Young Frankenstein
When Dr. Frankenstein says, "I can help you with that hump on your back", what does his crony, Igor, respond with?
"What hump?" This was a joke to the fact that the actor playing Igor kept switching which side of his back the hump would sit on.
Anastasia was from what country?
Russia (the Romanov Family)
Who wrote the original tale 'The Little Mermaid', which would serve as a source material for the book upon which Once On This Island is based?
Hans Christian Anderson
Why did Moss Hart write Lady In The Dark?
To reflect his own experiences with psychoanalysis.
110 in the Shade takes place in what state?
Texas (my oh yes)
Who wrote the original Frankenstein tale?
Mary Shelley- English Novelist
Was the mystery of Anastasia's death ever resolved? Bonus credit if you can tell us how?
Yes. The family’s remains had been buried in two separate graves, with Anastasia being discovered later. DNA testing conclusively identified the remains, confirming that Anastasia had died with her family in 1918, debunking the survival theories.
Which animation studio made a film based on The Little Mermaid?
Disney (not 20th Century Fox)!
Why was Lady in the Dark so important for Ira Gershwin and his career?
His brother George had just died three years prior, so this served as his return to Musical Theatre.
What was the name of the play on which 110 in the Shade is based?
The Rainmaker
Who had the idea of making Young Frankenstein? Be careful, this is a curly question.
Gene Wilder (not Mel Brooks). Gene brought the idea up to Mel during filming of "Blazing Saddles", to which Mel said "we don't need another Frankenstein movie! Not another!"
What animation film studio decided to make a movie about the life of Anastasia, envisioning that she had survived but had amnesia?
20th Century Fox (not Disney!). Disney however did them dirty by mucking up their release month with re-releases of their own best films (such as The Little Mermaid)
Who was Rosa Guy?
Trinidad-born American writer and activist who grew up in the New York metropolitan area after immigrating with her family, was orphaned young, and later co-founded the Harlem Writers Guild in 1950, helping to support African-American writers. She also wrote 'My Love, My Love', on which Once On This Island is based.
Lady In The Dark brought together these three creative team legends of Musical Theatre. Name one.
Moss Hart, Ira Gershwin, Kurt Weill
Free 300 Points
Free 300 Points
What was the one rule Gene had for Mel when they were filming Young Frankenstein?
Mel couldn't be in it, which was hard because Mel was used to having cameos in all of his films.
Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty would write the music and lyrics for Anastasia, but what renowned bookwriter ended up writing the libretto?
Terrance McNally (aka "The Bard of American Theater")
Where did Lynn Ahrens find the book 'My Love, My Love', which would serve as the source material for Once On This Island?
A used bookstore. She bought the book for $1.50, read it in an hour, then rushed over to Flaherty's apartment in a cab.
Gertrude Lawrence almost wasn't a part of this show. Answer either how she was discovered or how she almost lost the job.
The Gershwins first encountered Gertrude Lawrence when she starred in Oh, Kay! in 1926. Lawrence played hard to get when Hart tried to sign her. Hart finally forced the issue by offering the role to Irene Dunne. Lawrence very quickly turned around and signed onto the project.
How did Tom Jones & Harvey Schmidt first meet?
Jones and Schmidt first met as students at the University of Texas at Austin around 1950 while working on a campus musical revue directed by fellow student Word Baker.
Young Frankenstein as a musical didn't do well on Broadway (or at least as well as it could have). This was because critics were comparing it to this previous Mel Brooks Broadway hit (not a flop).
The Producers
What other musicals have Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty written?
Once On This Island, Ragtime, Seussical
How long did it take Ahrens & Flaherty to write Once on this Island?
6 months. Exceptionally fast turnaround.
What was unique about how Kurt Weill composed his scores? What job did he do that most other composers usually handed off?
He orchestrated all of his own compositions.
Why did David Merrick choose Jones & Schmidt to write 110 in the Shade as opposed to other, more popular and experienced authors?
Both Jones and Schmidt were originally from Texas and were familiar with the drought-stricken Southwest environment portrayed in the play. This regional authenticity helped convince Merrick that they could capture the tone of the story.