Musicals

See also Songs from the Musicals.

Sources (1)

This section is for questions where the answer is the name of the musical: typically, "Which musical is based on ... ?"

Based on a comic strip created by Harold Gray		Annie
Rodgers & Hart musical, based on Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors		The Boys from Syracuse
Based on the 1951 play I am a Camera, by John Van Druten, which in turn was based on Christopher Isherwood's Goodbye to Berlin (1939) – also (possibly) partly on Mr. Norris Changes Trains (1935), the two novels being published together in 1946 as The Berlin Stories		Cabaret
Based on T. H. White's The Once and Future King		Camelot
Based on the play Liliom, by Ferenc Molnár – transplanting the setting from Budapest to the Maine coastline, and changing the name of the title character to Billy Bigelow		Carousel
Based on a 1926 play of the same title by journalist Maurine Dallas Watkins, about actual characters and events on which she reported		Chicago
Record–breaking musical – ran for five years in the West End, 1916–21 – based on the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves		Chu Chin Chow
Book by Joseph Stein, music Jerry Bock, lyrics Sheldon Harnick		Fiddler on the Roof
Based on a novel of the same name by Chinese American author C. Y. Lee		Flower Drum Song
Based on a 1945 novella of the same title by Colette		Gigi
Based on the short stories of Damon Runyon – particularly The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown and Blood Pressure; also borrows characters from Pick the Winner		Guys and Dolls
Based on a 1988 film directed by John Waters		Hairspray
Based on H. G. Wells's Kipps		Half a Sixpence
Inspired by a 2004 biography by historian Ron Chernow		Hamilton
Based on Thornton Wilder's play The Matchmaker (a reworking of his earlier play The Merchant of Yonkers)		Hello, Dolly!
Based on the film The Philadelphia Story; film starred Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra		High Society
Based on a novel by Margaret Landon (Anna and the King of Siam, 1944), which in turn was based on the memoirs of Anna Leonowens (The English Governess at the Siamese Court, 1870)		The King and I
Based on The Taming of the Shrew		Kiss me Kate
Based on the story of Don Quixote		Man of La Mancha
Based on Puccini's opera Madam Butterfly, reset in the context of the Vietnam War		Miss Saigon
Based on George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion		My Fair Lady
Based on the play Green grow the lilacs		Oklahoma!
Based on a 1911 novel by Gaston Leroux		Phantom of the Opera
Loosely based on Puccini's La Bohème (original Broadway production ran from 1996 to 2008) la boheme		Rent
Based on the book Sobbin' Women by Stephen Vincent		7 Brides for 7 Brothers
Based on a 1947 Pulitzer prize–winning short story collection by James A. Michener – Tales of the ...		South Pacific
"Lovingly ripped off from" the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail: book and lyrics by Eric Idle (who also co–wrote the music)		Spamalot
Andrew Lloyd Webber musical (book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton): based on a 1950 film directed by Billy Wilder		Sunset Boulevard
Based on John Gay's Beggar's Opera (1728)		The Threepenny Opera

Sources (2)

This section is for questions where it's the answer that identifies the source.

Song of Norway (a 1944 operetta) is loosely based on the life, and features the music, of		Edvard Grieg
Catch My Soul (1971) is a musical version of (Shakespeare's)		Othello
West Side Story is based on (Shakespeare's)		Romeo and Juliet
Cats is based on a collection of poems by		T. S. Eliot
Cabaret is based (ultimately) on the works of		Christopher Isherwood

Titles

Loosely based on the life of Ohio sharpshooter Annie Oakley		Annie Get your Gun
Opened on Broadway in 2011: written by the creators of South Park (and the composer for the musical Avenue Q); follows two missionaries in Uganda; characters include Nabulungi, Elder (Arnold) Cunningham, Mafala Hatimbi, and General Butt F***ing Naked		The Book of Mormon
A village appears for one day, once every 100 years, in		Brigadoon
1960: satire featuring a rock star called Conrad Birdie – included the song Kids ("Why can't they be like we were / Perfect in every way / Oh, what's the matter with kids today?")		Bye Bye Birdie
Rogers & Hammerstein musical: central character Billy Bigelow return 15 years after committing suicide, to help his family		Carousel
Music by Benny and Bjorn out of Abba, lyrics by Tim Rice		Chess
Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly – vaudevillians and murderers – are the central characters in		Chicago
First produced on Broadway in 1981; filmed in 2006 starring Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé and Eddie Murphy; ran in London's West End, 2016–19; based on the show business aspirations and successes of African–American R&B acts such as the Supremes, the Shirelles, James Brown and Jackie Wilson		Dreamgirls
Based on the stories of Sholem Aleichem, about Tevye the milkman and his struggle to maintain Jewish traditions in his family of five daughters		Fiddler on the Roof
Features the songs of Louis Jordan – first produced 1990 in London's West End		Five Guys Named Moe
Based on the life of US actress and comedian Fanny Brice		Funny Girl
Nathan Detroit, Miss Adelaide, Sky Masterson, Sister Sarah Brown, Nicely Nicely Johnson, Arvide Abernathy, Big Jule, Brandy Bottle Bates, Harry the Horse, Benny Southstreet, Rusty Charlie: characters in		Guys and Dolls
Subtitled "The American Tribal Love/Rock Musical"		Hair
Music by Galt McDermott, lyrics Gerome Ragni and James Rado
Opened in London on the day after theatre censorship ended
Tells the story of a "pleasantly plump" teenager, Tracey Turnblad, and her rivalry with the brattish but talentless Amber Von Tussle; Tracey's shy and overweight mother (Edna – a drag role) runs a laundry business from home; Tracey dreams of winning a place on a TV dance show, produced by Amber's mother Velma		Hairspray
Book, music and lyrics by Lin–Manuel Miranda, who described it as "America then, as told by America now"; opened off Broadway in February 2015, on Broadway in August 2015, and in London's West End in December 2017; won 11 Tonys and a Pulitzer Prize in 2016, and 7 Olivier Awards in 2018		Hamilton
Harry Hill's ill–fated musical based on The X–Factor: premiered at the London Palladium in March 2014, closed after 6 weeks		I Can't Sing
Based on the story of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons (opened on Broadway 2005, West End 2008)		Jersey Boys
Based on a 1994 Disney animated film; music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice (who had written the songs for the Disney original); premiered in Minneapolis in 1997, opened on Broadway two months later and in the West End in 1999; passed Phantom of the Opera in 2014 as the highest–earning title (theatre and film) ever		The Lion King
Mainly set in Mr. Mushnik's flower shop on Skid Row; tells the story of a man–eating plant called Audrey II		Little Shop of Horrors
Sequel to Phantom of the Opera – set in 1907, which Lloyd Webber said was "ten years roughly after the end of the original Phantom," although the events of the original actually took place in 1881; lyrics by Glenn Slater, book by Lloyd Webber, Ben Elton, Frederick Forsyth and Glenn Slater; opened in London in 2010		Love Never Dies
Bill Snibson is the protagonist (one of the title characters) of		Me and My Girl
Tells the story of an American soldier's love for a Vietnamese girl		Miss Saigon
Based on Federico Fellini's semi–autobiographical film Eight and a Half; 1998 film version starred Daniel Day Lewis		Nine
Adapted from a radio play, in 1963, by Joan Littlewood and her Theatre Workshop; features many songs from World War I		Oh! What a Lovely War
Rodgers & Hammerstein's first together; soundtrack was the first million–selling LP		Oklahoma!
Music by Leonard Bernstein: about three American sailors on 24–hour shore leave in New York; the (adapted) film version starred Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly		On the Town
The jazz ballet Slaughter on Tenth Avenue features in (Rodgers & Hart, 1936)		On Your Toes
2005 musical by former Radio 1 DJ Mike Read: closed after one night (the West End's shortest ever run)		Oscar Wilde
Lerner & Loewe, 1951: follows the lives and loves of the people in a mining camp in Gold–Rush–era California, particularly Ben Rumson, "a crusty old miner" (played in the film by Lee Marvin), and his 16–year–old daughter Jennifer		Paint Your Wagon
Title character is known only as Erik; a singer named Christine Daaé is the other central character		The Phantom of the Opera
Closed in 2023 after the longest run in Broadway history (opened in 1988; 13,981 performances)
Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom are central characters in		The Producers
"I would like – if I may – to take you on a strange journey ... " (spoken by the Narrator)		The Rocky Horror Show
A group of singers, modern versions of a group of historical characters, stage a pop concert, in which they take turns to state the reasons why they have suffered the most and should be the lead singer (first presented by Cambridge University students at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017)		Six
Ends with the line "I now pronounce you men and wives"		7 Brides for 7 Brothers
Rodgers & Hammerstein's last collaboration (Hammerstein died nine months after its premiere)		The Sound of Music
A story of love and racial prejudice, set during World War II, involving Nellie Forbush (a Navy nurse), Emile de Becque (a mysterious French colonialist) and Lt. Joseph Cable (a young Marine officer); Bloody Mary is a sassy middle–aged native, and Luther Billis is a Navy construction worker		South Pacific
Borrowed its title from an unsuccessful children's play, first performed over Christmas and New Year 1915–16 and never revived, for which Edward Elgar wrote the songs and incidental music		Starlight Express
Performed on roller skates
Tells the story of The Kinks; premiered at the Hampstead Theatre, London, in 2014, and opened in the West End later that year		Sunny Afternoon
Tells the story of Norma Desmond, a fictional movie star whose glory days are long gone but who dreams of making a triumphant return to the screen		Sunset Boulevard
Based on the songs of the Proclaimers; title song is the title track of their second album, which has become an anthem for fans of Hibernian FC		Sunshine on Leith
1979 musical: based on a character that first appeared in The String of Pearls: a Romance, in serial form, 1846–7		Sweeney Todd
1966 musical: music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields, book by Neil Simon; directed and choreographed, on both stage and film (1969) by Bob Fosse; based on the 1957 Italian film Nights of Cabiria, directed and co–written by Federico Fellini		Sweet Charity
2002 musical: featuring, and named after, the real–life London club opened in 1985 by Australian controversialist Lee Bowery; Boy George appears as a supporting character, and several of his songs are featured		Taboo
Written by Victoria Wood, on commission from the Manchester International Festival, first performed at the Manchester Opera House in July 2011: about a famous recording of Henry Purcell's song Nymphs and Shepherds, made at the Manchester Free Trade Hall in 1929		That Day We Sang
West End production (1986) starred Cliff Richard (later replaced by David Cassidy) as rock star Chris Wilder; theme and some characters inspired by Doctor Who		Time
Lionel Bart's disastrous musical based on the legend of Robin Hood – lasting only 43 performances after its West End premiere in December 1965. Cast included Barbara Windsor, Ronnie Corbett and Bernard Bresslaw		Twang!!
Based on the songs of Queen: opened in the West End in 2002; characters include Galileo, Scaramouche, Killer Queen, Khashoggi, Brit, Meat, Pop and Macca		We Will Rock You
Based on a 1961 film directed by Bryan Forbes and starring Hayley Mills, which in turn was based on a novel by Mary Hayley Bell; all of the same title; music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Jim Steinman		Whistle Down the Wind

Composers and Lyricists

Oliver: book, lyrics and music			Lionel Bart
Annie Get Your Gun, Call me Madam: words and music			Irving Berlin
Kismet: based on the music of			Alexander Borodin
Les Misérables	Music		Claude–Michel Shönberg
	French lyrics		Alain Boublil
			Jean–Marc Natel
	English lyrics		Herbert Kretzmer
Stop the World – I Want to Get Off (1961): book, music and lyrics			Leslie Bricusse
			Anthony Newley
We Will Rock You (the Queen musical): book (script)			Ben Elton
Strike up the Band: composer and lyricist			George & Ira Gershwin
Carmen Jones: music by Bizet, lyrics by			Oscar Hammerstein
Billy Elliot the Musical: music			Elton John
Showboat: music			Jerome Kern
Kinky Boots (2012): music and lyrics			Cyndi Lauper
Guys and Dolls: words and music			Frank Loesser
My Fair Lady, Gigi, Paint Your Wagon, Camelot: composer and lyricist			Lerner & Loewe
Cats: composer			Andrew Lloyd–Webber
Matilda the Musical – based on Roald Dahl's children's novel – premiered 2010: book by Dennis Kelly, music and lyrics by (British–born Australian comedian)			Tim Minchin
Creator of The Rocky Horror Show			Richard O'Brien
Anything Goes, Kiss me Kate: music and lyrics			Cole Porter
Oklahoma!, South Pacific, The King and I, Carousel, The Sound of Music: music and lyrics			Rogers & Hammerstein
Pal Joey: music and lyrics			Rogers & (Lorenz) Hart
A Little Night Music (1973), Pacific Overture (1976), Sweeney Todd (1979): music and lyrics			Stephen Sondheim
Whistle Down the Wind: music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by			Jim Steinman
Starlight Express: lyrics			Richard Stilgoe
The Last Ship: a musical about the decline of shipbuilding in the North East of England – ran for three months on Broadway, 2014–15. Music and lyrics by			Sting
The Threepenny Opera	Music		Kurt Weill
	Book & lyrics		Bertolt Brecht
The Boy Friend: words and music			Sandy Wilson
Lyricist on the song Bill (from Showboat)			P. G. Wodehouse
Collaborated with Guy Bolton on the 'book' for 21 musicals, including Anything Goes

West Side Story

Lyrics		Stephen Sondheim
Music		Leonard Bernstein
Rival gangs		Sharks, Jets
The Sharks were immigrants from		Puerto Rico

Rocky Horror

Ohio town in which The Rocky Horror Show starts			Denton
Newly–engaged couple, who find themselves lost and with a flat tyre on a cold and rainy evening in late November, somewhere near Denton	The putative bridegroom		Brad Majors
	The putative bride		Janet Weiss
Trans–sexual in whose house (castle) The Rocky Horror Show is mainly set			Frank N. Furter
Frank N. Furter's hunchbacked servant (butler/handyman) – played in the film by Richard O'Brien			Riff Raff
Frank N. Furter's maid, and sister of the above			Magenta
Groupie who joins Riff Raff and Magenta in singing The Time Warp on Brad and Janet's arrival at the castle			Columbia
Played Frank N. Furter in the original (1973) production, and in the film			Tim Curry

Grease

Character played by Olivia Newton–John in the film version (surname Dumbrowski in the original stage version)		Sandy Olsson
Character played by John Travolta in the film version		Danny Zuko
School that both of the above attend		Rydell High
Gang that the Travolta character leads (film version, and subsequent revivals)		T–Birds
Rival gang to the above (in the film)		Scorpions
Female "auxiliary" to the gang led by the Travolta character, which the Newton–John character belongs to		Pink Ladies
Leader of the above "female auxiliary", and fierce rival of the Newton–John character		Betty Rizzo
On–off 'tough guy' boyfriend of the above, and best friend of the Travolta character (in the film)		Kenickie

Chicago

Housewife and would–be vaudevillian, arrested for the murder of her deceitful lover – played in the film by Renée Zellwegger		Roxanne (Roxie) Hart
The showgirl who is arrested for the murders of her husband Charlie and sister Veronica – played in the film by Catherine Zeta–Jones		Velma Kelly
Duplicitous, smooth–talking lawyer, played in the film by Richard Gere		Billy Flynn
The corrupt but nurturing matron of the Cook County Jail – played in the film by Queen Latifah		Mama Morton

Characters

Title character in The Greatest Showman (2017 film musical)		P. T. Barnum
Central character in Cabaret – played in the film by Liza Minnelli		Sally Bowles
South Pacific: principal female character, played in the film by Mitzi Gaynor		Nellie Forbush
Professor in My Fair Lady (played in the film by Rex Harrison)		Henry Higgins
US President who appears in Annie		Franklin D. Roosevelt

The Sound of Music: number of children in the Von Trapp family

7

Actors (and Singers)

The original Eliza Dolittle (London stage cast)			Julie Andrews
Phantom of the Opera (original London production)	Erik (the phantom)		Michael Crawford
	Christine Daaé		Sarah Brightman
Title role in Tim Burton's 2007 film version of Sweeney Todd			Johnny Depp
Played Jesus (Godspell) and Che Guevara (Evita) – London stage			David Essex
Dubbed the singing voices of Natalie Wood in West Side Story, Deborah Kerr in The King and I, and Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady (film versions)			Marnie Nixon
Created the roles of Eva Peron in Evita (1978), Grizabella in Cats (1981), and Florence Vassy in Chess (1986), all in the West End; made her Broadway debut in 1995 as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard			Elaine Paige

Miscellaneous

Cabaret: set in		Berlin
Name of the narrator in Evita		Che
Name of the boat in Showboat		Cotton Blossom
Hardly (ever) happen in Hertford, Hereford and Hampshire (according to a scene from My Fair Lady)		Hurricanes
Berlin nightclub in Cabaret		Kit Kat Club
Carmen Jones features an American factory making		Parachutes
High Society: song named after a yacht		True Love

© Haydn Thompson 2017–23