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Once in a Lifetime Trivia Quiz

A quiz about the things that happen in musicals... once.

A multiple-choice quiz by SBH. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
SBH

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
361,886

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
365

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. "Once in a Lifetime" is a song from the 1961 musical "Stop the World - I Want to Get Off". What British actor originated the role of Littlechap, the protagonist who asks this musical question? Hint

Rowan Atkinson

Tommy Steele

Anthony Newley

Davy Jones

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. "Once in a blue moon, I think you love me," sings Corporal Billy Jester to his sweetheart Nancy Twinkle in the number "Once in a Blue Moon". What musical, a spoof of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy operettas, is the song from? Hint

Little Mary Sunshine

Me and My Girl

The Boyfriend

No, No, Nanette

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. What legendary musical couple bemoaned their doomed love in the song "I Loved You Once in Silence"? Hint

Romeo and Juliet

Guinevere and Lancelot

Tristan and Isolde

Orpheus and Eurydice

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. "Once Upon a Mattress" is a musical based on a fairy tale. Which one? Hint

Sleeping Beauty

The Princess and the Pea

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Snow White

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Question 5 of 10

5. What is the name of the 1990 Broadway musical about a dark-skinned peasant girl called Ti Moune whose love for light-skinned "grand homme" Daniel Beauxhomme is played out against a contest between Caribbean deities of love and death? Hint

Once Upon the Island

Once on an Island

Once on This Island

Once Upon an Island

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Based on the name of their 1968 album, the musical "Once Upon a Dream" recalls the hits of which of the following bands? Hint

The Byrds

The Rutles

The Animals

The Rascals

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. What musical of old-time America includes a song with these lyrics: "Squeeze her once when she isn't lookin', If you get a squeeze back, that's fancy cookin', Once more for a pepper-upper, She'll never get sore on her way to supper"? Hint

Oklahoma!

The Music Man

Carousel

Annie Get Your Gun

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. "Once I built a railroad, made it run, made it race against time." What song begins with these lyrics? Hint

It's a Hard Knock Life

I've Been Working on the Railroad

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Steel Rail Blues

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. What Broadway musical, set in an unusual workplace, includes a number called "Once-A-Year Day", when the workers get their chance to cut loose from daily routine? Hint

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

The Pyjama Game

How to Marry a Millionaire

The Producers

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. "Once" is a musical based on a film. What is it about? Hint

An English pub owner

A Welsh choirmaster

A Scottish trout fisherman

A Dublin street musician

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "Once in a Lifetime" is a song from the 1961 musical "Stop the World - I Want to Get Off". What British actor originated the role of Littlechap, the protagonist who asks this musical question?

Answer: Anthony Newley

The show played almost 500 performances in London's West End, then moved to New York, where it enjoyed an even longer run. It's about a man who marries his pregnant girlfriend, then strays from her to the arms of other women before returning to his wife.

Answer: Little Mary Sunshine

The Rocky Mountain love story of Little Mary and Captain "Big Jim" Warrington opened in 1959. Eileen Brennan played the title role. Nancy and Billy are, of course, the comic leads.

3. What legendary musical couple bemoaned their doomed love in the song "I Loved You Once in Silence"?

Answer: Guinevere and Lancelot

The song is from the hit 1960 musical "Camelot". Julie Andrews created the role of Guinevere, and Robert Goulet was her Lancelot. King Arthur was played by Richard Burton.

4. "Once Upon a Mattress" is a musical based on a fairy tale. Which one?

Answer: The Princess and the Pea

The show was the breakout role for a young Carol Burnett. She played the role of Princess Winnifred ("Fred" to her friends), who must prove she's a real princess in order to marry Prince Dauntless the Drab.

Answer: Once on This Island

Written by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, it was based on a 1985 book titled "My Love, My Love; or, The Peasant Girl" by Rosa Guy. It was well received in New York and London, but did not produce any hit song that has become very well known outside the show.

6. Based on the name of their 1968 album, the musical "Once Upon a Dream" recalls the hits of which of the following bands?

Answer: The Rascals

The show combines elements of a rock concert and a Broadway musical. It includes feel-good hits like "Groovin' on a Sunday Afternoon", "A Beautiful Morning" and "People Got to be Free".

Answer: The Music Man

The song is "Shipoopi", in which comic sidekick Marcellus describes what to look for in a girl. The one with her "head in the clouds, feet on the ground" is the right one: your "shipoopi". Peter Griffin of "Family Guy" performs the entire number in one episode of the animated sitcom.

8. "Once I built a railroad, made it run, made it race against time." What song begins with these lyrics?

Answer: Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

The song was written in 1930 by Yip Harburg and Jay Gorney, and was included in the 1932 musical "New Americana". Emblematic of the Depression era, it has become a standard, recorded by numerous artists.

9. What Broadway musical, set in an unusual workplace, includes a number called "Once-A-Year Day", when the workers get their chance to cut loose from daily routine?

Answer: The Pyjama Game

Set in a unionized pyjama factory that's about to go on strike, the show is about the rocky romance of supervisor Sid Sorokin and true-blue union gal Babe Williams. The show's big hit, which has become a standard for crooners, was "Hey There, You With the Stars in Your Eyes".

10. "Once" is a musical based on a film. What is it about?

Answer: A Dublin street musician

"Once" won numerous Tony awards in 2012, including Best Musical. Steve Kazee originated the role of "Guy", and was replaced on Broadway first by Ben Hope and then by Arthur Darville, known to "Doctor Who" fans around the world as the Doctor's companion Rory.

Source: Author SBH

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