In honor of the great Broadway composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, Quiz Guy John Chaneski has composed a quiz in which the answers lie hidden inside the name of works by Sondheim. For example, it’s no surprise that as a fan of murder mysteries...
In theatrical parlance, an 11 o’clock number is a showstopping tune late in a musical, which usually coincides with the protagonist or other major character having a life-changing realization. An example would be the song “So Long, Dearie” from...
Quiz Guy John Chaneski has been swapping out letters on Broadway marquees to create the names of entirely new theatrical productions. For example, what Broadway play might you be watching if it’s about a famous woman who leaves her career as a...
The 1909 volume Passing English of the Victorian Era by J. Redding Ware has a wealth of slang terms from that era. One entry even includes musical notation for please mother open the door, a slang phrase that was sung, rather than spoken, to express...
When does a word’s past make it too sensitive to use in the present? In contra dancing, there’s a particular move that dancers traditionally call a gypsy. But there’s a growing recognition that many people find the term gypsy offensive. A group of...
Quiz Guy John Chaneski has a puzzle about Broadway show titles—but with a twist. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Broadway Show Puzzle Quiz” You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about language and how we use it. I’m Grant...
