Stephen Sondheim Musicals Trivia Quiz

Answer: Saturday

"Saturday Night" is based on the play "Front Porch in Flatbush" by Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein, who are also credited with 'book' alongside Stephen Sondheim's music and lyrics.

The musical was intended to be Sondheim's first show on Broadway, but when the lead producer Lemuel Ayers died in August of 1955, the show was cancelled. It would not see production until 1997, and that by the University of Birmingham. That same year in December it would finally see a professional production in London.

The story takes place in Brooklyn in 1929 as a group of friends dream of getting out of their neighbourhood and into the high society of Manhattan. But only Gene makes any real efforts in that regard.

Answer: Story

"West Side Story" was Stephen Sondheim's Broadway debut, credited as the lyricist on the musical, with Leonard Bernstein writing the music, book by Arthur Laurents, and Jerome Robbins coming up with the whole concept. And, of course, some credit also goes to William Shakespeare and "Romeo and Juliet" as the ultimate inspiration for the story.

While the 1961 film would win Oscar gold for Best Picture (and nine other categories), the initial Broadway staging was nominated for six Tonys (including Best Musical), and only won in two categories (Best Choreography and Best Scenic Design).

Answer: Forum

"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" was the Stephen Sondheim Broadway musical where he provided both the music and the lyrics (book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart), also earning him critical success wholly his own. The musical earned six of eight Tony nominations, including Best Musical.

Inspired by the works of ancient Roman playwright Plautus, "Forum" is a farcical comedy wherein a slave named Pseudolus tries to finagle his freedom by helping his master (named Hero) 'get the girl next door'. This main role was played by Zero Mostel in both the original Broadway production, and the later film rendition in 1966.

Answer: Whistle

"Anyone Can Whistle" was the second collaboration between Sondheim (music & lyrics) and Arthur Laurents (book), the other being "West Side Story". Its Broadway run was very short, comprised of only twelve previews and nine performances, and while it has been staged a few times since, it has not received the same attention as some of Sondheim's other works.

The story revolves around a small town and its leader's efforts to increase tourism by creating a fake miracle. Unfortunately for her, it doesn't draw all the expected kinds of people.

Angela Lansbury played the role of Cora Hoover Hooper, the unscrupulous town mayoress.

Answer: Waltz

"Do I Hear a Waltz?" was originally intended by Arthur Laurents to be a Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, but by the time it got to the production stage, Oscar Hammerstein II had passed away (in 1960). Sondheim was asked to fill his role, and he contributed the lyrics alongside Richard Rodgers' music.

The story revolves around a New York secretary by the name of Leona Samish, who has finally managed to go on her dream vacation to Venice, Italy where she meets some couples and dallies with a potential romance.

Answer: Primrose

"Evening Primrose" aired on "ABC Stage 67" on November 16th, 1966, and did not see a live professional staging until 2005 in London. Sondheim provided the lyrics and music, with book by James Goldman.

In the story, Charles Snell (played by Anthony Perkins) is a poet who has decided to hide away from the world in a department story, hiding until after it closes. Surprisingly, he finds a small community of people already living there.

Answer: Night

"A Little Night Music" (lyrics and music by Sondheim, book by Hugh Wheeler) was a very successful musical for Sondheim, with an initial Broadway run of 601 shows (and twelve previews)! It received twelve Tony nominations, winning six, including Best Musical. In addition to its first run, "A Little Night Music" has seen a number of revivals, the aforementioned adaptation to film in 1977, and has even been staged by many opera companies.

Set in Sweden at the turn of the (19th to 20th) century, the story revolves around a myriad of affairs and relationships amongst the cast, which is exacerbated when they all attend a weekend in the country together. One musical highlight of the production is the famous song, "Send in the Clowns".

Answer: Pacific

"Pacific Overtures" (book by John Weidman and Hugh Wheeler) was another original by Sondheim who took the concept of the era in which Japan was opened to the rest of the world by America. In his presentation, Sondheim used Japanese musical harmonies and the staging was done in the Kabuki style. And as the show progresses, he introduces more Western musical traditions.

While this ambitious work garnered ten Tony nominations, its original Broadway run only took home two of them (Best Scenic Design and Best Costume Design).

Answer: Merrily

"Merrily We Roll Along" was released on Broadway in 1981 with Sondheim's music and lyrics, and with book by George Furth. This musical was not as well-received as many of Sondheim's previous works, only managing an initial Broadway run of 52 previews and 16 performances.

In the same manner as the original 1934 Kaufman & Hart play, the story begins at the end, and moves backwards in time. In this case, the show opens in 1976 at the low point in the lives of three friends, then flashes back in sequence until we see where they started out as youths in 1957, at their best.

Answer: George

"Sunday in the Park with George" opened on Broadway in 1984 after an Off-Broadway run the previous year. It had a healthy run of 604 shows by the end of 1985.

The story takes place exactly 100 years earlier in 1884, focusing on a fictional version of Georges Seurat - known as simply George - and his focus on painting his masterpiece. The counterfoil comes through his great-grandson, also an artist, but in the 'modern' style and much with a much more cynical outlook on life.