entertainment beginner 10 sample questions

Musical Theater MCQ Practice Test

Broadway shows, songs, and theatrical performances

Q1. Which musical by Hal Prince and Stephen Sondheim, which premiered in 1971, features a song cycle that is a series of vignettes about a group of people living in a small town, with each song told from the perspective of a different character?

Explanation: Follies is a musical that premiered in 1971, with a song cycle that features a series of vignettes about a group of people living in a small town, with each song told from the perspective of a different character. The musical is notable for its complex and innovative structure, which explores the themes of memory, nostalgia, and the passage of time.

Q2. Which musical, written by John Kander and Fred Ebb, won the Tony Award for Best Musical without having a single performance in New York City before the awards ceremony?

Explanation: Zorba, which premiered in 1968, won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1969. It had its pre-Broadway tryout in Boston, and did not have any performances in New York City prior to the Tony Awards.

Q3. What is the name of the 1959 musical that won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and its book was written by Jerome Weidman and George Abbott?

Explanation: Fiorello! is a 1959 musical that won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Its book was written by Jerome Weidman and George Abbott.

Q4. What is the name of the 1966 musical by Fred Ebb and John Kander that was originally titled 'I Want to Be a Musician'?

Explanation: The musical 'Chicago' was originally titled 'I Want to Be a Musician' during its development, but was later renamed to its current title.

Q5. Which 1960s musical by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim features a song called "The Hills of Tomorrow"?

Explanation: The musical Follies, with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, includes the song "The Hills of Tomorrow". The song is a poignant and nostalgic number sung by the character Sally Durant Plummer, who is reflecting on her past and her relationship with her former lover, Ben. The song is a key part of the musical's exploration of the themes of aging, memory, and the passage of time.

Q6. Which Stephen Sondheim musical features the character Fredrik Egerman?

Explanation: A Little Night Music is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Hugh Wheeler. The musical is set in Sweden in 1900 and revolves around the complex relationships between several people, including the character Fredrik Egerman.

Q7. Which 1996 musical by Jonathan Larson features a song called 'La Vie Bohème'?

Explanation: The musical Rent is a rock musical written by Jonathan Larson, and it features a song called 'La Vie Bohème'. This song is a tribute to the bohemian lifestyle and features a mix of French and English lyrics.

Q8. Which 1960s musical by Bob Fosse and Fred Ebb features a song called "Big Spender"?

Explanation: The song "Big Spender" is a key number in the 1966 musical *Sweet Charity*, choreographed and directed by Bob Fosse. It is not from *Chicago*.

Q9. What is the name of the musical that features a song called “Not a Day Goes By”, which was written by Marvin Hamlisch and Craig Carnelia?

Explanation: The song “Not a Day Goes By” was written by Marvin Hamlisch and Craig Carnelia for the musical A Chorus Line. It is a poignant ballad that has become a classic of the genre.

Q10. Which musical theater composer, in addition to “West Side Story,” also wrote the music for “Candide,” “Leonard Bernstein’s Mass,” and “1600 Pennsylvania Avenue,” was known for his complex and innovative use of tonality?

Explanation: Leonard Bernstein was a composer known for his complex and innovative use of tonality, as evident in his works such as “West Side Story,” “Candide,” “Leonard Bernstein’s Mass,” and “1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.”

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Musical Theater MCQ Practice Test | Mind Hustle