From 'Annie' to 'Chicago': Classic Broadway Musicals Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
2 min
From 'Annie' to 'Chicago': Classic Broadway Musicals Quiz
Image: Simon Fergusson/Getty Images

About This Quiz

The Great White Way has been churning out songs that get our toes tapping and hands clapping for decades. Take this quiz to test your knowledge of the songs, characters and stories behind the greatest musicals in Broadway history.
What year did "The Phantom of the Opera" first entertain musical fans?
1976
1986
1996
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Andrew Lloyd Webber masterpiece, which was based on a 1911 novel, hit the stage in 1986.

Where is "The Phantom of the Opera" set?
London
Seville, Spain
Paris
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Phantom" takes place at the Paris Opera House, where a disfigured phantom falls in love with a woman named Christine.

What musical premiered on Broadway on Nov. 14, 1996?
"Hairspray"
"Chicago"
"Cabaret"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Murderess Velma Kelly and the rest of the "Chicago" gang first hit the stage in 1996.

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What young lion is the star of "The Lion King" musical?
Simba
Samba
Somba
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Based on the 1994 Disney movie about young Simba, "The Lion King" musical became a huge Broadway hit.

What musical features the song "Memory"?
"Chicago"
"The King and I"
"Cats"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Over 150 artists, from Barbra Streisand to Barry Manilow, have performed the song "Memory" from "Cats."

What year did "Cats" premiere on Broadway?
1981
1986
1991
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Cats," which was based on a 1939 novel by T.S. Eliot, hit the Broadway stage in 1981.

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How many people worldwide have seen "Les Miserables"?
40 million
70 million
100 million
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

More than 70 million fans around the world have seen "Les Mis," one of the longest-running musicals in history.

Which "Les Mis" character serves as the icon for the show?
Fantine
Cosette
Eponine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In traditional ads for "Les Mis," young Cosette serves as an icon for the production.

What year did "A Chorus Line" premiere?
1955
1965
1975
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"A Chorus Line "premiered on Broadway in 1975 and offered musical fans a peek behind the scenes in the musical theater community.

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What group's music is featured in "Mamma Mia!"?
the Partridge Family
the Monkees
ABBA
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Mamma Mia!" draws its musical inspiration from Swedish supergroup ABBA.

What musical is based on a book by Gregory Maguire?
"Wicked"
"The Wiz"
"Hair"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Gregory Maguire's best-seller "Wicked" serves as inspiration for "Wicked," which had its Broadway premiere in 2003.

What is the real name of the Wicked Witch of the West?
Ephedra
Elphaba
Glinda
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The musical "Wicked" tells the tale of Oz from a side not often seen — that of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West.

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What Tony Award-winning musical premiered in April 1996?
"Guys and Dolls"
"Grease"
"Rent"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Rent" hit the Broadway stage in April 1996 and quickly became a classic in the world of musical theater.

What classic musical features a girl named Kim who falls in love with a soldier?
"South Pacific"
"Damn Yankees"
"Miss Saigon"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In "Miss Saigon," a soldier named Chris falls in love with a young girl named Kim.

What year did "Jersey Boys" premiere?
2000
2005
2010
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Jersey Boys," which tells the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, premiered on Broadway in 2005.

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What musical features the song "If I Were a Rich Man"?
"The Music Man"
"My Fair Lady"
"Fiddler on the Roof"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Fiddler on the Roof" is known for classic songs like "If I Were a Rich Man," " " and "Matchmaker, Matchmaker."

What musical features the song "We're in the Money"?
"Fiddler on the Roof"
"42nd Street"
"Follies"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"We’re in the Money" comes from the show "42nd Street," which was inspired by a 1933 film of the same name.

Who travels from Allentown, Pennsylvania, to New York City to find stardom in "42nd Street"?
Peggy
Pamela
Cindy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Peggy Sawyer heads from a small town to the big city to make her mark on Broadway in the musical "42nd Street."

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What musical is based on the play "Pygmalion"?
"The Music Man"
"Chicago"
"My Fair Lady"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"My Fair Lady," which tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, is based on the 1913 play by George Bernard Shaw.

What is the musical "Annie" based on?
comic strip
book
movie
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Annie" was inspired by Harold Gray's "Little Orphan Annie," a popular comic strip from the early 20th century.

True or false: More than 23 producers turned down "Annie" before it became a Broadway legend.
true
false
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Annie" wasn't always a guaranteed classic; a whopping 23 producers turned down the show before it made its Broadway premiere in 1977.

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Which musical served as the first Rodgers and Hammerstein collaboration?
"My Fair Lady"
"Oklahoma!"
"Cats"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Curly the cowboy and the rest of the "Oklahoma!" cast starred in the very first musical collaboration by famed composers Rodgers and Hammerstein.

What musical tells the story of the Von Trapp family?
"The Sound of Music"
"Hello, Dolly!"
"West Side Story"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Sound of Music" takes viewers on a musical journey with the Von Trapp family and features the songs "Edelweiss" and "My Favorite Things."

What musical stars Professor Harold Hill?
"The Music Man"
"Hairspray"
"Jersey Boys"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The people of River City are taken for a con when Professor Harold Hill comes to town to sell them musical instruments.

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What year did "The Music Man" premiere?
1947
1952
1957
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Music Man" premiered at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway in 1957 and ran for 1,375 performances.

What is the name of the English widow in "The King and I"?
Anna
Elizabeth
Rose
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Widow Anna Leonowens falls for the King of Siam in the musical "The King and I."

What year did "Guys and Dolls" hit Broadway?
1945
1950
1955
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Theater fans first had the opportunity to see the New York City-based romantic comedy "Guys and Dolls" when it premiered in 1950.

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Who does Dolly attempt to play matchmaker for in "Hello, Dolly!"?
Harold
Henry
Horace
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Dolly struggles to find love for grumpy old Horace in the classic musical "Hello, Dolly!"

What musical stars Tracy Turnblad?
"Hair"
"Hairspray"
"Grease"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Teen dancing queen Tracy Turnblad is the star of "Hairspray."

Who gets drafted in the musical "Hair"?
Claude
Frank
Stan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Berger's tribe of hippies loses their groove when Claude gets drafted in the 1968 musical "Hair."

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You Got:
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