to get into and out of trouble. Much of the music was adapted from the compositions of Alexander Borodin. Robert Wright and George Forrest provided the lyrics (and some of the music) and Charles Lederer and Luther Davis wrote the book. Songs from the musical include "Stranger in Paradise".
7. Lost in the Stars
Answer: South Africa
"Lost in the Stars", based on the novel "Cry, the Beloved Country", is set in several locations in South Africa, including Johannesburg. In the story, the son of a minister is on trial for the unplanned death of a man. The music was composed by Kurt Weill with the book and lyrics written by Maxwell Anderson. Opening in 1949, the musical ran for 281 performances on Broadway and would later be revived in 1972.
8. Miss Saigon
Answer: Vietnam
All of Act 1 and a portion of Act 2 are set in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. The story focused on the relationship of a US soldier and a Vietnamese woman. The musical premiered on the West End of London in 1989 and ran for 4,092 performances. The music was composed by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, with lyrics by Boublil and Richard Maltby Jr.
Inspired by the opera "Madame Butterfly", the musical is set during the era of the Vietnam War.
9. Pacific Overtures
Answer: Japan
"Pacific Overtures" ran on Broadway for 193 performances in 1976. The music and lyrics were written by Stephen Sondheim and the book was written by John Weidman. Set in Japan, the music presents the arrival of an American fleet in Japan in 1853. The staging of the musical used a Kabuki style with men playing both male and female parts.
10. Rose-Marie
Answer: Canada
Perhaps the best known song from "Rose-Marie" is "Indian Love Call". Set in the Rocky Mountains of Canada, "Rose-Marie" opened on Broadway in 1924 and ran for 557 performances. The story tells of a local miner who has been accused of murder. The book and lyrics were written by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II, with music by Rudolf Friml and Herbert Stothart.
The musical would be adapted to film three times in the 20th century.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ponycargirl before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
