Musical Threes Trivia Quiz

Answer: Cats

The musical "Cats" was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and was based on a series of poems by T.S. Elliot. "Cats" first opened on the West End in 1981 and since then has become one of the most popular musicals of all time. "Cats" has been performed in 20 different countries, 250 cities and has been translated into 10 different languages.

Answer: Les Miserables

Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, "Les Miserables" was written for the stage by Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil. "Les Miserables" opened in Paris in 1980. It opened in London in 1985 and then moved to Broadway.

Answer: Into The Woods

Written by Stephen Sondheim, "Into the Woods" intertwines the classic, well known fairytales around the story of a childless baker and his wife and their search for a child. Act one tells the conventional tales and at the end of act one everyone is ready to live "Happily Ever After". Act two adresses the consequences of the decisions made in act one that the well known fairytales avoid.

Answer: A Chorus Line

Written by Michael Bennett, "A Chorus Line" first opened on Broadway on July 25, 1975. "A Chorus Line" is the story of a group of dancers who are auditioning for an upcoming Broadway production.

Answer: The Secret Garden

The musical "The Secret Garden" was based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It tells the story of 10-year-old Mary whose parents are killed in India, and who is sent to live with her uncle in England.

Answer: Aida

"Aida" was written by Tim Rice and Elton John. Based on the Opera 'Aida' written by Verdi in 1871, "Aida" is the tale of conflict between Nubia and Egypt in which an Egyptian prince and a Nubian slave fall in love. Their relationship causes large consequences for both parties and the innocent lovers' fate is of course tragic with them dying together sealed in a tomb.

Answer: Jekyll and Hyde

Based on the book by Robert Louis Stevenson, the musical version was written by Frank Wildhorn and Leslie Bricusse. "Jekyll and Hyde" is based on the battle between good and evil. It tells of Dr. Jekyll's long running struggle to separate these two natures of mankind.

He succeeds and his evil nature emerges as Mr. Hyde. The Broadway production of "Jekyll and Hyde" was the longest running show in the history of the Plymouth Theatre.

Answer: Miss Saigon

Written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Shonburg. It premiered in London in 1989 and has become the third most sucessful musical in the history of British theatre. "Miss Saigon" is set in 1975 during America's occupation of Saigon. It is the story of an American GI and a young Vietnamese woman who fall in love.

Answer: Evita

"Evita" is the story of the life of Eva Duarte. She leaves her home and moves to Buenos Aires where she becomes the wife of president Juan Peron and is considered a heroine by the people of Argentina.
"Evita" was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

Answer: Avenue Q

"Avenue Q" was written by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx. It is the story of young college graduate Princeton who arrives in New York with no money and big dreams. Most of the Avenue Q characters are puppets.

Answer: Song and Dance

"Song and Dance" is an interesting musical as its first act is portrayed entirely through song and the second act is portrayed through dance.
The first act tells the story of Emma, a young girl who goes to New York to become a hat designer. She falls in love with a guy called Joe who is afraid of commitment and who breaks off their relationship.
The second act tells of Joe's life without Emma.

Answer: Wicked

"Wicked" is the untold story of the witches of Oz before Dorothy dropped in. Written by Stephen Schwartz, "Wicked" is based on a novel by Gregory Maguire.

Answer: Songs for a New World

Written by Jason Robert Brown, "Songs for a New World" is an unusual musical. It has just four cast members backed by a five person band, with the composer playing the piano. It started as a collection of cabaret/theatre songs and eventually became a musical.

Answer: West Side Story

"West Side Story" is based on Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet". It is the tragic love story of two teenagers in New York City. The feuding families are replaced with feuding gangs, the Jets and the Sharks; Romeo and Juliet with Tony and Maria. the tragic tale ends in a similar fashion with the leader of each gang dead at the end of the first act.

The show concludes with Tony's death. The one major difference between "West Side Story" and "Romeo and Juliet" is that Maria lives.

Answer: Rent

Written by Jonathan Larson, "Rent" is based on Puccini's 'La Boheme'. It won the 1996 Tony award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for drama. Its world premiere was on Broadway on February 13, 1996.