Can You Name the Musical From Just One Sentence?

By: J.P. Naomi
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Name the Musical From Just One Sentence?
Image: Bazmark Productions Angel Studios

About This Quiz

The hills are alive with the answers to this quiz! If you're a fan of singing and boppin' your head while at the theater, grab a mic and sing the tune and answers to this quiz!

Musicals have come a long way! If you travel back in time, you'll see that the first musical debuted in the 1850s. The longest run of its time, "The Elves" would go on to have just over 50 performances at the beginning of 1857. Since then, musicals have blossomed in the industry. 

Julie Andrews shone as Mary Poppins and Maria von Trapp in the film adaptations before "Mary Poppins" would hit the musical scene of Broadway in 2006 and "The Sound of Music" in 1959. Walt Disney Pictures had every viewer ready to become a singing princess like Cinderella, and she sang on the grand stage in 2013. Who could forget about those warm summer nights between Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson that started in the '70s? 

With countless actors, actresses, and songs to go through, how many of these musicals can you name from a single sentence? Would the mentioning of a masked man bring the French novel to life? Would eight struggling 'Bohemian' friends remind you of the NYC based musical? 

From the oldest of musicals like "The Elves" to the thrill of 21st-century Mamma Mia!, how many of these musicals can you name? From "Wicked" to "Beauty and the Beast" to "Les Miserables," can you remember it all or will your understudy take the shine? Mics at the ready!

A good girl and a bad boy fall in love during summer break from school.
Beauty and the Beast
Dreamgirls
Grease
"Grease" originally opened on Broadway on February 14, 1972 and ran for 3,380 performances, until 1980. It re-opened on May 11, 1994 for 1,505 more performances, until 1998.
Chicago

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A young soprano becomes the obsession of a disfigured musical genius who lives beneath the Paris Opera House.
Mary Poppins
The Producers
The Phantom of the Opera
From the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, "The Phantom of the Opera" opened in 1988 and has featured more than 10,000 performances!
Across the Universe

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A professor bets that he can take a flower girl and make her presentable in high society.
42nd Street
My Fair Lady
"My Fair Lady" is based on George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion." It featured more than 2,700 stage performances between 1956 and 1962.
La Vie en Rose
Fame

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Two youngsters from rival New York City gangs fall in love.
Chicago
Guys and Dolls
Cabaret
West Side Story
"West Side Story" was inspired by William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." Leonard Bernstein composed the music.

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A cub and future king, this little animal searches for his identity, getting into trouble along the way...
Cats
Oh! Calcutta!
The Lion King
"The Lion King," adapted from the 1994 Disney animated film, opened on November 13, 1997. It has featured more than 6,000 performances on Broadway.
Fiddler on the Roof

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Two women find themselves on death row together and fight for the fame that will keep them from the gallows.
West Side Story
Cats
Cabaret
Chicago
"Chicago," the musical, is based on a 1926 play by the same name, written by reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins. The original Broadway production opened in 1975.

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A woman leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess to the children of a naval officer widower.
Mary Poppins
Evita
The Sound of Music
A multiple Tony Award-winning musical by Richard Rodgers, "The Sound of Music" featured 1,443 performances from 1959 to 1963.
Annie

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This is the story of a bride-to-be trying to find her real father.
Cats
Dreamgirls
Les Misérables
Mamma Mia!
"Mamma Mia!" was written by British playwright Catherine Johnson, based on the songs of ABBA. The show has run more than 5,000 performances since 2001.

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In London, a magical nanny employs music and adventure to help two neglected children become closer to their father.
Ain't Misbehavin'
Mame
Mary Poppins
With music and lyrics by the Academy Award-winning Sherman Brothers, "Mary Poppins" has run more than 1,600 performances since opening on November 16, 2006.
My Fair Lady

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A young boy receives a golden ticket to tour a fun-filled place.
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
"Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" was a 1971 film directed by Mel Stuart. Gene Wilder starred as Willy Wonka.
The Wiz
Spamalot
Fiddler on the Roof

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A young girl is swept away from a farm in Kansas to a magical land where she meets a variety of friends.
Moulin Rouge!
West Side Story
The Wizard of Oz
"The Wizard of Oz" is based on the 1939 film of the same name. The show ran stage productions in 2011, 2012 and 2013 from the West End, to Toronto and North America.
My Fair Lady

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A young woman, whose father has been imprisoned by a terrifying beast, offers herself in his place, unaware that her captor is actually a prince.
Mamma Mia
Beauty and the Beast
Based on the 1991 film, "Beauty and the Beast" was adapted to the stage and opened on April 18, 1994. After featuring 5,461 performances, it closed on July 29, 2007.
Mary Poppins
The Phantom of the Opera

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A pleasantly plump teenager lands a spot on a local TV dance show.
Hello, Dolly!
Fame
Cabaret
Hairspray
The stage version of "Hairspray" featured 2,642 performances from 2002 - 2009. The musical was based on the 1988 John Waters film by the same title.

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A trio of black female soul singers make their way to the top of the charts in the 1960s.
Fame
42nd Street
Dreamgirls
"Dreamgirls" was based on The Supremes, and the history of Motown and rhythm and blues music. In 2006, it was made into a motion picture.
Girl Crazy

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Bohemians in the East Village of New York City struggle with life, love and AIDS.
Rent
"Rent" ran for more than 5,000 performances from 1996 - 2008. It is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson.
42nd Street
Tobacco Road
Jersey Boys

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A female club entertainer in Berlin romances two men while the Nazi Party rises to power around them.
Miss Saigon
Oh! Calcutta
Cabaret
"Cabaret" featured 1,165 performances from 1966 - 1969, and later another 2,377 performances from 1998 - 2004. It is based on a book written by Christopher Isherwood.
A Chorus Line

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Max Bialystock teams up with timid accountant Leo Bloom in a get-rich-quick scheme to put on the world's worst show.
Avenue Q
Smokey Joe's Cafe
The Producers
Adapted by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan from Brook's 1968 film, "The Producers" featured 2,502 performances from 2001 - 2007.
Dancin'

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"The sun will come out tomorrow."
Annie
"Annie," the Broadway musical, is based on the Harold Gray comic strip, "Little Orphan Annie." It featured 2,377 performances on Broadway from 1977 - 1983.
The King and I
Guys and Dolls
All That Jazz

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A Jewish father contends with marrying off three of his daughters while anti-semitism threatens his Russian village.
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Fiddler on the Roof
"Fiddler on the Roof" made its Broadway debut in 1964. It ran for 3,242 performances and closed in 1972.
Guys and Dolls
Crazy for You

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An actress becomes the wife of Argentinian President Juan Perón and leads a political movement.
Miss Saigon
Evita
"Evita" featured 1,567 performances on Broadway from 1979 until 1983. It also became a film in 1996 featuring Madonna and Antonio Banderas.
Gigi
Mary, Mary

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Politically active, long-haired hippies from the "Age of Aquarius" live a bohemian lifestyle in New York City.
La Cage aux Folles
Born Yesterday
Hair
The full title of this musical is "Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical." It ran on Broadway for 1.750 performances from 1968 - 1972.
Ain't Misbehavin'

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A poet falls for a beautiful courtesan whom a jealous duke covets.
Moulin Rouge!
The film version of "Moulin Rouge!" was released on June 1, 2001 in the United States. It starred Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor.
Les Misérables
Chicago
The Phantom of the Opera

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A silent film production company and cast make a difficult transition to sound.
Singin' in the Rain
Starring Gene Kelly, this musical film was written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. It was released on April 11, 1952.
My Fair Lady
Hello, Dolly!
Fiddler on the Roof

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A widow takes a job as the live-in governess to the King of Siam's children.
South Pacific
The King and I
"The King and I" made its Broadway debut in 1951. After 1,246 performances, it closed on March 20, 1954.
Annie Get Your Gun
Camelot

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A story about the students at New York City's High School of Performing Arts
A Chorus Line
Jersey Boys
Hello, Dolly!
Fame
Based on the 1980 film by the same name, "Fame" made its stage debut in Miami, Florida in 1988. The musical was conceived and developed by David De Silva.

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A matchmaker travels to Yonkers, NY to find a partner for Horace Vandergelder.
Avenue Q
Hello, Dolly!
After debuting on Broadway in 1964, "Hello, Dolly!" featured more than 2,800 performances. It closed on December 27, 1970.
Pippin
Crazy for You

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A gambler is challenged to take a cold female missionary to Havana.
Mary, Mary
Guys and Dolls
"Guys and Dolls" features music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and is based on the book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. After debuting in 1950, it won the Tony Award for Best Musical.
Born Yesterday
Smokey Joe's Cafe

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Just outside of Claremore, Curly McLain has a romance with Laurey Williams.
Tobacco Road
Oklahoma!
"Oklahoma!" was written by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. It opened on Broadway in 1943 and after 2,212 performances, closed in 1948.
Promises, Promises
Kiss Me, Kate

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Set in 1957, this is a story inspired by the phenomenon of Elvis Presley and his draft notice into the Army.
Bye Bye Birdie
"Bye Bye Birdie" made its Broadway debut in 1960 and was a Tony Award-winning success. It had a Broadway revival in 2009!
Miss Saigon
1776
The King and I

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This is a recreation of the Gospel according to Saint Matthew.
Godspell
"Godspell" began Off Broadway in 1971 and made its official Broadway debut in 1976. Its music and lyrics were composed by Stephen Schwartz.
Mame
Angel Street
Life with Father

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This is the story of a striptease artist and her show business mother.
Sugar Babies
Gypsy
"Gypsy," the musical, made its Broadway debut in 1959. it was based on "Gypsy: A Memoir" by Gypsy Rose Lee.
Annie Get Your Gun
42nd Street

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After serving time for manslaughter, a young man becomes a teenage rock star.
Jersey Boys
Tobacco Road
Jailhouse Rock
"Jailhouse Rock" was a musical drama directed by Richard Thorpe. Starring Elvis Presley, the 1957 film made more than $4 million at the box office.
Movin' Out

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This is a modern-day depiction of a historical, religious figure and his followers.
Life with Father
Fiddler on the Roof
Miss Saigon
Jesus Christ Superstar
With lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, "Jesus Christ Superstar" made its Broadway debut in 1971. There is no spoken dialog in the entire production!

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A tribe called the Jellicles make a decision known as "the Jellicle choice."
Oh! Calcutta!
Jersey Boys
Avenue Q
Cats
A musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, "Cats" is based on "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" by T.S. Eliot. It featured more than 7,400 performances on Broadway from 1982 - 2000.

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A French peasant served 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread for his sister's starving child.
Life with Father
Les Misérables
Known less formally as Les Mis or Les Miz, it is based on the novel of the same name by French poet and novelist, Victor Hugo. It was one of Broadway's most popular musicals. It ran from 1987 - 2003.
Oklahoma!
Fiddler on the Roof

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Bazmark Productions Angel Studios