Category Archives: trivia

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Broadway Trivia – Teen Edition 

children's shows, Musical Theater, trivia

Does your teenager think they know everything about Broadway musicals and shows? Do they sing the lyrics of Dear Evan Hansen, Wicked, and Hamilton incessantly? Well, here is a Broadway trivia quiz to keep your teen guessing (and learning). 

We know that many teens think they “know it all,” but can your teen answer these trivia questions about some of Broadway’s all time favorite teen shows? Stump your child today with some of these tricky quiz questions. 

Favorite Broadway Shows for Teens 

Teen-centric narratives have been a part of Broadway dating back many decades, some would say even to the beginning of theater itself. 

According to Broadway Direct, an online source for shows and tickets to some of Broadway’s most popular performances, there are many shows that appeal to the teen age group but none such as: Wicked, Mean Girls, Beetlejuice, and Dear Evan Hansen. 

Wicked, based loosely on the Wizard of Oz, helps teens look at issues such as identity and morality, while a show like Dear Evan Hansen examines the problems that are encountered when a teen gets caught up in lies trying to fit in. Mean Girls explores the troubles of teens navigating the cliques of high school. Beetlejuice is perfect for teens who feel like the odd man out and are looking for a way to make the most of their life, or afterlife. 

Times Square NYC

Stump Your Teen 

Here are a few questions from musicals and shows that you can use to quiz your teen. 

  1. Where does Hairspray take place? Baltimore
  2. Which song is NOT from Wicked?  Popular, Defying Gravity, Dancing Through Life or A Change in Me
  3. Which Disney film has NOT been turned into a Broadway musical?  Beauty and the Beast, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Aladdin or The Little Mermaid
  4. Which of these is NOT a rock musical? School of Rock, Hamilton, Rent, or Rock of Ages
  5. Which musical was not based on a film?  Dear Evan Hansen, Pretty Woman, Young Frankenstein, Legally Blonde the Musical
  6. Spamalot was based on what show? Monty Python and the Holy Grail
  7. Mamma Mia is based on the music of which Swedish pop group? ABBA
  8. Which smash hit musical tells the story of the founding fathers of the United States? Hamilton
  9. What is the name of the carnivorous Venus flytrap plant in Little Shop of Horrors? Audrey II
  10. The musical West Side Story, which tells the story of rival gangs in New York City’s Upper West Side, is based on which Shakespeare play? Romeo & Juliette
  11. What was Disney’s first Broadway musical? Beauty & The Beast
  12. Which musical features a group of drama students at New York’s High School for the Performing Arts? Fame 
  13. Which Disney musical features the song ‘A Spoonful of Sugar’? Mary Poppins
  14. Name the Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony-award-winning composer of musicals such as Cats, Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar. Andrew Llyod Webber 
  15. Which musical, adapted from a novel by Victor Hugo, features characters such as Jean Valjean, Cosette and Javert? Les Miserables

 

Hamilton in Lights

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Lin-Manuel Miranda

Broadway, Broadway News, trivia

Based on historian Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography of American Statesman Alexander Hamilton, the musical by the same name has taken Broadway and theaters across the globe by storm. Hamilton premiered in January 2015 with its catchy blend of hip-hop, jazz, and R&B. This story of the American Founder, Alexander Hamilton, has been a revolutionary moment in theater. It not only had a profound impact on American culture, politics, and education, but the name Lin-Manuel Miranda has become a household name. 

Some would say that Lin-Manuel is a modern-day Broadway legend, a Renaissance Man of the theater industry. We would agree wholeheartedly! 

It is in that spirit that we set out to discover some interesting facts and little-known knowledge about the life and experiences of this amazing actor, singer, songwriter, rapper, director, producer, and playwright. 

Broadway sign

#1 He Went Viral Long Before Hamilton

While many theater-lovers would like to believe that Miranda was discovered in this performance as Alexander Hamilton, he was creating a stir long before the debut of Hamilton. According to Hollywood Insider online, “Miranda brought his Broadway nerdiness to the next level when he performed an old school flash-mob during his wedding ceremony to the song ‘To Life!’ from Fiddler on the Roof. The moment was captured on video and went viral not long after that time. 

#2 Miranda Is Super Smart 

This should come as no surprise to people that follow this multi talented actor, but did you know that he was awarded the MacArthur Genius Grant in 2015? He is a real smarty pants! 

# 3 The Live Recording of Hamilton Was Not Done in One Take 

For those of us who enjoyed Disney+’s live recording of Hamilton while in lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic, we may all be surprised at how long that recording took to make. Even though Lin-Manuel Miranda is near flawless during all live performances, it took three days to film the actual live performance. The filming began during a Sunday matinee, close-ups were captured during rehearsals right after the performance, and more filming took place over the next two days.

Times Square NY

#4 Miranda Is a Pulitzer Prize Winner 

It should come as no shock that Hamilton the Musical has won its share of Grammys and Tony Awards, but did you know that Miranda won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Hamilton in 2016.

#5 Miranda Named His Son After A Crustacean

Yes, it’s true. Miranda named his son, Sebastian after the animated (and somewhat neurotic) lobster in the Little Mermaid. The creature’s reggae-belting pipes impressed Miranda so much that the name became one of his favorites! 

#6 Miranda Was a Teacher

While the hip-hop songs and educationally jam-packed musical may have taught many of us a thing or two about American history, Miranda once taught classes himself. For a very brief period Miranda was a teacher assistant at Carson High School in California. 

#7 He Married His High School Sweetheart

True love hit early for Miranda as he met his one-and-only when he was only 14. He married his high school crush, Vanessa Nadal in 2010.

#8 His Name Comes From a Poem 

With a fairly unique name like Lin-Mauel Miranda, it’s often asked where it comes from. His name comes from a Vietnam era poem (and lullaby) named, “Nana Roja para mi Hijo Lin Manuel.” The author is from Miranda’s native home of Puerto Rico. 

#9 Miranda Is a Part of A Hip Hop Comedy Troupe 

During his time as a student at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, Miranda and a group of friends started the improvisational hip-hop comedy group Freestyle Love Supreme with Chris Sullivan, Bill Sherman, and Chris Jackson.

#10 His Love of Acting & Writing Began In High School 

Miranda showed early talent in acting, dancing, and singing. In fact, he began writing musicals while he was still in high school. He wrote “In the Heights” while he was just a sophomore in college! 

 

Can We Stump You With Broadway Trivia?

Broadway, Musical Theater, Musicals to Movies, Off Broadway, On Stage, trivia

Missing Broadway like we are? If you can’t seem to get enough of the streaming services for Broadway shows, you may like our blog this month. Check out some of our questions below to see if we can stump you with some Broadway Trivia.

Check out these trivia categories. Which did you score the best? Can you stump your friends too? We have included the answers below so there will be no questions about who got it right!

Name the Broadway Show From these Lyrics

  1. “There’s a million things I haven’t done, but just you wait.”
  2. “Can you feel the love tonight?”
  3. “On the steps of the palace…”
  4. “A spoonful of sugar lets the medicine go down.”
  5. “Ah the intoxicating smell of the graveyard.”
  6. “Hey there, Teenage Baltimore! Don’t change that channel! ‘Cause it’s time for the Corny Collins Show!”
  7. “Sometimes, when someone has a crush on you, they’ll make you a mixtape to give you a clue.”
  8. “And when someone needs a makeover, I simply have to take over.”
  9. “Don’t go wasting your emotions.”
  10. “The plan is to spark this into a flame, but damn it’s getting dark, so let me spell out the name.”
  11. “In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee, in inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.”
  12. “We’re supposed to be all ladies and nurturing and care. Is that really fair?”
  13. Every man has his daydreams, every man has his goal. People like the way dreams have of sticking to the soul.”
  14. “Suddenly Seymour is standing beside you. You don’t need no makeup, you don’t need to pretend.”
  15. “Climb every mountain…”
  16. General Trivia
  17. Kristen Chenoweth won her one Tony Award in the Broadway production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown playing what character?
  18. What was the other musical based on the characters of Charles M. Schulz?
  19. The musical The Addams Family is based on The New Yorker cartoons of what artist?
  20. What was the sequel to the musical Annie?
  21. What type of aquatic creature is Spongebob Squarepant’s best friend?

Movie Posters

  1.  What Broadway smash hit is portrayed in this image?Les Mis
  2. What toe-tapping, street-dancing musical is portrayed in this image?West Side Story
  3. Can you tell what Broadway hit show this poster is portraying?Fiddler on the Roof
  4. What was the last Broadway musical Rodgers and Hammerstein created, which starred Mary Martin and debuted in 1959?
  5. A helicopter was the unforgettable set piece of this musical, which opened in 1991.

Answers:

  1. Hamilton
  2. Lion King
  3. Into the Woods
  4. Mary Poppins
  5. The Addams Family
  6. Hairspray
  7. Avenue Q
  8. Wicked
  9. Mama Mia
  10. Hamilton
  11. Rent
  12. Mean Girls
  13. Pippin
  14. Little Shop of Horrors
  15. The Sound of Music
  16. Sally
  17. Snoopy! The Musical
  18. Charles Addams
  19. Annie Warbucks
  20. Starfish

Movie Posters

  1. Les Misérables
  2. West Side Story
  3. Fiddler On The Roof
  4. The Sound of Music
  5. Miss Saigon