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Origins of Musicals Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Origins of Musicals Quizzes, Trivia

Origins of Musicals Trivia

Origins of Musicals Trivia Quizzes

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Many musicals had their origins in another form - 'Annie' was inspired by a comic strip, 'My Fair Lady' by a play, 'Miss Saigon' by an opera, and the list goes on.
9 quizzes and 137 trivia questions.
1.
  Inspired by?    
Classification Quiz
 12 Qns
Origin of Musicals
Stage musicals can be original works or be based on previous works like novels and films. Sort these into their correct boxes to reflect their origins. Original means not directly based on the plot of a novel or film even if inspired by earlier ideas.
Average, 12 Qns, rossian, Apr 16 26
Average
rossian editor
Apr 16 26
210 plays
2.
  Shakespeare in Musicals    
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
Match the musical with the Shakespearean play on which it is based.
Easier, 10 Qns, bernie73, Oct 17 23
Easier
bernie73 gold member
Oct 17 23
424 plays
3.
  No New Tale To Tell editor best quiz   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Writing a musical is hard enough without having to come up with an original plot. These shows all recycled ideas that had been used before.
Average, 10 Qns, dellastreet, Oct 21 23
Average
dellastreet gold member
Oct 21 23
1013 plays
4.
  Musicals' Literary Origins    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A lot of the greatest Broadway musicals have been based on great works of literature and drama. In this quiz, I will give you the name of a musical and its story; you will have to choose the name of the work it is based on plus its author.
Easier, 10 Qns, BwayBabyCA, Oct 17 09
Easier
BwayBabyCA
1487 plays
5.
  Inspirations for Classic Broadway Musicals   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Many top Broadway musicals were not necessarily written as musicals - or even for the stage
Average, 10 Qns, robert362, Dec 31 15
Average
robert362
5131 plays
6.
  Original or Not?    
Multiple Choice
 25 Qns
One day in my group chatroom, a post came up asking us to think of musicals that were COMPLETELY original, and were not based on a previous work. I thought that it could be a very good quiz, so here you are!
Average, 25 Qns, at34712, Dec 24 25
Average
at34712
Dec 24 25
639 plays
7.
  A Broadway Musical By Any Other Name    
Multiple Choice
 25 Qns
Many favorite musicals started life with a different title. In this quiz, see how many of these unused titles you can recognize. Have fun and good luck!
Difficult, 25 Qns, Lost_Player_47, Oct 06 23
Difficult
Lost_Player_47
Oct 06 23
689 plays
8.
  Many Musicals Started Out as Something Else   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Many musicals were based on other sources--movies, plays, novels, short stories. However, many changes were made in plots and characters when adapting these works into musicals. Let's explore some of these changes!
Difficult, 10 Qns, Lost_Player_47, Apr 01 09
Difficult
Lost_Player_47
734 plays
9.
  Original Or Not? II    
Multiple Choice
 25 Qns
After all the fun I had making my first Original or Not, I decided to make another! So carefully read the questions to decide if the musical is based upon a play, novel, movie, opera, real events, or if it is truly original! Have fun!
Average, 25 Qns, at34712, Aug 09 23
Average
at34712
Aug 09 23
552 plays
trivia question Quick Question
"On A Clear Day You Can See Forever" started life with a different composer and title. What was the show known as at that point?

From Quiz "A Broadway Musical By Any Other Name"





Origins of Musicals Trivia Questions
1. In "Green Grow the Lilacs," the unbalanced farmhand who loved Laurey was named Jeeter. In the play's musical version, "Oklahoma!", he was named Jud. Why was the name changed?

From Quiz Many Musicals Started Out as Something Else

Answer: The play "Tobacco Road" also had a character called Jeeter

"Tobacco Road" had a main character called Jeeter--who was a villainous, unruly character. Rodger and Hammerstein didn't want their audiences to confuse their show's farmhand character (who was a different type of character) with the character in "Tobacco Road," so they renamed him Jud.

2. "Hard To Get" was the original title of?

From Quiz A Broadway Musical By Any Other Name

Answer: Anything Goes

In 1934, Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse completed the book for a musical entitled "Hard To Get." The show, with songs by Cole Porter, was to take place on a luxury liner and describe what effect a shipwreck had on its passengers. Unfortunately, there was a real-life disaster and shipwrecks were no longer thought to be humorous. Russell Crouse and Howard Lindsay were called in to rewrite the book. Although it still took place on a ship, all references to a shipwreck were eliminated, and the show was now called "Anything Goes."

3. OK, let's try this one. What was "Les Miserables" based on?

From Quiz Original or Not?

Answer: A book

"Les Miserables" was based on the 1862 novel by Victor Hugo, although it does have many movie versions.

4. "Man of La Mancha" - The story of an elderly man who chooses to live life in a fantasy world as a knight errant. What is this based on?

From Quiz Musicals' Literary Origins

Answer: "The Adventures of Don Quixote de La Mancha" by Miguel de Cervantes

The musical is actually adapted from the librettist's (Dale Wasserman) play called "I, Don Quixote," in which Cervantes, who is imprisoned during the Spanish Inquisition, puts his masterpiece forth as a drama played out for his fellow prisoners.

5. 'Phantom of the Opera' is based on a work by what author?

From Quiz Inspirations for Classic Broadway Musicals

Answer: Gaston Leroux

An unfamiliar name to most

6. George Bernard Shaw's play "Pygmalion" was itself an updating of a Greek legend. Who transformed it into the musical "My Fair Lady"?

From Quiz No New Tale To Tell

Answer: Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe

Opening on Broadway in 1956, "My Fair Lady" ran for six and a half years, a record at that time. "Pygmalion", inspired by the tale of a sculptor who fell in love with one of his statues, was successfully filmed in both German and English in the 1930s, but Shaw had expressly forbidden the production of a musical version. Following Shaw's death in 1950, Alan Jay Lerner was asked by the owner of the film rights to produce a musical adaptation. "My Fair Lady" is closer to the 1938 British film of "Pygmalion" than to the stage play.

7. What major plot development from "A Raisin in the Sun" was dropped in its musical version, "Raisin"?

From Quiz Many Musicals Started Out as Something Else

Answer: Ruth's pregnancy

For reasons I cannot determine, Ruth's pregnancy and her considering an abortion are not part of the storyline in the musical "Raisin."

8. "Fanforan" was a title considered for?

From Quiz A Broadway Musical By Any Other Name

Answer: My Fair Lady

While working on the musical version of "Pygmalion," lyricist Alan Jay Lerner came upon the word "Fanforan," which means braggart. He thought it suited the character of Henry Higgins perfectly and wanted to use it as the title of the musical. Composer Frederick Loewe didn't like it, and it was decided to call the new show "My Fair Lady."

9. Although there were many historical events incorporated into the show, what was the musical "Ragtime" mainly based upon?

From Quiz Original Or Not? II

Answer: A novel

"Ragtime" is based upon a 1975 novel by E. L. Doctorow, and opened in January of 1998.

10. What was the basis for the musical "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"?

From Quiz Original or Not?

Answer: A movie

"Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" was based on the 1988 movie starring Steve Martin and Michael Caine. It is about two con men who make a bet which says whoever can raise 50 grand first gets to stay in town, and the other has to leave forever.

11. "Camelot" - A legendary king faces the end of his great forum of knights as he discovers his queen has carried on a love affair with one of his knights. What play or novel is this based on?

From Quiz Musicals' Literary Origins

Answer: "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

This musical, which also draws from Thomas Mallory's legendary epic "Le Morte d'Arthur," became linked to the Kennedy administration, having been a favorite of President Kennedy and his wife.

12. 'Peter Pan' derives from a work by this author:

From Quiz Inspirations for Classic Broadway Musicals

Answer: James Barrie

Barrie had a tough life - plenty of room for fantasy. Baum did 'Wizard of Oz'. Dodgson is better known as Lewis Carroll

13. The tale of an orphan boy who wanted more, which musical based on a Charles Dickens novel won an Oscar for Best Picture?

From Quiz No New Tale To Tell

Answer: Oliver!

Lionel Bart's musical based on "Oliver Twist" opened in London in 1960 and on Broadway in 1963. Future Monkee Davy Jones appeared in both productions. Carol Reed directed the 1968 film version, which was nominated for eleven Academy Awards and won six, including Best Film and Best Director. "Pickwick", a musical version of "The Pickwick Papers" starring Harry Secombe in the title role, ran for two years in London before having a brief Broadway run in 1965. "Scrooge", a musical film version of "A Christmas Carol" with Albert Finney in the title role, was released in 1970 and was nominated for four Oscars but won none. "Drood", a musical version of Dickens' unfinished novel "The Mystery of Edwin Drood, became the first Broadway musical with multiple endings. Opening in 1985, it won five Tony Awards.

14. At the end of the musical "Show Boat," all of the major characters are still alive. What characters are still alive at the end of its source novel of the same name?

From Quiz Many Musicals Started Out as Something Else

Answer: Magnolia, Ellie, Kim

In the novel, Cap'n Andy passes away when Kim is a toddler. Gaylord dies after deserting Magnolia. Parthy passes away just before the end of the novel. So, the only major characters left are Magnolia, Ellie, and Kim. Magnolia would be somewhere in her 60s and Ellie would be in her 70s at this point.

15. "Hello, Dolly!" was first announced with the following title?

From Quiz A Broadway Musical By Any Other Name

Answer: Dolly: A Damned Exasperating Woman

Believe it or not, the announcement that a musical version of "The Matchmaker" would be produced on Broadway stated the new show would have the rather complex title of "Dolly!: A Damned Exasperating Woman." By the way, the same announcement stated that the new show was going to star Elaine Stritch.

16. What was "Wicked" taken from?

From Quiz Original or Not?

Answer: A book

"Wicked" was based on the 1995 Gregory Maguire book of the same title, which was based on the movie and book series "The Wizard of Oz". The musical is basically about the Wicked Witch of the West, and her friendship with Glinda the Good Witch.

17. "Cabaret" - A seedy night club in 1930s Germany is the background to this world of decadence, sexual ambiguity and anti-semitism. What does this musical come from?

From Quiz Musicals' Literary Origins

Answer: "Berlin Stories" by Christopher Isherwood

The character of the Master of Ceremonies (brilliantly played both on Broadway and on film by Joel Grey) was a concept of original producer-director Harold Prince to help tie all the various stories together.

18. What author's work provided the basis for 'Hello, Dolly'?

From Quiz Inspirations for Classic Broadway Musicals

Answer: Thornton Wilder

The story was 'The Matchmaker'

19. Based on the novel "Kipps" by H G Wells, which musical tells the tale of a draper's apprentice who inherits, and then loses, a fortune?

From Quiz No New Tale To Tell

Answer: Half a Sixpence

Starring Tommy Steele as Arthur Kipps, "Half a Sixpence" opened in London in 1963. It transferred to Broadway in 1965, running for over 500 performances. Steele also starred in the 1967 film version, with Julia Foster as Ann, the girl with whom Kipps halves a sixpence before acquiring his fortune.

20. What startling realization does Lili make in the musical "Carnival" much later than she does in its source, the film "Lili"?

From Quiz Many Musicals Started Out as Something Else

Answer: The puppets had Paul's voices and were various components of his personality

It is not until the end of "Carnival" that Lili discovers that her friends the puppets are just extensions of various personality components of Paul, the puppeteer, who she hates. In the film "Lili", she comes to this realization much earlier. In a dream-like ballet sequence about three-fourths into the movie, she dances with a life-size version of each puppet and each one turns into Paul.

21. When "Oklahoma!" opened out of town in New Haven, the show was called?

From Quiz A Broadway Musical By Any Other Name

Answer: Away We Go!

When "Oklahoma!" opened out of town, its first title was "Away We Go!," which is a square dance call. Nobody cared for that title and it was decided to rename the show "Oklahoma" after the rousing number in the show. An exclamation point was added so people wouldn't think the show was about the "okies" in "The Grapes of Wrath."

22. "Once on this Island" was a musical based on...

From Quiz Original Or Not? II

Answer: A novel

The musical was based on the novel "My Love, My Love" by Rosa Guy. It opened in October 1990.

23. "Kiss Me, Kate" - Two actors, who are divorced, try to put on a new musical show but allow their resentments to get in the way of their performances. What play is this musical based on?

From Quiz Musicals' Literary Origins

Answer: "The Taming of the Shrew" by William Shakespeare

Using the play within a play style, Cole Porter's musical follows divorced couple Lilli Vanessi and Fred Graham as they try to put on a musical version of Shakespeare's classic.

24. 'Miss Saigon' was based on the opera 'Madame Butterfly' by this man

From Quiz Inspirations for Classic Broadway Musicals

Answer: Puccini

Madam Butterfly

25. "Jeeves", an early Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, was based on stories by which humorous writer, himself a sometime lyricist?

From Quiz No New Tale To Tell

Answer: P G Wodehouse

Reginald Jeeves, valet to Bertie Wooster, made his first appearance in the short story "Extricating Young Gussie", by P G Wodehouse, in 1915. An incredibly prolific writer, Wodehouse provided lyrics for a number of musical comedies. His best known song is probably "Bill" from the Jerome Kern musical "Show Boat". Based on various Wodehouse stories and with book and lyrics by Alan Ayckbourne, "Jeeves" opened in London in 1975, but closed after a month. A revised version of the musical, renamed "By Jeeves", opened in 1996 and enjoyed greater success.

26. Charity, the leading character of "Sweet Charity," is a taxi dancer. In its source, the Italian film "Le Notti di Cabiria," what is the female lead's occupation?

From Quiz Many Musicals Started Out as Something Else

Answer: Prostitute

Cabiria, the female lead of "Le Notti de Cabiria," was a prostitute. In the stage musical "Sweet Charity," the female lead's occupation was changed to taxi-dancer to soften the character and make her more sympathetic. However, it was heavily implied in "Sweet Charity" that the taxi-dancers did prostitute themselves with some of their clients at the Fan-Dango ballroom.

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Last Updated May 09 2026 5:49 AM
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