Splendid Sixties Shows (Musicals) Quiz

Answer: Sweet Charity

One of Broadway's most revered directors, Bob Fosse was married to Gwen Verdon, who played the lead character, Charity Hope Valentine. Chita Rivera played one of her two best friends, Nickie. "Hey, Big Spender" and "If My Friends Could See Me Now", two of the hit songs from this 1966 show, are still popular today.

Answer: Both starred Zero Mostel.

Zero Mostel won the Tony for Best Actor in a musical for both shows. Mostel played Tevye a second time in the first revival of "Fiddler", 12 years after its original opening in 1964. He played Pseudolus in both the stage and screen versions of "Forum", but lost the screen role for "Fiddler" to Israeli actor Chaim Topol.

Answer: Once Upon a Mattress

"Once Upon a Mattress" starred the then-unknown actress Carol Burnett. The show began as a workshop production at a summer camp for adults, opened Off-Broadway in 1959, and moved to Broadway the following year. It's one of the musicals most frequently performed in high schools.

Answer: The Fantasticks

"The Fantasticks" first opened Off-Broadway in 1960, and ran for 42 years! The show's original El Gallo was Jerry Orbach (of TV's Law and Order) and over the years such stars as Liza Minnelli and Glenn Close have appeared in it.

Answer: Bye, Bye Birdie

"Birdie" opened on Broadway in 1960, "Dolly" in 1964, "Charity" in 1966, and "Hair" in 1968. Dick Van Dyke and Chita Rivera starred in "Birdie", Carol Channing was the original Dolly (in one revival, too), Gwen Verdon was the hapless Charity, while "Hair" (with its infamous nude scene) featured a cast of then-unknown actors.

Answer: J. Pierrepont Finch

The wrong answers are all the names of other characters in the show (except for Rosemary Pilkington, who has no first initial "J.") Matthew Broderick, who is married to "Sex and the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker, originated the role of Leo Bloom in the musical version of Mel Brooks' "The Producers." Daniel Radcliffe, of course, is best known as Harry Potter.

Answer: Stop the World, I Want to Get Off

Anthony Newley both wrote and starred in the original production of the show, which first opened in London in 1961. It premiered in New York the following year, with Newley both directing and reprising his role of Littlechap, a man disenchanted with his life who fails to appreciate what he has.

When Newley left the show, he was replaced by Joel Grey, who went on to later fame as the Emcee in "Cabaret".

Answer: I Can Get it for You Wholesale

Barbra Streisand's supporting role as Miss Marmelstein earned her a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a featured role. The 1962 musical also gained her a husband--Elliot Gould, who played her boss in the show. The creators of the planned musical about Fanny Brice saw Streisand's performance as Miss Marmelstein, and the rest is history!

Answer: Oliver

Lionel Bart wrote the book, music and lyrics for "Oliver." Although Jerry Herman is known more for his mega-hit shows like "Mame" and "Hello Dolly" (and later "La Cage aux Folles"), 1969's "Dear World" is appreciated for its terrific score.

Answer: Chita Rivera

Although Chita Rivera starred in several hit shows in the 60s, her first Broadway appearance was in 1952 in "Call Me Madam". Barbra Streisand made her Broadway debut in "I Can Get it For You Wholesale", Bette Midler played the oldest daughter in "Fiddler on the Roof", and Liza Minnelli starred in "Flora, the Red Menace".