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Quiz about Leading Ladies of the Theatre

Leading Ladies of the Theatre Trivia Quiz

This quiz is about the leading ladies of the theatre in musicals and plays. I hope you have as much fun taking this as I did creating it.

A multiple-choice quiz by footlights. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
footlights

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
101,527

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
8 / 15

Plays
917

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. This leading lady appeared in a musical version of "Ah, Wilderness" on Broadway in 1959 with Jackie Gleason. She was trained in the classics and she and Gleason were a surprise comic duo. Hint

Eileen Herlie

Elizabeth Seal

Nancy Walker

Mary Martin

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Question 2 of 15

2. Tammy Grimes became the toast of the town in 1960 when she opened in "The Unsinkable Molly Brown". True or False: She received star billing over the title when the show opened.
when the show was out of town in Philadelphia

True

False

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Question 3 of 15

3. "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" was Carol Channing's first big hit in New York. What show was she featured in the previous year?

Answer: (Three words)

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Question 4 of 15

4. What actress was called "The First Lady of the American Theatre"? Hint

Helen Hayes

Sarah Bernhardt

Katharine Hepburn

Julie Harris

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Question 5 of 15

5. This leading lady was a favorite ingenue in the 1950's and 1960's. Her glorious soprano voice set her apart from all others. She made her debut in 1951 in "Flahooley" and picked up a Tony Award in 1957 for a musical that starred Robert Preston. Who is she? Hint

Kathryn Grayson

Gwen Verdon

Judy Holladay

Barbara Cook

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Question 6 of 15

6. Bernadette Peters appeared in a road production of "Gypsy" in 1961.

True

False

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Question 7 of 15

7. Carol Lawrence was married to what leading man? Hint

Rex Harrison

Sid Caesar

Robert Preston

Robert Goulet

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Question 8 of 15

8. Which of these Leading Ladies was NOT in the original production of "Follies" in 1971? Hint

Alexis Smith

Ann Miller

Dorothy Collins

Yvonne De Carlo

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Question 9 of 15

9. Her appearance in "Annie Hall" made her a star, but she was in the original Broadway production of "Hair". What is her name?

Answer: (First and Last Name or Surname Only)

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Question 10 of 15

10. This leading lady appeared on Broadway as a dancer in "Take Me Along" and "Subways Are For Sleeping". She went on to a brilliant career in television and returned to Broadway in 2001 in a smash hit comedy. Who is the actress? Hint

Rue McLanahan

Sally Field

Valerie Harper

Linda Lavin

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Question 11 of 15

11. Elaine Stritch never worked with director Hal Prince. True or false?

True

False

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Question 12 of 15

12. One Broadway leading lady was a leading man. He starred in the Broadway smash "Hairspray" as Edna Turnblad in 2003. Who is he? Hint

Harvey Fierstein

Ron Silver

George Hearn

Nathan Lane

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Question 13 of 15

13. Which of these leading ladies did NOT appear in "Hello, Dolly!" on Broadway? Hint

Dorothy Lamour

Phyllis Diller

Ginger Rogers

Betty Grable

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Question 14 of 15

14. What leading lady appeared opposite Matthew Broderick in "Taller Than a Dwarf" in 2000? Hint

Megan Mulally

Natasha Richardson

Michelle Lee

Parker Posey

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Question 15 of 15

15. Who plays Shirley Markowitz in "The Producers"? Hint

Cady Huffman

Kathy Fitzgerald

Randy Graff

Mary Testa

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This leading lady appeared in a musical version of "Ah, Wilderness" on Broadway in 1959 with Jackie Gleason. She was trained in the classics and she and Gleason were a surprise comic duo.

Answer: Eileen Herlie

Eileen Herlie made her Broadway debut in 1955 in "The Matchmaker." A native of Scotland she was in the Oscar winning 1948 classic "Hamlet" starring Laurence Olivier. In the mid-seventies she played Myrtil Fargate on "All My Children".

Answer: False

She had featured billing below the title until she won the Tony Award in 1961. Shortly thereafter she was elevated to star billing.

3. "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" was Carol Channing's first big hit in New York. What show was she featured in the previous year?

Answer: Lend an Ear

While she first appeared on Broadway in 1942 in a serious drama, Gower Champion cast her in "Lend an Ear", a revue of that era. She caught the attention of Anita Loos and was cast in "Blondes".

4. What actress was called "The First Lady of the American Theatre"?

Answer: Helen Hayes

Helen Hayes was known by this title, one in which she hated. "It makes me sound like I'm 200 years old", she once told a member of the press.

Answer: Barbara Cook

Barbara Cook appeared in "Candide"; "The Music Man," winning the Tony for her portrayal of Marian the Librarian; and "She Loves Me" in the 1960's. In the 1970's her career resurged at Carnegie Hall in a concert. She has worked cabarets and concert halls throughout the world. In 2002, at age 75, she is still packing them in at concerts.

6. Bernadette Peters appeared in a road production of "Gypsy" in 1961.

Answer: True

It was one of her first appearances as Dainty June. In 2003 she will be appearing on Broadway as Mama Rose in a revival of the same musical.

7. Carol Lawrence was married to what leading man?

Answer: Robert Goulet

Carol Lawrence was married to Robert Goulet for 16 years before divorcing. They have two sons.

8. Which of these Leading Ladies was NOT in the original production of "Follies" in 1971?

Answer: Ann Miller

Ann Miller did not appear in the original production. However, she did play Carlotta, the Yvonne De Carlo role in the acclaimed Papermill Playhouse production of the same show in 1999.

9. Her appearance in "Annie Hall" made her a star, but she was in the original Broadway production of "Hair". What is her name?

Answer: Diane Keaton

Keaton was also one of the few cast members who refused to appear nude in the famous first act finale.

Answer: Valerie Harper

After a highly successful TV career she came back to Broadway in "Tale of the Allergist's Wife". The show recently closed and Valerie and cast are now touring with the national company.

11. Elaine Stritch never worked with director Hal Prince. True or false?

Answer: False

Stritch and Prince worked together in the highly successful "Company".

12. One Broadway leading lady was a leading man. He starred in the Broadway smash "Hairspray" as Edna Turnblad in 2003. Who is he?

Answer: Harvey Fierstein

Harvey Fierstein won a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Edna Turnblat. For the role, it took him two hours to physically prepare, including the time needed to shave his body daily. He refused to say he was in drag; rather he clamined to be "an actor who is playing a woman."

13. Which of these leading ladies did NOT appear in "Hello, Dolly!" on Broadway?

Answer: Dorothy Lamour

Lamour did not appear on Broadway but she did tour in a bus and truck company in the late 1960's.

14. What leading lady appeared opposite Matthew Broderick in "Taller Than a Dwarf" in 2000?

Answer: Parker Posey

Posey made her Broadway debut in this play that had a very brief run. Shortly after its demise Broderick went into rehearsal for "The Producers".

15. Who plays Shirley Markowitz in "The Producers"?

Answer: Kathy Fitzgerald

Kathy Fitzgerald plays Shirley in the joyous production number "Keep It Gay." She also scores as one of the little old ladies.

Source: Author footlights

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ltc717 before going online.
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