Singers & Vocalist Broadway and Musical Theater Vocalists 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical?
- The highest honor in American theater for a leading female musical performance (Correct answer)
- An award given only to singers of classical opera
- A television award for Broadway productions
- A Grammy category for cast recordings
Correct answer: The highest honor in American theater for a leading female musical performance
The Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical is Broadway's highest honor for a leading female performer in a new or revival musical production.
Question 2: Which legendary musical theater performer starred in original Broadway productions of South Pacific and Mary Poppins?
- Bernadette Peters
- Patti LuPone
- Mary Martin (Correct answer)
- Liza Minnelli
Correct answer: Mary Martin
Mary Martin starred as Nellie Forbush in the original Broadway production of South Pacific (1949) and also originated the role of Peter Pan on Broadway.
Question 3: In musical theater, what is 'sprechgesang'?
- Singing in German
- A half-spoken, half-sung vocal technique between speech and singing (Correct answer)
- An operatic high note
- A type of vocal warm-up
Correct answer: A half-spoken, half-sung vocal technique between speech and singing
Sprechgesang is a vocal technique originating in German expressionism where the voice falls halfway between speech and song, used in some avant-garde and dramatic works.
Question 4: Patti LuPone is particularly associated with which two iconic Broadway roles she originated?
- Norma Desmond and Evita (Correct answer)
- Eliza Doolittle and Annie
- Rose and Mama Rose
- Christine and the Phantom
Correct answer: Norma Desmond and Evita
Patti LuPone originated Evita (1979) on Broadway and Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard (1994), winning Tony Awards for both performances.
Question 5: What is a 'money note' in Broadway vocal performance?
- A note that generates ticket sales
- A climactic, high-pitched note that demonstrates vocal power and thrills the audience (Correct answer)
- The note that pays the highest royalty
- A difficult low note that only expensive singers can perform
Correct answer: A climactic, high-pitched note that demonstrates vocal power and thrills the audience
A 'money note' is a climactic, often high-pitched note that showcases the singer's vocal power and range, designed to generate an emotional audience response.
Question 6: Which Broadway musical features the iconic song 'The Music of the Night' requiring a rich baritone-tenor voice?
- Les Misérables
- Cats
- Miss Saigon
- The Phantom of the Opera (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The Phantom of the Opera
'The Music of the Night' is sung by the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'The Phantom of the Opera,' requiring a dramatic operatic voice.
Singers & Vocalist Broadway and Musical Theater Vocalists 2
What is the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical?