Exam

Question 1

Significance of “Show Boat”

Answer 1

• focuses on race, class, and controversy of interracial marriage

Question 2

Significance of “Oklahoma”

Answer 2

Won Pulitzer Prize for Drama & broke record for show with the longest run

Question 3

Significance of Gypsy

Answer 3

Based on autobiography of a stripper

Question 4

Significance of Of Thee I Sing

Answer 4

1st musical to win Pulitzer Prize for drama

Question 5

Significance of A Chorus Line

Answer 5

Won 9 Tony Awards

Question 6

One of the most influential American artists in musical theatre

Answer 6

Stephen Sondheim

Question 7

The first American musical (bonus points for creator)

Answer 7

Little Johnny Jones by George Cohan

Question 8

What are song pluggers? Name one

Answer 8

People who played music on a piano to interest customers into buying the sheet music.
Irving Berlin

Question 9

What Shakespeare play was West Side Story based on?

Answer 9

Romeo & Juliet

Question 10

Name a stage play that was adapted into film

Answer 10

West Side Story

Question 11

West Side Story was this artist’s first major Broadway work.

Answer 11

Leonard Bernstein

Question 12

The European composer than brought us Cats, Phantom, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat?

Answer 12

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Question 13

The contemporary musical introduced a new artist who combined the talents of stage movements and dance. What was that artists title?

Answer 13

Choreographer

Question 14

3 shows of the 1960s and 70s stand out as good examples of successful musicals with strong dramatic subjects (Fiddler on the Roof, Cabaret, and Chicago). Select 1 and explain what it’s about

Answer 14

Cabaret- nazi encroachment and control in Germany

Question 15

Name one characteristic of musical comedy

Answer 15

Unchallenging theme

Question 16

Name one of the shows by Stephen Sondheim and tell the significance of the musica

Answer 16

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum

Significant because it was his 1st solo show

Question 17

Give the name of a musical produced by Rodgers & Hammerstein

Answer 17

Oklahoma

Question 18

Give a significant characteristic of the following type of musicals: book, concept, megamusical, rock, jukebox

Answer 18

Book Musical - based on some kind of literary source with a clear beginning, middle, and end

Concept Musical - A Chorus Line

Megamusical - The Phantom of the Opera

Rock Musical - Hair

Jukebox Musical - Mamma Mia (pop songs)

Question 19

Name and explain the 4 elements/artists that are involved in the making of a musical

Answer 19

Book - playwright
Music - composer
Lyrics - lyrist
Dance - choreographer

Question 20

Define Pantomime and Ballet

Answer 20

Pantomime - gestures done in silence; no monologue
Ballet - classical dance

Question 21

What did Gilbert and Sullivan write?

Answer 21

Operas (comedy operas)
- these were a witty way of addressing politics and social issues of the time without heavily offending people

Question 22

Name one prominent figure(s) of musical comedies of the 20s and 30s and tell their contribution

Answer 22

Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart
- contributed dance

Question 23

Movicals

Answer 23

Trend for stage plays that started as films