The Sound of Musicals: Show Tunes Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
3 min
The Sound of Musicals: Show Tunes Quiz
Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images

About This Quiz

There's nothing like a show tune to burrow into your brain and keep you humming along, but have you ever stopped to thing about the stories behind them? Take our quiz to learn more about the history, lyrics and people of Broadway's best-known songs.
What "Les Miserables" song did Susan Boyle use to wow the world in 2009?
"One Day More"
"I Dreamed a Dream"
"On My Own"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Susan Boyle's audition for "Britain's Got Talent" went viral thanks to her incredible rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" from "Les Mis."

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What character in "Les Miserables" sings "I Dreamed a Dream"?
Eponine
Cosette
Fantine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After losing her job at Valjean's factory, Fantine breaks the audience's heart with her rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream."

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What musical featured "Send in the Clowns"?
"A Little Night Music"
"My Fair Lady"
"Funny Girl"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Send in the Clowns" comes from the 1973 musical "A Little Night Music."

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Who sang "Don't Rain on My Parade" when "Funny Girl" premiere on Broadway?
Liza Minnelli
Judy Garland
Barbra Streisand
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Barbra Streisand belted out the classic tune from "Funny Girl" during the show's Broadway premiere.

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Where's the coolest place to visit if you're from Oklahoma?
Kansas City, Missouri
Chicago
New York City
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In an upbeat tune from "Oklahoma!" Will Parker sings about the wonders to be found in Kansas City.

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What character sings the title song in "Cabaret"?
Clifford
Sally
Fritzie
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sally Bowles, who has been played by everyone from Molly Ringwald to Michelle Williams, belts out the title track in the musical "Cabaret."

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

Lead character Tevye sings of all he would buy for his wife Golde and himself in "Fiddler on the Roof."

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What musical has "All That Jazz" as its opening number?
"Follies"
"The Music Man"
"Chicago"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Murderess Velma Kelly opens "Chicago" with the sultry "All That Jazz."

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What number was sang to perfection on Broadway by Andrea McArdle in 1976?
"If I Loved You"
"Defying Gravity"
"Tomorrow"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Stick out your chin and grin and say, "Tomorrow" — a tune crooned to little orphan Annie perfection in 1976.

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Who crafted the unforgettable songs in "The Phantom of the Opera"?
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Rodgers and Hammerstein
Mel Brooks
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It was Andrew Lloyd Webber who came up with "The Music of the Night "and other "Phantom" classics.

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How many trombones led the big parade?
26
76
106
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It took "76 Trombones" to lead the big parade in River City in "The Music Man."

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What musical features the tune "Broadway Baby"?
"Carousel"
"Cabaret"
"Follies"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hattie Walker belted out "Broadway Baby" in the 1971 musical "Follies."

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Which character sings "Home" in "The Wiz"?
Glinda
Tin Man
Dorothy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's Kansas girl Dorothy who sings a moving ode to "Home" in the 1970 musical "The Wiz."

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In which musical is it important to "solve a problem like Maria"?
"West Side Story"
"The Sound of Music"
"Fiddler on the Roof"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In "The Sound of Music," the nuns lament over how to keep Maria in check in the rousing song "Maria."

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Who sings "Defying Gravity" in "Wicked"?
Glinda
Dorothy
Elphaba
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Elphaba, better known as the Wicked Witch of the West, sings "Defying Gravity" with a little help from the people of Oz.

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What musical is known for the song "Memory"?
"The Sound of Music"
"Cats"
"The King and I"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Grizabella the Glamour Cat purrs her way through "Memory" in "Cats."

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

Elaine Paige played Grizabella when "Cats" opened in 1981 in London's West End.

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What musical opens with "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'"?
"My Fair Lady"
"Damn Yankees"
"Oklahoma!"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's always a beautiful morning for Curly McLain and the cast of "Oklahoma!"

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What song was a major hit for Louis Armstrong in 1964?
"Hello, Dolly!"
"Cabaret"
"76 Trombones"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jazz musician Louis Armstrong knocked the Beatles off the charts with his 1964 rendition of "Hello, Dolly!" from the musical of the same name.

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What is simply a note to follow "so"?
ti
la
do
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In the classic song from "The Sound of Music," "la" is presented as a note to follow so.

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Who sings "Those Were the Good Old Days" in "Damn Yankees"?
Meg
Rocky
Applegate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Devil-in-disguise Applegate sings "Those Were the Good Old Days" in the 1955 musical.

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In which musical do Billy and Julie fall in love to "If I Loved You"?
"Carousel"
"Cabaret"
"Chicago"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lead characters Billy and Julie sing their love to one another in the 1945 musical "Carousel."

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Who is getting to know the wives and children of the king of Siam in "The King and I"?
Anna
Abby
Alice
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Anna sings the classic "Getting to Know You" as she grows closer to the King's family in "The King and I."

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Which musical features the tune "Some Enchanted Evening"?
"My Fair Lady"
"The Sound of Music"
"South Pacific"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The memorable "Some Enchanted Evening" comes from the 1949 show "South Pacific," where it was sung by lead character Emile de Becque.

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What year did "Chess" premiere?
1986
1991
1996
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Chess," known for the song "One Night in Bangkok," premiered on London's West End in 1986.

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Which of these is NOT one of Julie Andrews' favorite things?
bright copper kettles
crisp fall leaves
cream-colored ponies
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Julie Andrews shares many of her simple pleasures in "My Favorite Things," but crisp fall leaves are not among them.

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What musical features the song "Food, Glorious Food"?
"Annie"
"Oliver!"
"Les Miserables"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The workhouse boys dream of glorious food while awaiting their daily serving of gruel in "Oliver!"

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Who could have danced all night in "My Fair Lady"?
Mrs. Higgins
Mrs. Pearce
Eliza Doolittle
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After sharing a dance with Henry Higgins, Eliza Doolittle declares in song how she could have danced all night.

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What musical features the song "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair"?
"Grease"
"South Pacific"
"Hairspray"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In the ultimate shower singing performance, "South Pacific" star Nellie declares that she plans to wash Emile right out of her hair.

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What is an edelweiss?
flower
fruit
animal
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Edelweiss" is a classic song from "The Sound of Music" and refers to a flower native to the Swiss Alps.

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You Got:
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