Writers and Composers
Origins
1920-60s
1970s
1980s-2000s
100

This duo wrote Oklahoma!, The Sound of Music,  and Carousel.

Who are Rodgers & Hammerstein?

100

Most musicals have at least one song that follows a certain trope. They're called "I ____" Songs

What is an "I Want" song?

100

The reason that theatres and musicals took a big hit in the 1930s, causing people to not be able to afford to attend shows.

What is the Great Depression?

100

Name two reasons for a decline in attendance at Broadway shows after the 1960s.

Live sports, TV, Crime, Social Upheaval, Movies were in color

100

List at least 2 of the 4 descriptors of a "Mega-Musical".


  • Influenced by pop-music
  • Large casts
  • Big sets
  • Special effects
200

This composer wrote Company, Into the Woods, and West Side Story to name a few.

Who is Stephen Sondheim?

200

This type of theatre and drama included song and dance, but they never really adapted into what we think of today as musical theatre.

What is Greek and/or Roman theatre?

200

Everything changed for musical theatre in 1943 when Rodgers and Hammerstein (another famous musical duo) created this show.

What is "Oklahoma!"?

200

This woman stars as "Dorothy" in a modernized off-shoot rendition of "The Wizard of Oz"

Who is "Diana Ross" in "The Wiz"?

200

This is the longest running show on Broadway, and only just closed in 2023.

What is Phantom of the Opera?

300

One of the earliest and most famous theatre partnerships that wrote 14 comic operas.

Who is Gilbert and Sullivan?

300

These are 4 examples of types of media that can be adapted into musicals.

What are

NOVELS, STRAIGHT PLAYS, MYTHS, HISTORICAL EVENTS, FILMS, AND OPERAS?

300

The first true musical to hit the stage was this show in 1927. It featured black and white performers on stage alongside each other for the first time.

What is "Show Boat"?

300

This composer had at least two big hits in the 1980s, including one that retells the Gospel of Jesus.

Who is Andrew Lloyd Webber?

300

The highest grossing musical ever, beats out Phantom by 2 billions dollars for a total of 8 billion in ticket sales.

What is "The Lion King"?

400

Composer of Anything Goes, Kiss Me Kate, and Can-Can.

Who is Cole Porter?

400

In France and Italy, these types of shows became popular, setting the stage for what we think of as Operas today and eventually transforming into the modern musical.

What are operettas?

400

This woman established herself as “the first lady” of Broadway. She’s largely considered the most famous woman ever on Broadway and has a unique voice.

Who is Ethel Merman?

400
Name at least one movie-musical that came out in the 1970s.

Grease, Cabaret, Hair, Rocky Horror Picture, or Fiddler on the Roof.

400

The name of the opera that "Rent" is based off of.

What is "La Boheme"?

500

A powerhouse duo known for their show "Porgy and Bess" and "Funny Face".

Who are the Gershwin Brothers?

500

In order to be an official Broadway theatre, you must be in the Broadway Theatre district in NYC, as well as have more than this many seats.

What is 500?

500

Name two leading ladies of the Golden Era of Broadway.

Angela Lansbury, Julie Andrews, Barabara Streissand, Audrey Hepburn, Bernadette Peters, Ethel Merman, Bette Midler, or Patti Lupone.

500

These are two different musicals that tell the story of the gospel.

What are "Godspell" and "Jesus Christ Superstar"?

500

One of the first rap musicals…opened the door to Hamilton.

What is "In The Heights"?

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