Theatrical Songs of the 1990s Trivia Quiz

Answer: We Dance

Lynn Ahrens wrote the lyrics and Stephen Flaherty wrote the music for "Once on This Island". Interestingly, while the original production did not win any Tony Awards, the 2017 revival won the Tony for Best Revival of a Musical. "Once on This Island" is set on an island in the Caribbean and ran for 469 performances.

The song, "We Dance", appears near the beginning of the show, and is performed by the Storytellers. The basic plot of the musical focuses on a young girl who uses love to bring different social classes together.

Answer: Never Met a Man I Didn't Like

Cy Coleman wrote the music and Betty Comden and Adolph Green wrote the lyrics for "The Will Rogers Follies". If you have some familiarity with the life of humorist Will Rogers you might have remembered his quote: "I never met a man I didn't like." The musical ran for 981 performances in its original run on Broadway and is based on the life and career of Rogers.

The song, "Never Met a Man I Didn't Like", is performed twice in the second act--once as a solo by Will Rogers and once with the whole cast at the end of the show.

Answer: We Are The Rhythms That Colour Your Song

"Jelly's Last Jam" is based on the life and career of jazz pioneer Jelly Roll Morton. The music was written by Jelly Roll Morton and Luther Henderson, and the lyrics were written by Susan Birkenhead. The song, "We Are the Rhythms That Colour Your Song", is sung by the full company at the conclusion of the musical. "Jelly's Last Jam" ran for 569 performances on Broadway. Gregory Hines won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for his work in the title role.

Answer: See Me, Feel Me

Pete Townsend of The Who wrote the music and lyrics for "The Who's Tommy". It is based on the 1969 album, "Tommy", by The Who. The musical ran for 899 performances on Broadway. Tommy is a young man who undergoes an extended period of being deaf, mute, and blind, after witnessing a violent murder as a young child.

The song, "See Me, Feel Me", expresses Tommy's inner monologue while he is in this state. Pete Townsend would win the Tony Award for Best Original Score.

Answer: Be Our Guest

The stage musical, "Beauty and the Beast", was based on the 1992 Disney animated movie of the same title. One of the longest running musicals of the twentieth century, it ran for 5,461 performances on Broadway. The music was written by Alan Menken, and the lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice.

The song, "Be Our Guest", occurs late in the first act as the servant's of the Beast prepare a dinner for Belle (the Beauty).

Answer: Le Jazz Hot!

The musical "Victor/Victoria" was based on the 1982 film "Victor/Victoria", which was based on a 1933 German film "Viktor und Viktoria". Julie Andrews played the part of Victoria Grant in both 1995 musical and the 1982 film. The music was by Henry Mancini and Frank Wildhorn.

The lyrics were by Leslie Bricusse and Frank Wildhorn. She is a woman who impersonates a man in order to perform at a Parisian Club. Victoria performs the song, "Le Jazz Hot!". Julie Andrews was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical, but famously declined the nomination.

Answer: Seasons of Love

Jonathan Larson wrote the music and the lyrics and the book for "Rent", based on the Puccini opera, "La Boheme". "Rent" ran for 5,123 performances on Broadway in its initial run. The musical focuses on the lives of a group of friends and acquaintances in the city of New York.

The song, "Seasons of Love", is sung by the cast and opens Act 2, and is repeated later in Act 2. "Rent" would go on to win four Tony Awards, including "Best Score".

Answer: This is the Moment

The musical, "Jekyll & Hyde", was based on Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 short novel. The original Broadway production ran for 1,543 performances. The music was written by Frank Wildhorn. The lyrics were written by Frank Wildhorn, Leslie Bricusse, and Steve Cuden. Dr. Jekyll hope to find a chemical that will allow people to separate their good sides from their evil sides.

When Jekyll sings "This is the Moment", he thinks he has found the solution to his goal.

Answer: Goodbye, My Love

The 1975 novel, "Ragtime", is the basis for the musical of the same name. The song, "Goodbye, My Love", was sung by Marian Mazzie, who portrayed the character of Mother. She would be nominated for the Tony Award for the Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical.

The musical ran for 834 performances on Broadway. "Ragtime" focuses on the experiences of select individuals that represent larger groups of people in the United States in the early 20th century. The music was written by Stephen Flaherty, and the lyrics were written by Lynn Ahrens.

Answer: Tell My Father

Jack Murphy wrote the lyrics, and Frank Wildhorn wrote the music for the musical, "The Civil War". The musical shows the story of that war, including the enslaved, Union, and Confederate viewpoints. The musical ran for 61 performances on Broadway in its initial run.

Despite its short run, "The Civil War" was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical. The song, "Tell My Father", is sung in the show by the character of Private Sam Taylor, portrayed by Matt Bogart.