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Arts & Entertainment
Pop Music
Musicals

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Sources (1)
Sources (2)
Titles
Composers and Lyricists
West Side Story
Rocky Horror
Chicago
Characters
Actors (and Singers)
Miscellaneous

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 Click to show or hide the answer
Rodgers & Hart musical, based on Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
Based on T. H. White's The Once and Future King Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
Based on a 1926 play of the same title by journalist Maurine Dallas Watkins, about actual characters and events on which she reported Click to show or hide the answer
Record–breaking musical – ran for five years in the West End, 1916–21 – based on the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves Click to show or hide the answer
Book by Joseph Stein, music Jerry Bock, lyrics Sheldon Harnick Click to show or hide the answer
Based on a novel of the same name by Chinese American author C. Y. Lee Click to show or hide the answer
Based on a 1945 novella of the same title by Colette Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
Based on a 1988 film directed by John Waters Click to show or hide the answer
Based on H. G. Wells's Kipps Click to show or hide the answer
Inspired by a 2004 biography by historian Ron Chernow Click to show or hide the answer
Based on Thornton Wilder's play The Matchmaker (a reworking of his earlier play The Merchant of Yonkers) Click to show or hide the answer
Based on the film The Philadelphia Story; film starred Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra Click to show or hide the answer
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) Click to show or hide the answer
Based on The Taming of the Shrew Click to show or hide the answer
Based on the story of Don Quixote Click to show or hide the answer
Based on Puccini's opera Madam Butterfly, reset in the context of the Vietnam War Click to show or hide the answer
Based on George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion Click to show or hide the answer
Based on the play Green grow the lilacs Click to show or hide the answer
Based on a 1911 novel by Gaston Leroux Click to show or hide the answer
Loosely based on Puccini's La Bohème (original Broadway production ran from 1996 to 2008) Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
Based on the book Sobbin' Women by Stephen Vincent Click to show or hide the answer
Based on a 1947 Pulitzer prize–winning short story collection by James A. Michener – Tales of the ... Click to show or hide the answer
"Lovingly ripped off from" the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail: book and lyrics by Eric Idle (who also co–wrote the music) Click to show or hide the answer
Andrew Lloyd Webber musical (book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton): based on a 1950 film directed by Billy Wilder Click to show or hide the answer
Based on John Gay's Beggar's Opera (1728) Click to show or hide the answer

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 Click to show or hide the answer
Catch My Soul (1971) is a musical version of (Shakespeare's) Click to show or hide the answer
West Side Story is based on (Shakespeare's) Click to show or hide the answer
Cats is based on a collection of poems by Click to show or hide the answer
Cabaret is based (ultimately) on the works of Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer

Titles

Loosely based on the life of Ohio sharpshooter Annie Oakley Click to show or hide the answer
Opened on Broadway in 2011: written by Matt Stone, Trey Parker (creators of South Park) and Bobby Lopez (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 Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
A village appears for one day, once every 100 years, in Click to show or hide the answer
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?") Click to show or hide the answer
Rogers & Hammerstein musical: central character Billy Bigelow return 15 years after committing suicide, to help his family Click to show or hide the answer
Music by Benny and Bjorn out of Abba, lyrics by Tim Rice Click to show or hide the answer
Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly – vaudevillians and murderers – are the central characters in Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
Based on the stories of Sholem Aleichem, about Tevye the milkman and his struggle to maintain Jewish traditions in his family of five daughters Click to show or hide the answer
Features the songs of Louis Jordan – first produced 1990 in London's West End Click to show or hide the answer
Based on the life of US actress and comedian Fanny Brice Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
Subtitled "The American Tribal Love/Rock Musical" Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
Harry Hill's ill–fated musical based on The X–Factor: premiered at the London Palladium in March 2014, closed after 6 weeks Click to show or hide the answer
Based on the story of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons (opened on Broadway 2005, West End 2008) Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
Mainly set in Mr. Mushnik's flower shop on Skid Row; tells the story of a man–eating plant called Audrey II Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
Bill Snibson is the protagonist (one of the title characters) of Click to show or hide the answer
Tells the story of an American soldier's love for a Vietnamese girl Click to show or hide the answer
Based on Federico Fellini's semi–autobiographical film Eight and a Half; 1998 film version starred Daniel Day Lewis Click to show or hide the answer
Adapted from a radio play, in 1963, by Joan Littlewood and her Theatre Workshop; features many songs from World War I Click to show or hide the answer
Rodgers & Hammerstein's first together; soundtrack was the first million–selling LP Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
The jazz ballet Slaughter on Tenth Avenue features in (Rodgers & Hart, 1936) Click to show or hide the answer
2005 musical by former Radio 1 DJ Mike Read: closed after one night (the West End's shortest ever run) Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
Title character is known only as Erik; a singer named Christine Daaé is the other central character Click to show or hide the answer
Closed in 2023 after the longest run in Broadway history (opened in 1988; 13,981 performances) Click for more information
Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom are central characters in Click to show or hide the answer
"I would like – if I may – to take you on a strange journey ... " (opening line – spoken by the Narrator) Click to show or hide the answer
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) Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
Ends with the line "I now pronounce you men and wives" Click to show or hide the answer
Rodgers & Hammerstein's last collaboration (Hammerstein died nine months after its premiere) Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
1979 musical: based on a character that first appeared in The String of Pearls: a Romance, in serial form, 1846–7 Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer

Composers and Lyricists

Oliver: book, lyrics and music Click to show or hide the answer
Annie Get Your Gun, Call me Madam: words and music Click to show or hide the answer
Kismet: based on the music of Click to show or hide the answer
Les Misérables Music Click to show or hide the answer
French lyrics Click to show or hide the answer
Click to show or hide the answer
English lyrics Click to show or hide the answer
Stop the World – I Want to Get Off (1961): book, music and lyrics Click to show or hide the answer
Click to show or hide the answer
We Will Rock You (the Queen musical): book (script) Click to show or hide the answer
Strike up the Band: composer and lyricist Click to show or hide the answer
Carmen Jones: music by Bizet, lyrics by Click to show or hide the answer
Billy Elliot the Musical: music Click to show or hide the answer
Showboat: music Click to show or hide the answer
Kinky Boots (2012): music and lyrics Click to show or hide the answer
Guys and Dolls: words and music Click to show or hide the answer
My Fair Lady, Gigi, Paint Your Wagon, Camelot: composer and lyricist Click to show or hide the answer
Cats: composer Click to show or hide the answer
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) Click to show or hide the answer
Creator of The Rocky Horror Show Click to show or hide the answer
Anything Goes, Kiss me Kate: music and lyrics Click to show or hide the answer
Oklahoma!, South Pacific, The King and I, Carousel, The Sound of Music: music and lyrics Click to show or hide the answer
Pal Joey: music and lyrics Click to show or hide the answer
A Little Night Music (1973), Pacific Overture (1976), Sweeney Todd (1979), Assassins (1990): music and lyricsClick for more information Click to show or hide the answer
Whistle Down the Wind: music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Click to show or hide the answer
Starlight Express: lyrics Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
The Threepenny Opera Music Click to show or hide the answer
Book & lyrics Click to show or hide the answer
The Boy Friend: words and music Click to show or hide the answer
Lyricist on the song Bill (from Showboat) Click to show or hide the answer
Collaborated with Guy Bolton on the 'book' for 21 musicals, including Anything Goes

West Side Story

Lyrics Click to show or hide the answer
Music Click to show or hide the answer
Rival gangs Click to show or hide the answer
The Sharks were immigrants from Click to show or hide the answer

Rocky Horror

Ohio town in which The Rocky Horror Show starts Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
The putative bride Click to show or hide the answer
Trans–sexual in whose house (castle) The Rocky Horror Show is mainly set Click to show or hide the answer
Frank N. Furter's hunchbacked servant (butler/handyman) – played in the film by Richard O'Brien Click to show or hide the answer
Frank N. Furter's maid, and sister of the above Click to show or hide the answer
Groupie who joins Riff Raff and Magenta in singing The Time Warp on Brad and Janet's arrival at the castle Click to show or hide the answer
Played Frank N. Furter in the original (1973) production, and in the film Click to show or hide the answer

Grease

Character played by Olivia Newton–John in the film version (surname Dumbrowski in the original stage version) Click to show or hide the answer
Character played by John Travolta in the film version Click to show or hide the answer
School that both of the above attend Click to show or hide the answer
Gang that the Travolta character leads (film version, and subsequent revivals) Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
Rival gang to the above (in the film) Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
Female "auxiliary" to the gang led by the Travolta character, which the Newton–John character belongs to Click to show or hide the answer
Leader of the above "female auxiliary", and fierce rival of the Newton–John character Click to show or hide the answer
On–off 'tough guy' boyfriend of the above, and best friend of the Travolta character (in the film) Click to show or hide the answer

Chicago

Housewife and would–be vaudevillian, arrested for the murder of her deceitful lover – played in the film by Renée Zellwegger Click to show or hide the answer
The showgirl who is arrested for the murders of her husband Charlie and sister Veronica – played in the film by Catherine Zeta–Jones Click to show or hide the answer
Duplicitous, smooth–talking lawyer, played in the film by Richard Gere Click to show or hide the answer
The corrupt but nurturing matron of the Cook County Jail – played in the film by Queen Latifah Click to show or hide the answer

Characters

Title character in The Greatest Showman (2017 film musical) Click to show or hide the answer
Central character in Cabaret – played in the film by Liza Minnelli Click to show or hide the answer
South Pacific: principal female character, played in the film by Mitzi Gaynor Click to show or hide the answer
Professor in My Fair Lady (played in the film by Rex Harrison) Click to show or hide the answer
US President who appears in Annie Click to show or hide the answer

The Sound of Music: number of children in the Von Trapp family Click to show or hide the answer

Actors (and Singers)

The original Eliza Dolittle (London stage cast) Click to show or hide the answer
Phantom of the Opera (original London production) Erik (the phantom) Click to show or hide the answer
Christine Daaé Click to show or hide the answer
Title role in Tim Burton's 2007 film version of Sweeney Todd Click to show or hide the answer
Played Jesus (Godspell) and Che Guevara (Evita) – London stage Click to show or hide the answer
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) Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer

Miscellaneous

Cabaret: set in Click to show or hide the answer
Name of the narrator in Evita Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
Name of the boat in Showboat Click to show or hide the answer
Hardly (ever) happen in Hertford, Hereford and Hampshire (according to a scene from My Fair Lady) Click to show or hide the answer
Berlin nightclub in Cabaret Click to show or hide the answer
Carmen Jones features an American factory making Click to show or hide the answer
High Society: song named after a yacht Click to show or hide the answer

© Haydn Thompson 2017–24