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Quizzes > Entertainment & Pop Culture > Music

Ultimate Musical Theater Trivia Challenge

Ready for questions about musicals? Prove your trivia prowess!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art theater scene with microphone, musical notes, marquee reading musical theater trivia quiz on dark blue background

This musical theater trivia quiz helps you see how much you know about Broadway, from golden age tunes to today's smash hits. Play for fun and learn a fact or two, then try Guess the Musical or our movie musicals quiz .

Which musical features the song "Defying Gravity"?
Rent
Wicked
Hamilton
The Phantom of the Opera
Defying Gravity is the iconic Act I finale of Wicked, sung by the character Elphaba as she embraces her power and chooses her own path. The song was composed by Stephen Schwartz and has become a signature anthem for the show. It showcases dramatic vocal lines and powerful orchestration to highlight Elphabas transformation. .
Who composed the music and lyrics for the musical "Hamilton"?
Jonathan Larson
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Stephen Sondheim
Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and lyrics for Hamilton, blending hip-hop, R&B, and traditional show tunes to tell the story of Alexander Hamilton. His groundbreaking work premiered off-Broadway in 2015 before transferring to Broadway later that year. The musical won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and 11 Tony Awards. .
Which musical features the character Inspector Javert?
Chicago
Cats
Les Misrables
The Phantom of the Opera
Inspector Javert is the relentless police inspector in Les Misrables, based on Victor Hugos novel. His obsession with law and order drives the conflict with Jean Valjean, the storys protagonist. Javerts inner turmoil culminates in his dramatic confrontation with Valjean. .
Which is the longest-running Broadway show of all time?
The Phantom of the Opera
Hamilton
Cats
The Lion King
The Phantom of the Opera has held the title of the longest-running Broadway musical since it opened in 1988. Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, it tells the story of a mysterious masked figure haunting the Paris Opera House. Its lavish sets and memorable score have kept audiences spellbound for decades. .
Which character sings "I'm Not That Girl" in Wicked?
Elphaba
Madame Morrible
Glinda
Nessarose
Elphaba sings Im Not That Girl in Wicked to express her feelings of unworthiness when she falls in love with Fiyero. The song highlights her vulnerability and contrasts with Glindas more bubbly ballads. It appears in Act I and underscores Elphabas emotional journey. .
In the original 1975 Broadway production of Chicago, who originated the role of Roxie Hart?
Ann Reinking
Gwen Verdon
Chita Rivera
Bebe Neuwirth
Gwen Verdon, a celebrated Broadway star and choreographer, originated Roxie Hart when Chicago premiered in 1975. Her performance set the tone for the characters blend of ambition and vulnerability. Verdons athletic dance style was a perfect match for Bob Fosses choreography. .
Which musical features the character Carlotta Giudicelli?
My Fair Lady
South Pacific
The Phantom of the Opera
Carousel
Carlotta Giudicelli is the prima donna of the Paris Opera House in The Phantom of the Opera. She competes with Christine Daa for the spotlight and objects to the Phantoms attention on Christine. Her dramatic operatic style contrasts with Christines more innocent vocals. .
Who composed the music for West Side Story?
Rodgers & Hammerstein
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Cole Porter
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein composed the jazz-influenced score for West Side Story, with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The musical premiered in 1957 and reimagines Romeo and Juliet in 1950s New York City. Bernsteins dynamic orchestration is a highlight of the shows enduring popularity. .
In Stephen Sondheim's Company, the protagonist Robert is commonly known by what nickname?
Rob
Robbie
Bob
Bobby
In Company, Robert is affectionately called Bobby by his married friends as they examine his life and bachelor status. The nickname is used throughout the shows songs and dialogue. Sondheims witty lyrics often play on friends varying opinions of Bobbys lifestyle. .
In Mel Brooks' The Producers, what is the title of the show produced by Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom?
The Great Dictator
War and Peace
Springtime for Hitler
Hitler on Ice
Springtime for Hitler is the deliberately offensive flop that Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom scheme to make money from in The Producers. The shows outrageous premise backfires in ways that delight audiences. Mel Brooks wrote the book, music, and lyrics for this satirical comedy. .
In the musical Evita, which song does Che Guevara sing after Eva Pern's death?
Another Suitcase in Another Hall
Oh What a Circus
I Dont Know How to Love Him
Buenos Aires
In Evita, Che delivers the scathing number Oh What a Circus following Eva Perns death, critiquing the publics obsession and hypocrisy. The song juxtaposes a circus parade with Evas funeral procession. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice created this show-stopping commentary. .
Who wrote the book for the musical Follies?
Terrence McNally
James Goldman
Arthur Laurents
George Furth
The book for Follies was written by James Goldman, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Goldman crafted a narrative about former showgirls reuniting in a decaying theater. The show examines nostalgia, regret, and the passage of time. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recall Iconic Show Tunes -

    Reinforce your memory of Broadway's most famous numbers by matching lyrics and titles from beloved musicals.

  2. Identify Legendary Composers -

    Recognize the masterminds behind your favorite scores by pairing their names with the shows they created.

  3. Distinguish Musical Eras -

    Differentiate classic Broadway productions from modern hits to appreciate the evolution of musical theater.

  4. Analyze Plot and Lyric Clues -

    Use context clues within questions about musicals to pinpoint characters, storylines, and central themes.

  5. Discover Hidden Gems -

    Uncover lesser-known facts and fun trivia about musicals that will surprise even the most devoted theater buffs.

Cheat Sheet

  1. 32-Bar "AABA" Song Structure -

    Many classic showtunes from the Golden Age of musical theater trivia follow a 32-bar "AABA" form (8 bars A, 8 bars A, 8 bars B, 8 bars A). This structure - used in Gershwin's "Someone to Watch Over Me" - helps you anticipate melody shifts during a musical theater quiz, and you can remember it with the mnemonic "A-A-B-A = 32-Bar Party."

  2. Integrated Book Musicals -

    Starting with Show Boat (1927) and perfected in Oklahoma! (1943), Rodgers & Hammerstein revolutionized musicals by weaving songs, dance, and plot into one unified storytelling form. According to the Library of Congress, recognizing this innovation is a key fact for questions about musicals and highlights why early musicals differed from earlier revue formats.

  3. Composer-Lyricist Power Couples -

    Famous partnerships - like Stephen Sondheim & Hugh Wheeler or Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice - each have signature styles: Sondheim's intricate lyrics vs. Webber's sweeping melodies. Use the mnemonic "SAM" (Sondheim Analytical Metaphors) vs. "AMW" (Andrew's Melodies Wow) to recall who wrote landmark scores in quizzes about musicals.

  4. Decade-by-Decade Broadway Milestones -

    Map landmark shows by decade: Show Boat (1927), Oklahoma! (1943), West Side Story (1957), Rent (1996), Hamilton (2015). The "SHoWeRH" acronym - Show Boat, Home of Oklahoma, West Side Story, Rent, Hamilton - makes for a fun memory trick when tackling musical theater trivia.

  5. Tony Awards Trivia Essentials -

    Memorize the Big Four Tony categories: Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book, and Best Performance, which often come up in musical theater quiz questions. According to The Broadway League, knowing first-time winners (e.g., Company in 1971) can give you an edge in quizzes about musicals.

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