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Quiz about My Hopefully Wonderful Quiz on Wonderful Town
Quiz about My Hopefully Wonderful Quiz on Wonderful Town

My (Hopefully) Wonderful Quiz on "Wonderful Town"


"Wonderful Town" was a big hit when first presented on Broadway in 1953 and a big hit all over again when revived fifty years later. Try this quiz and hopefully you will learn more about this interesting musical.

A multiple-choice quiz by Lost_Player_47. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
267,865
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
166
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. "Wonderful Town" was based on which play? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Rosalind Russell, the star of "Wonderful Town", had already played the lead character of Ruth Sherwood before. Which production was that? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Now for a question about the 2003 Broadway revival. Who played Ruth in this production? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. In the show, what magazine did Bob Baker work for? (He was an editor.) Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Also from the show itself, Ruth tried to interview naval cadets from which country? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Why were Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden and Adolph Green rushed to write the score to "Wonderful Town" only five weeks before it opened? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. "One Hundred Easy Ways" has a rather unique construction for a song in a Broadway show--at the end of each verse, Ruth stops and delivers a spoken gag. Why was the song written that way? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. When Rosalind Russell left the original cast of "Wonderful Town", what blonde actress (wearing a brunette wig) replaced her? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. When "Wonderful Town" was made into a motion picture, who played Ruth? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Who choreographed "Wonderful Town" (and received a Tony Award)? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. "Wonderful Town" was based on which play?

Answer: My Sister Eileen

"Having Wonderful Time", "Anna Christie" and "Fanny" were all sources for other hit musicals of the 1950s -- "Wish You Were Here", "New Girl in Town" and "Fanny", respectively.

"My Sister Eileen" was a big hit on Broadway -- it opened in 1940 and ran for just over two years.
2. Rosalind Russell, the star of "Wonderful Town", had already played the lead character of Ruth Sherwood before. Which production was that?

Answer: The film "My Sister Eileen"

Miss Russell played the role of Ruth Sherwood first in the film version of "My Sister Eileen." It was this portrayal that made her the odds-on favorite to portray the role in the musical version, "Wonderful Town."

Shirley Booth played Ruth Sherwood in the original Broadway production of "My Sister Eileen." Elaine Stritch played Ruth Sherwood in the TV Series, "My Sister Eileen" in the 1960s.
3. Now for a question about the 2003 Broadway revival. Who played Ruth in this production?

Answer: Donna Murphy

"Wonderful Town" was revived on Broadway for the first time in 2003 since its original Broadway production in 1953.
4. In the show, what magazine did Bob Baker work for? (He was an editor.)

Answer: The Manhatter

Ruth applies for a writing job at the Manhatter, where Bob tries to discourage her ambitions to be a writer by singing "What A Waste."
5. Also from the show itself, Ruth tried to interview naval cadets from which country?

Answer: Brazil

Ruth tries to interview Brazilian naval cadets. They are willing to speak to her only if she teaches them the conga. This leads to the brilliant dance number, "Conga!"
6. Why were Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden and Adolph Green rushed to write the score to "Wonderful Town" only five weeks before it opened?

Answer: The original songwriters quit because they weren't getting along with the rest of the artistic staff

Leroy Anderson and Arnold Horwitt, the original songwriters for "Wonderful Town", left the show because they weren't getting along with Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov, who wrote the play "My Sister Eileen" and the book for "Wonderful Town."

The musical had to go into rehearsal by December 15, 1952, or the option with Rosalind Russell would expire. George Abbott, the director, asked Leonard Bernstein to write one or two numbers; Bernstein offered to write a complete new score. Betty Comden and Adolph Green agreed to write the lyrics if Bernstein worked on the score.
7. "One Hundred Easy Ways" has a rather unique construction for a song in a Broadway show--at the end of each verse, Ruth stops and delivers a spoken gag. Why was the song written that way?

Answer: To suit the somewhat limited vocal talents of Rosalind Russell

"One Hundred Easy Ways" was written by Bernstein, Comden and Green for Rosalind Russell after she informed them, "I have a five-note vocal range."
8. When Rosalind Russell left the original cast of "Wonderful Town", what blonde actress (wearing a brunette wig) replaced her?

Answer: Carol Channing

When Rosalind Russell left the original Broadway company of "Wonderful Town", Carol Channing (wearing a brunette wig) replaced her. Miss Channing received credible reviews but "Wonderful Town" was not the same smash hit it had been when it starred Rosalind Russell.
9. When "Wonderful Town" was made into a motion picture, who played Ruth?

Answer: The show was never made into a motion picture

Unfortunately, there was no motion picture version of "Wonderful Town." Columbia Pictures had wanted to film the musical but thought the asking price was too high. Instead, they produced their own musical version of "My Sister Eileen" (with new songs) starring Betty Garrett as Ruth.

In 1958, CBS pesented "Wonderful Town" as a TV Special, with Rosalind Russell once again playing Ruth.

Judy Holliday was scheduled to play the lead in the Columbia Pictures version until the project was canceled.
10. Who choreographed "Wonderful Town" (and received a Tony Award)?

Answer: Donald Saddler

Donald Saddler choreographed "Wonderful Town." His dances, especially for such numbers as "Conga!" and "Swing!" were highly praised. However, it is believed that well-known choreographer Jerome Robbins gave an (uncredited) assist with the dances. Bob Fosse played the part of Frank Lippincott in the film "My Sister Eileen" which starred Betty Garrett.
Source: Author Lost_Player_47

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