Fifty-Fifty: What Show Is The Song From? Quiz

Answer: Stop! Look! Listen!

This 1915 Broadway revue was written by Irving Berlin. The show opened on December 25, at the Globe Theatre. The London production of the show opened on February 19, 1916 with the name "Follow the Crowd". Some of the other songs in the show include "Blow Your Horn", "The Girl on the Magazine Cover", "That Hula Hula" and "Teach Me how to Love".

Answer: Kiss Me, Kate

The musical was written by Bella and Samuel Spewack with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. It is based on Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew". Lilli Vanessi starred as Katharine, Fred Graham as Petruchio and Lois Lane as Bianca. The show opened in New York on December 30,1948 and closed on July 28, 1951 with a total of 1077 performances.

Answer: Les Miserables

The musical "Les Miserables" is based on the book with the same name by Victor Hugo. The original French show opened in Paris in 1980 to music by Claude-Michel Schönberg and lyrics by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel. The show was adapted to English by Cameron Mackintosh with lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer.

It opened in London in October 1985. The show has received numerous awards, and a film version of the show was released in 2012.

Answer: Me and My Girl

The show opened in London's west End in 1937, with music by Noel Gay and lyrics by Douglas Furber and L. Arthur Rose. Set in London, it is the story of a Cockney, Billy Snibson (who discovers that he is the 14th heir to the Earl of Hareford), and his girlfriend Sally Smith.

Some other well-known songs from the show include "The Lambeth Walk", "The Sun has Got his Hat On" and "Leaning on a Lamp-post".

Answer: My Fair Lady

The show is based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play "Pygmalion". Alan Jay Lerner wrote the lyrics and Frederick Lowe the music. The show first opened in New York in 1956 and in London two years later.

The story is about a young flower seller, Eliza Doolittle, who takes elocution lessons from Professor Henry Higgins. Some other notable songs in the show include "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?", "The Rain in Spain", "I Could Have Danced All Night" and "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face".

Answer: Porgy and Bess

"Porgy and Bess" is an opera by George Gershwin, that premiered in New York in 1935. It was based on DuBose Heyward's play "Porgy", with libretto by the author and Ira Gershwin. The show is set in the neighbourhood Catfish Row of Charleston and deals with a Porgy, a disabled beggar, and Bess, the girlfriend of a gambler and killer.

Some other notable songs include "Summertime", "It Ain't Necessarily So", "Bess, You Is My Woman Now" and "I Loves You, Porgy".

Answer: Two by Two

The show is a fresh look at the story of Noah and his Ark. It was based on a book by Peter Stone with lyrics by Martin Charnin and music by Richard Rodgers. "Two By Two" opened on Broadway in November 1970 with Danny Kaye in the leading role and a cast that included Marilyn Cooper, Joan Copeland, Harry Goz and Madeline Kahn.

Some of the 18 songs included "Why Me?", "You Have Got to Have a Rudder on the Ark", "Ninety Again!" and "Two by Two".

Answer: Ain't Misbehavin'

This is a musical tribute to Fats Waller with music by various artists. The show opened in New York on February 8, 1978, with Luther Henderson providing the arrangements and orchestration. The original cast included, among others, Nell Carter, André DeShields and Armelia McQueen.

Some of the songs included "'Tain't Nobody's Biz-ness if I Do", "Honeysuckle Rose" and "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter".

Answer: Guys and Dolls

The musical opened on Broadway in 1950 and went on to clock 1200 performances. It is based on characters created by Damon Runyon, and set to music by Frank Loesser. The original cast included Vivian Blaine, Sam Levene, Robert Alda and Isabel Bigley. Memorable songs include "Fugue for Tinhorns", "A Bushel and a Peck", "Adelaide's Lament", "If I Were a Bell" and "Luck Be a Lady".

Answer: The Me Nobody Knows

The musical first opened at the Orpheum Theatre in May 1970 and closed in November 1970. After that it opened on Broadway in December 1970 and ran until November 1971. The show was produced by Jeff Britton, with music by Gary W Friedman and lyrics by Will Holt.

The original cast included, amongst others, Beverly Ann Bremers, Northern J. Calloway, Irene Cara and Gerri Dean. "Light Sings" was a hit by The 5th Dimension in 1971.

Answer: Sophisticated Ladies

The show was based on the music of Duke Ellington and conceived by Donald McKayle. It opened in March 1981 and closed in January 1983, for a total of 767 performances. The original cast included, to name but a few, Gregory Hines, Judith Jamison, Claudia Asbury and Adrian Bailey. Some of the songs in the show include, "Music is a Woman", "The Mooche", "Love you Madly" and "Perdido".

Answer: Annie

The musical was based on the comic strip "Little Orphan Annie" by Harold Gray. Thomas Meehan wrote a book based on the strip, Martin Charmin wrote the lyrics based on the book and Charles Strouse provided the music. It opened on Broadway in 1977 and ran for six years.

The original cast included Andrea McArdle, Reid Shelton, Dorothy Loudon and Sandy Faison. Some of the songs include "It's the Hard Knock Life", "Tomorrow", "Little Girls" and "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile".

Answer: Godspell

This musical was based on the Gospel of Matthew and was originally directed by John-Michael Tebelak. The music and lyrics were by Stephen Schwartz. The show opened at the Cherry Lane Theatre on May 17, 1971 and ran for 2651 performances. The London production opened at the Wyndham's Theatre, on January 26, 1972.

The original Off-Broadway cast included, among others, Stephen Nathan, David Haskell, Robin Lamont and Lamar Alford. "Learn Your Lessons Well", "Bless the Lord" and "All Good Gifts" are some of the other songs in the musical.

Answer: Over Here!

During WWII, two singing sisters engaged the services of third singer, who turned out to be a Nazi spy, to join them in performing for the troops. The book was by Will Holt and the music and lyrics were provided by Richard Sherman, and Robert Sherman. The original show opened on March 6, 1974 and closed on January 4, 1975.
The original cast included the sisters Patty and Maxine Andrews together with John Travolta, Marilu Henner and Ann Reinking. "Buy a Victory Bond", "We Got It", "Wartime Wedding" and "Where Did the Good Times Go?" were some of the songs performed.

Answer: Victor, Victoria

"Victor/Victoria" was a musical comedy written by Blake Edwards with music by Henry Mancini. The lyrics were provided by Leslie Bricusse. An actress, in dire straits, is forced to impersonate a man, who is posing as a woman. The comedy started as a film, in 1982, before switching to the theatre in 1995. Julie Andrews was Victor/Victoria, with Tony Roberts, Michael Nouri and Rachel York. Other songs in the show include "Paris by Night", "The Tango", "King's Dilemma" and "Apache".

Answer: My Fair Lady

This 1956 musical was based on G.B. Shaw's "Pygmalion" and the 1938 film version of it. Book lyrics were by Alan Jay Lerner and the music by Frederick Loewe. It was about turning a London flower seller into a lady. It opened on Broadway on March 15, 1956 and clocked-up 2717 performances.

The original cast was Rex Harrison, Julie Andrews, Stanly Holloway, Cathleen Nesbitt, Robert Coote, John Michael King, Christopher Hewett and Reid Shelton. Some notable songs were "Wouldn't it be Loverly?", "The Rain in Spain", "I Could Have Danced All Night" and "Get Me to the Church on Time".

Answer: Bells Are Ringing

The show was about the adventures of a telephone operator. It was written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, set to music by Jule Styne. It opened on Broadway on November 29, 1956 and had a total run of 924 performances. Judy Holliday, Sydney Chaplin, Jean Stapleton and Eddie Lawrence were some of the members of the cast. "Bells Are Ringing", "It's a Simple Little System", "Hello, Hello There" and "Just in Time" were some of the show's songs.

Answer: Peter Pan

This was based on 1904 play by J.M. Barrie, to music by Jule Styne, Mark Charlap and Trude Rittman and lyrics by Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Carolyn Leigh. After initial runs in Los Angeles and San Francisco, the show opened on Broadway on October 20, 1954 and closed on February 26 the following year. Mary Martin played Peter Pan and Cyril Richard was Captain Hook. "Tender Shepherd", "I've Gotta Crow", "I'm Flying" and the "Pirate Song" were just some of the songs included in the show.

Answer: Song and Dance

"Song and Dance" was the result of combining the song cycle "Tell Me on a Sunday" with "Variations", a ballet. Both were composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Dancers that performed in "Variations" included Wayne Sleep, Sandy Strallen, Graham Fletcher and Jane Darling. "Tell Me on a Sunday" was performed by Marti Webb and was later covered by an array of artists.

The show opened in London in 1982 and had a run of 781 performances. The Broadway version ran from September 1985 until November 1986. "It's Not the End of the World", "Letter Home to England", "Sheldon Bloom" and "The Last Man of My Life" were just some of the 21 songs in the show.

Answer: Two for the Show

This was a musical review, with sketches and lyrics by Nancy Hamilton. The music was provided by Morgan Lewis and was staged by John Murray Anderson. The show opened on February 8, 1940 and closed, after 124 performances, on May 25 of the same year. The opening night cast included, among others, William Archibald, Eve Arden, Virginia Bolen and Frances Comstock.

Some of the songs on the show included "Calypso Joe", "Destry has Ridden Again", "Song for Spain" and "Fool for Luck".

Answer: The Act

The musical was based on a book by George Furth, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and music by John Kander. After tryouts in Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles, the show opened on Broadway in October 1977. The show, about an old film star trying to make a comeback as a singer, starred Liza Minelli.

Other members of the cast included, Barry Nelson, Gayle Crofoot and Mark Goddard. Apart from "City Lights", other songs on the show were "Shine It On", "It's the Strangest Thing", "There When I Need Him" and "Walking Papers".

Answer: Cinderella

This 1957 Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical was written for television. It was later played on stage. The show was based on the fairytale "Cinderella" by Charles Perrault. The original was broadcast live in March 1957 and starred Julie Andrews as Cinderella.

Other members of the cast were Jon Cypher, Edith Adams, Kaye Ballard and Alice Ghostley. Some of the songs on the show included "In My Own Little Corner", "Impossible; It's Possible", "Stepsisters' Lament", "A Lovely Night" and "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?".

Answer: Godspell

The music for this musical was composed by Stephen Schwartz with book by John-Michael Tebelak. Based on the Gospel according to Matthew, the show was presented as a set of parables by eight characters, that are not mentioned in the Bible, plus a Jesus and a Judas character.

The show opened Off-Broadway in 1971, London in the same year and opened on Broadway in 1976. David Essex and Jeremy Irons appeared in the London productions as Jesus and Judas respectively. Some of the songs included in the musical are "Day by Day", "Save the People", "Learn Your Lessons Well" and "Alas for You".

Answer: The Most Happy Fella

This 1956 musical was the work of Frank Loesser, who wrote the book, the music and the lyrics. It was based on the 1924 play "They Knew What They Wanted" by Sidney Howard and described an affair between a young girl and an older man. The show opened on Broadway in 1956 and had a run of 678 performances.

The original cast included Robert Weede, Jo Sullivan, Art Lund and Susan Johnson. Some of the show's songs included "Somebody Somewhere", "The Most Happy Fella", "Don't Cry" and "I Like Everybody".

Answer: Babes In Arms

The musical is based on a book by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, Rodgers wrote the music and Hart the lyrics. The show started on Broadway in 1937, featuring Ray Heatherton, Wynn Murray, Alfred Drake, Mitzi Green and the Nicholas Brothers. The show clocked-up 289 performances.

Other songs in the show, apart from "The Lady Is A Tramp", are "My Funny Valentine", "Where or When" and "I Wish I Were in Love Again". A film version of the show was released in 1939, starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland.