Which Musical Matches Me? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Evita

"Evita" is a musical that is based on the life of Eva Peron, the second wife of Juan Peron who would become president of Argentina. With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice it was first recorded as an album in 1976 with its West End premiere two years later. It has been produced throughout the world on many different tours and was made into a movie in 1996 starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas.

The suitcase refers to the song "Another Suitcase in Another Hall."

Her official tour of Europe is known as "The Rainbow Tour" and she also sings "Rainbow High."

The lottery refers to the Eva Peron Foundation:
"Write your name and your dream on a card or a pad or a ticket,
Throw it high in the air and should our lady pick it,
She will change your way of life for a week or even two..."

Answer: Oliver!

"Oliver!" is based upon the Charles Dickens novel "Oliver Twist" and was written, music and lyrics, by Lionel Bart. Its West End premiere was in 1960. The USA show opened two years later in Los Angeles and then moved onto Broadway in 1963. It has had long runs throughout the world in every decade since. It was also made into a successful movie in 1968.


The gold locket was owned by Oliver's mother and stolen when she died in childbirth but its presence at the end of the show proves that Oliver is Mr. Brownlow's grandson.

Oliver is sold by the orphanage to an undertaker to walk in front of the coffins.

The beginning of the story shows Oliver holding out his bowl as he says his infamous line "Please, sir, I want some more".

Answer: The Phantom of the Opera

"The Phantom of the Opera" is based on the 1909 French novel by Gaston Leroux. Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe wrote the lyrics with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. It premiered in London in 1986 and on Broadway 2 years later. It has won multiple awards in both countries and was the most financially successful show for 28 years - until the release of "The Lion King" in 2014.

The boat is present when the Phantom takes Christine across the lake under the Opera House.

The monkey music box wakes Christine when she is in the Phantom's lair and is also one of the items up for sale at the auction at the beginning of the show.

The elephant appears as a stage prop in the rehearsal for "Hannibal" at the start of the musical.

Answer: Grease

"Grease" began as a 1971 stage show in Chicago by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, but was a much more raw and vulgar show than it is now seen. It was modified and 'sanitised' and then ran until 1980. It has also been released throughout the world with multiple tours and acclaim and, as of 2017, is the fourth highest grossing live musical. The movie which was made in 1978 was also a phenomenal success.

The characters all compete in a hand jive competition at the school dance in Act II.

Danny and Sandy spent the summer at the beach and fell in love.

The car, of course, is 'greased lightning.'

Answer: Les Miserables

"Les Miserables" is a musical based on the 1862 novel by Victor Hugo with music by Claude-Michel Schonberg and French lyrics by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel. The musical opened in Paris in 1980 and closed after only 3 months.

Three years later Cameron Macintosh was asked to produce an English version of the show and spent 2 years developing its lyrics. It then opened in London in October 1985 and, as of January 2018, has run continuously ever since. The Broadway version had a 16 year first run.

In 2009, for the 25th anniversary, the show was given an 'update' with new staging, costumes and sets and then a movie was released in 2012.

Valjean is given the silver candlesticks by the Bishop and told to use them to 'become a better man'. They are also present at his death.

He was imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread and Javert figures out who he is when he lifts the heavy cart on his own.

Answer: Wicked

"Wicked", a Stephen Schwartz musical, is based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West". It is set before Baums "The Wizard of Oz" and shows the origins of its characters.

It premiered on Broadway in October 2003 and was still in constant production at the end of 2017 and had reached the second highest grossing show - "The Lion King" still holding first position. At one point it was running simultaneously in 9 different countries.

Dr. Dillamond is a goat in the show and Nessarose is confined to a wheelchair.

The broom, of course, belongs to Elphaba when she learns to fly.

Answer: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" is another Lloyd Webber/Rice collaboration but it had a very long path to fame. It began as a 20 minute school production in London in 1968 and had some showings in the 1970's both in London and abroad but was having continual expansions and modifications. The Haymarket Theatre in Leicester was the first to present the show, as we know it today, in 1974.

The musicals main fame was after 1991 when it was re-staged and performed with Jason Donovan in the lead in London. Donny Osmond took the lead in Canada in 1992 and it was revived in the US the year after.

Joseph dreamed of sheaves of wheat bowing to him and he hid a gold cup in Benjamin's sack when his brothers came to ask for food.

He is locked up in a prison cell after Potipher's wife makes advances and then accuses him of being the instigator.

Answer: Beauty and the Beast

"Beauty and the Beast" began life as a French fairytale. It was adapted into an animated musical and released by Disney in 1991 and then adapted again into a stage musical which premiered in 1994.

Linda Wolverton who wrote the Disney screenplay also wrote the libretto for the musical and changed and expanded certain characters. Alan Menken then provided the music and Tim Rice and Howard Ashman wrote the lyrics.

The show had mixed reviews on Broadway but the public loved it and it ran for 13 years. The London premiere was in 1997 and finished two years later. 2017 has just seen another movie version released.

Belle is a great lover of books and always reading.

The Butler Cogsworth is turning into a mantle clock.

An enchantress gives the rose to the Beast after she has transformed him and the only way he can reverse the spell is to fall in love and be loved before the last petal drops.

Answer: Jesus Christ Superstar

"Jesus Christ Superstar" is yet another of Lloyd Webber/Rice masterpieces. Written in 1970 as a rock opera it was another released as an album before its stage show. It was first performed in Pittsburgh as a concert in July 1971 and then premiered on Broadway 3 months later where it ran until mid 1973.

Its London run was much more successful beginning in 1972 and continuing for 8 years. This was the longest running UK musical at that time. The show did receive worldwide success but was also banned in certain countries as it was considered blasphemous. It also had a film adaptation in 1973 which did extremely well at the box office.

Mary anoints Jesus with ointment to try and help him to sleep; Judas berates her for this action.

Jesus is given a crown of thorns to wear during his trial.

Herod asks Jesus to "Prove to me that you're no fool; walk across my swimming pool".

Answer: The Sound of Music

"The Sound of Music" was originally intended to be a Broadway play with some 'Von Trapp Family Singers' songs. The producers then thought of getting Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein to write a couple of new songs to add to the production and that eventually led to the decision for them to write a musical instead. This was the last work written by the famous pair as Hammerstein died of cancer the year after.

The show opened on Broadway in 1959 and London 2 years later with rave reviews and awards. It has been in production around the world ever since. It was also made into a movie in 1965 which won the Best Picture Academy Award and 4 other Oscars.


The flag refers to the Nazi Flag which appears throughout Salzburg leading up to the Anschluss which greatly irritates Captain Von Trapp.

Maria makes the children play clothes out of her old bedroom curtains.

The Captain uses a whistle to call his children and they all have their own signals which horrifies Maria.