Rose Names Associated with Broadway Musicals Quiz

Answer: Victor Borge/Michael Crawford

The rose was hybridized by Pernille and Mogens Olesen in 1991, and was introduced in Denmark as "Victor Borge". It was initially made available to growers in the US under that name. However, in the UK, it is known as "Michael Crawford". It has yet another name, not related to Broadway. In Germany, it is known as "Medima".

Victor Borge, also known as "The Great Dane" made a career of misappropriating music, to the delight of his audiences. His skill made it possible to lampoon his talent, playing a piece of sheet music with a look of confusion, until he turned the page upside down. He would then play a piece easily recognizable by the audience, which would respond with howls of laughter. Although not strictly a Broadway musical, his one-man show, "Comedy In Music" ran there from 1953-1956 for a total of 849 performances, earning him a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. When performing non-comedically, his talent was unmistakable. As a guest conductor, he led many well-known orchestras, including the New York and London Philharmonics.

Michael Crawford is probably best known for his role as The Phantom in Broadway's "Phantom of the Opera", although he has been involved in many stage plays, as well as television and motion pictures. This includes a young Michael playing the role of Hero in the film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's Broadway musical, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum".

As to the other pairs, Sam Waterston and Gene Autry are Hollywood actors, often portraying cowboys.

Fred Rogers is Mr. Rogers, and Bob Keeshan is better known as Captain Kangaroo, both hosts of children's television shows.

Brooke McEldowney and Berke Breathed are both cartoonists. McEldowney is the creator of "9 Chickweed Lane" and "Pibgorn", and Breathed is the creator of "Bloom County".

Answer: Scotland

Interestingly, there is a folktale in Germany, which tells of the village of Germelshausen, which appears every one hundred years. The late drama critic George Nathan was used as the authority for this being the basis for "Brigadoon", although the author of the book, Alan Jay Lerner, disputes that in his memoirs.

As to the rose itself, I can find no definitive reason for the name choice.

Another aside - there actually IS a nameplace in Scotland - it's the "Brig o' Doon", a late medieval stone bridge over the River Doon in Ayrshire.

Answer: All of these

She also won for the musical "Dear World". Additionally, she received Tonys in non-musical productions, as well as numerous Emmys for her popular television series, "Murder, She Wrote".

Answer: You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown

"You're A Good Man..." debuted off-Broadway in 1967, with Gary Burghoff (Radar on the television series "M.A.S.H.") as Charlie. This production won a total of five awards, including two Drama Desk Awards. It later was revived in 1999, this time ON Broadway. This new production won a total of two Tonys and three Drama Desk Awards.

Answer: Rodgers and Hammerstein

This was the first of many collaborations between Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, including "South Pacific" and "Carousel".

Among Lerner and Lowe's triumphs is "My Fair Lady". Sondheim and Bernstein collaborated on "West Side Story", along with choreographer Jerome Robbins. Webber and Rice brought "Evita" to the stage, one of several successful offerings.

Answer: Barbra Streisand

Brought to Broadway in 1964, this semi-autobiographical story of Broadway star Fanny Brice was nominated for eight Tony awards, although it was shut out in all categories. Streisand had been nominated for the Best Actress Tony in this, her first starring role.

She was nominated for Best Actress in 1968 for the film version, and won the Oscar, sharing the honor with Katherine Hepburn ("Lion In Winter"). "Funny Girl" was the top grossing film for 1968.

Answer: J.M. Barrie

J.M. Barrie, Scottish author and dramatist, wrote the play in 1904, and a book, "Peter and Wendy", based on the play in 1911. On his death in 1937, he willed the copyright in perpetuity to the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, which has continued to benefit.

Answer: Wildcat

In her only Broadway production, she played Wildcat "Wildy" Jackson, looking to make her way, and her fortune in the oil business of 1912. Due to her illnesses, the show had to take hiatuses while she recuperated. Ultimately, the show had to close after only 171 performances.

As an aside - Lucy wasn't a natural redhead, but rather a brunette. But who ever heard of a brown rose?

Answer: Eliza Doolittle

"My Fair Lady" was based on the play "Pygmalion", by George Bernard Shaw. He based his play on the Greek story of the Cypriot sculptor who falls in love with his ivory carving of a woman. Echoing the sculptor, the character of Professor Henry Higgins makes a wager with a friend that he can take the low-born Eliza Doolittle from the streets and turn her into a proper lady. As she is transformed by his guidance, he realizes he has fallen in love with her. The stage story ends at this juncture, and it is left to the minds of the audience.

Interestingly, Julie Andrews is an avid gardener and rosarian, and she felt very honored to have a rose named for her.

Answer: December 20, 1880

Thomas Edison, inventor of the incandescent light, first demonstrated his invention by lighting up a street in Menlo Park, New Jersey. The date was December 31, 1879. Less than a year later, the switch was thrown that lit up Broadway, making it "The Great White Way".

In the 1910s, the first neon lights appeared, along with incandescent signs advertising the shows. The rest, as they say, is history. Broadway is now blazingly colorful, as is its namesake rose.