Fascinating Moments in Musical Theatre History

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. What was ironical about Beatrice Lillie being cast as Madame Arcati in the musical, "High Spirits"? She and Noel Coward didn't get along Noel Coward had written the part for her over twenty years ago. She couldn't sing a note She got the role only after Helen Hayes turned it down.

2. Carol Channing understudied Eve Arden in the musical "Let's Face It!" in 1941. What else is true of the two performers? Eve Arden and Carol Channing are related. Eve Arden replaced Carol Channing in the Chicago company of "Hello, Dolly!" Eve Arden and Carol Channing both auditioned to play "Mame" on Broadway. Eve Arden and Carol Channing co-starred on the TV Series "The Mothers-In-Law"

3. What was so unusual about Constance Towers being cast as Julie in the 1966 Lincoln Center revival of "Show Boat"? She had been a child performer in the original production. She had auditioned for a different role. She had already recorded an album of Jerome Kern's music. She had a dream she would get the part before she was cast.

4. Hollywood composer Roger Edens wrote two songs to bolster the quite weak song of the Ethel Merman musical "Happy Hunting" after it opened on Broadway. Why was his work initially credited solely to his friend Kay Thompson? He disliked Ethel Merman imensely. He didn't want the IRS to know about the income he received for these songs. Because he was under exclusive contract to MGM. The producers of "Happy Hunting" insisted.

5. In 1954, Shirley MacLaine went on for the lead dancer Carol Haney in the musical "The Pajama Game." That evening, Hal Wallis, a Hollywood Producer was in the audience and signed her to a motion picture contract. What is so ironical about this incident? Hal Wallis and Shirley MacLaine went to High School together. She was going to resign from the show that very night. This was Shirley MacLaine's first Broadway show. Shirley MacLaine was dating one of Hal Wallis' talent scouts at the time.

6. Two Off-Broadway musicals that were based on the same play opened within two weeks of each other in 1968. What play was it? Love's Labour's Lost 'Tis a Pity She's a Whore School For Scandal Twelth Night

7. Believe it or not, Mary Martin was considered for which role? Amalia in "She Loves Me" Sally Bowles in "Cabaret" Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl" Aldonza in "Man of La Mancha"

8. Which Broadway songwriting team had fathers with the same first name, wives with the same first name, and went to the same University? Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe Lee Adams and Charles Srouse Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein

9. The part of "Yente, the Matchmaker" got smaller and smaller during the tryout period of "Fiddler on the Roof" because of what reason? The show was running too long The actress in the role became ill Zero Mostel insisted Jerome Robbins, the director, didn't care for the performance of the actress in the role

10. "Say, Darling" was a musical about which of the following? The 1919 Actor's Equity Strike Strippers Broadway Ushers The creation of the musical "The Pajama Game"