Splendid Sixties Shows (Musicals) Trivia Game | Humanities

Splendid Sixties Shows (Musicals) Quiz

The 1960s is generally considered the last decade of classic music theatre---an era that began in 1943 with "Oklahoma!". See how much you remember about the fabulous Broadway shows and performers of this decade.

A multiple-choice quiz by jabb5076. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Broadway legends Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera starred in which musical directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse?

Answer: Sweet Charity

One of Broadway's most revered directors, Bob Fosse was married to Gwen Verdon, who played the lead character, Charity Hope Valentine. Chita Rivera played one of her two best friends, Nickie. "Hey, Big Spender" and "If My Friends Could See Me Now", two of the hit songs from this 1966 show, are still popular today.

2. What do the shows "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" and "Fiddler on the Roof" have in common?

Answer: Both starred Zero Mostel.

Zero Mostel won the Tony for Best Actor in a musical for both shows. Mostel played Tevye a second time in the first revival of "Fiddler", 12 years after its original opening in 1964. He played Pseudolus in both the stage and screen versions of "Forum", but lost the screen role for "Fiddler" to Israeli actor Chaim Topol.

3. Which show, whose music was written by composer Richard Rodgers' daughter Mary, included the songs "Happily Ever After", "Normandy", and "I'm in Love With a Girl Named Fred"?

Answer: Once Upon a Mattress

"Once Upon a Mattress" starred the then-unknown actress Carol Burnett. The show began as a workshop production at a summer camp for adults, opened Off-Broadway in 1959, and moved to Broadway the following year. It's one of the musicals most frequently performed in high schools.

4. Which musical, which features the haunting ballad "Try to Remember", is, by far, the 20th century's longest running show of American musical theatre?

Answer: The Fantasticks

"The Fantasticks" first opened Off-Broadway in 1960, and ran for 42 years! The show's original El Gallo was Jerry Orbach (of TV's Law and Order) and over the years such stars as Liza Minnelli and Glenn Close have appeared in it.

5. Which of the following musicals opened first on Broadway?

Answer: Bye, Bye Birdie

"Birdie" opened on Broadway in 1960, "Dolly" in 1964, "Charity" in 1966, and "Hair" in 1968. Dick Van Dyke and Chita Rivera starred in "Birdie", Carol Channing was the original Dolly (in one revival, too), Gwen Verdon was the hapless Charity, while "Hair" (with its infamous nude scene) featured a cast of then-unknown actors.

6. "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying", which in the original 1961 production featured Robert Morse, has been revived several times, starring both Matthew Broderick and, in 2011, Daniel Radcliffe. What is this ambitious lead character's name?

Answer: J. Pierrepont Finch

The wrong answers are all the names of other characters in the show (except for Rosemary Pilkington, who has no first initial "J.") Matthew Broderick, who is married to "Sex and the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker, originated the role of Leo Bloom in the musical version of Mel Brooks' "The Producers." Daniel Radcliffe, of course, is best known as Harry Potter.

7. The song "What Kind of Fool Am I", which later became a hit for Sammy Davis Jr., is from what musical?

Answer: Stop the World, I Want to Get Off

Anthony Newley both wrote and starred in the original production of the show, which first opened in London in 1961. It premiered in New York the following year, with Newley both directing and reprising his role of Littlechap, a man disenchanted with his life who fails to appreciate what he has.

When Newley left the show, he was replaced by Joel Grey, who went on to later fame as the Emcee in "Cabaret".

8. Before she became a star playing Fanny Brice, Barbra Streisand made her Broadway debut in which of the following shows?

Answer: I Can Get it for You Wholesale

Barbra Streisand's supporting role as Miss Marmelstein earned her a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a featured role. The 1962 musical also gained her a husband--Elliot Gould, who played her boss in the show. The creators of the planned musical about Fanny Brice saw Streisand's performance as Miss Marmelstein, and the rest is history!

9. Which 60s musical was NOT written by Jerry Herman?

Answer: Oliver

Lionel Bart wrote the book, music and lyrics for "Oliver." Although Jerry Herman is known more for his mega-hit shows like "Mame" and "Hello Dolly" (and later "La Cage aux Folles"), 1969's "Dear World" is appreciated for its terrific score.

10. Which legendary performer did NOT make her Broadway debut in the 1960s?

Answer: Chita Rivera

Although Chita Rivera starred in several hit shows in the 60s, her first Broadway appearance was in 1952 in "Call Me Madam". Barbra Streisand made her Broadway debut in "I Can Get it For You Wholesale", Bette Midler played the oldest daughter in "Fiddler on the Roof", and Liza Minnelli starred in "Flora, the Red Menace".

Source: Author jabb5076

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Splendid Sixties Shows (Musicals) Quiz

The 1960s is generally considered the last decade of classic music theatre---an era that began in 1943 with "Oklahoma!". See how much you remember about the fabulous Broadway shows and performers of this decade.

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