Title: Theater Facts, History & Quizzes | Mental Floss
Open Graph Title: Theater Facts, History & Quizzes | Mental Floss
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Description: Discover fun theater facts, trivia, and surprising stories on Mental Floss—content that entertains, educates, and satisfies your curiosity.
Open Graph Description: Discover fun theater facts, trivia, and surprising stories on Mental Floss—content that entertains, educates, and satisfies your curiosity.
X Description: Discover fun theater facts, trivia, and surprising stories on Mental Floss—content that entertains, educates, and satisfies your curiosity.
Opengraph URL: https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/theater
Domain: www.mentalfloss.com
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{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/movies/extreme-measures-authorities-took-keep-kids-seeing-exorcist","headline":"The Extreme Measures Authorities Took to Keep Kids From Seeing ‘The Exorcist’","description":"The ratings board said children could see it with a parent, but the police in Washington had other ideas. ","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Matt Hoffman"},"datePublished":"2026-10-21T17:00:01Z","dateModified":"2026-10-21T17:00:01Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/movies/extreme-measures-authorities-took-keep-kids-seeing-exorcist"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/quizzes/can-you-finish-song-title-from-famous-musical","headline":"Quiz: Think You’re a Musical Theater Fan? Finish These Famous Song Titles","description":"How well do you know these unforgettable numbers from 'Mamma Mia,' 'Rent,' and more? See if you can complete the song titles from these classic musicals with this quiz.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Eden Gordon"},"datePublished":"2026-09-13T00:00:01Z","dateModified":"2026-09-13T00:00:01Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/quizzes/can-you-finish-song-title-from-famous-musical"}}
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{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/theater/musicals-inspired-by-shakespeare-plays","headline":"6 Musicals That Put a Modern Spin on Shakespeare","description":"These musicals inspired by Shakespeare imagine what would happen if Juliet didn't die, if \"A Midsummer Night's Dream\" took place in a nightclub, and more.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Eden Gordon"},"datePublished":"2026-04-21T20:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-04-21T20:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/theater/musicals-inspired-by-shakespeare-plays"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/literature/authors/romantic-tropes-we-owe-to-shakespeare","headline":"5 Iconic Romantic Tropes We Owe to Shakespeare","description":"Shakespeare popularized many of our favorite romance tropes, from \"will-they-won't-they\" romances to \"star-crossed lovers.\"","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Paul Anthony Jones"},"datePublished":"2026-02-11T23:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-02-11T23:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/literature/authors/romantic-tropes-we-owe-to-shakespeare"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/literature/authors/misconceptions-about-shakespeare","headline":"9 Misconceptions About Shakespeare","description":"No one did it like The Bard, so it’s no surprise that some myths about him and his writing have seeped into our culture over time. Let’s debunk some of the biggest ones.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Meredith Danko"},"datePublished":"2025-11-05T12:54:00Z","dateModified":"2025-11-05T12:54:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/literature/authors/misconceptions-about-shakespeare"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/crime/caleb-milne-the-1930s-actor-kidnapped-in-broad-daylight","headline":"Caleb Milne, the 1930s Actor Kidnapped in Broad Daylight","description":"Caleb Milne rushed out of his apartment to tend to his ailing grandfather. He was later found alive in a ditch. What happened in between?","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Jake Rossen"},"datePublished":"2025-10-24T18:04:00Z","dateModified":"2025-10-24T18:04:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/crime/caleb-milne-the-1930s-actor-kidnapped-in-broad-daylight"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/quizzes/guess-lyrics-of-hamilton-songs-quiz","headline":"Can You Guess the Lyrics of These ‘Hamilton’ Songs?","description":"This fill-in-the-blank quiz tests how well you really know 'Hamilton' songs, from \"My Shot\" to \"Burn\" and beyond.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Ellen Gutoskey"},"datePublished":"2025-08-05T19:02:00Z","dateModified":"2025-08-05T19:02:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/quizzes/guess-lyrics-of-hamilton-songs-quiz"}}
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{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/theater/how-did-tony-awards-get-their-name","headline":"How Did the Tony Awards Get Their Name?","description":"They were named after a real icon of the American theatre.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Erin McCarthy"},"datePublished":"2017-06-11T18:55:00Z","dateModified":"2025-06-04T18:47:51Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/theater/how-did-tony-awards-get-their-name"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/theater/leonardo-da-vinci-musical-financed-by-guano","headline":"Certified Stinker: The Leonardo da Vinci Musical Financed by Guano","description":"‘Leonardo: The Musical: A Portrait of Love’ didn’t exactly soar on stage. But don’t blame the bird poop that helped get it there.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Ellen Gutoskey"},"datePublished":"2025-02-10T19:03:00Z","dateModified":"2025-02-10T19:03:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/theater/leonardo-da-vinci-musical-financed-by-guano"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/old-chestnuts-phrase-origins","headline":"Why Are Oft-Repeated Jokes or Stories Sometimes Called “Old Chestnuts”?","description":"There are several theories as to where this phrase came from—and none of them involves the nuts.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Paul Anthony Jones"},"datePublished":"2025-01-20T15:01:00Z","dateModified":"2025-01-20T15:01:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/old-chestnuts-phrase-origins"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/history/sober-sue-vaudeville-performer-refused-to-laugh","headline":"The Strange Saga of Sober Sue, Who Made a Career Out of Refusing to Laugh","description":"In the early 20th century, one woman challenged professional comics, clowns, and performers to try and make her laugh. None could.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Jake Rossen"},"datePublished":"2025-01-16T19:03:00Z","dateModified":"2025-01-16T19:03:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/history/sober-sue-vaudeville-performer-refused-to-laugh"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/holidays/christmas/my-favorite-things-christmas-song","headline":"How “My Favorite Things” Became an Unlikely Christmas Classic","description":"How many of the “favorite things” are Christmas-coded? We counted.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Ellen Gutoskey"},"datePublished":"2024-11-15T23:01:00Z","dateModified":"2024-11-15T23:01:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/holidays/christmas/my-favorite-things-christmas-song"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/movies/retro-video-movie-theater-1980s","headline":"Retro Video Shows What a Trip to the Movies Was Like in 1987","description":"This video will have you nostalgic for the days of original blockbusters and reasonably-sized popcorn. ","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"CaLea Johnson"},"datePublished":"2024-10-24T18:01:00Z","dateModified":"2024-10-24T18:01:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/movies/retro-video-movie-theater-1980s"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/literature/shakespeare-interpretations","headline":"10 Interpretations of Shakespeare’s Works","description":"These theories about The Bard’s works range from the almost believable to the the utterly outlandish.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Lorna Wallace"},"datePublished":"2024-06-19T12:03:00Z","dateModified":"2024-06-19T12:03:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/literature/shakespeare-interpretations"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/literature/authors/facts-about-william-shakespeare","headline":"14 Surprising Facts About William Shakespeare","description":"Despite his many contributions to English literature, surprisingly little is known about William Shakespeare's life. Here’s what we do know about the celebrated actor, poet, and playwright.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Lucas Reilly"},"datePublished":"2019-09-11T12:00:00Z","dateModified":"2024-04-19T19:20:23Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/literature/authors/facts-about-william-shakespeare"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/theater/scottish-play-why-actors-wont-call-macbeth-its-title","headline":"The Scottish Play: Why Actors Won’t Call ‘Macbeth’ by Its Title","description":"The superstition that saying “Macbeth” will bring bad luck has been around since Shakespeare’s play debuted.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Ellen Gutoskey"},"datePublished":"2020-02-17T10:00:00Z","dateModified":"2024-04-19T20:22:01Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/theater/scottish-play-why-actors-wont-call-macbeth-its-title"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/literature/authors/shakespeare-conspiracy-theories","headline":"8 Shakespeare Conspiracy Theories","description":"Discover the controversial conspiracy theories that challenge Shakespeare’s authorship, from the Baconian Theory to the Alien Theory and beyond.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Lorna Wallace"},"datePublished":"2024-03-11T12:01:00Z","dateModified":"2024-03-11T12:01:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/literature/authors/shakespeare-conspiracy-theories"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/movies/why-is-it-called-box-office","headline":"Where Did the Term ‘Box Office’ Come From?","description":"The origins of the term ‘box office’ will probably surprise you—it's more about box seats than those old-fashioned detached booths that look like glorified boxes.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Ellen Gutoskey"},"datePublished":"2022-01-10T17:30:00Z","dateModified":"2024-03-07T14:23:09Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/movies/why-is-it-called-box-office"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/theater/back-to-the-future-musical-delorean","headline":"Whoa! How ‘Back to the Future: The Musical’ Reinvented Its Iconic DeLorean for the Stage","description":"The creative team behind ‘Back to the Future: The Musical’ inherited the heavy task of recreating the movie's time-traveling DeLorean for the stage.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Emily Rome"},"datePublished":"2024-02-27T23:02:00Z","dateModified":"2024-02-27T23:02:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/theater/back-to-the-future-musical-delorean"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/history/mystery/ambrose-small-disappearance-mystery","headline":"The Cryptic Case of Ambrose Small, Missing Millionaire","description":"In 1919, Canadian businessman Ambrose Small cashed a check for 1 million dollars. Hours later, he vanished.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Jake Rossen"},"datePublished":"2024-02-20T23:04:00Z","dateModified":"2024-02-20T23:04:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/history/mystery/ambrose-small-disappearance-mystery"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/egot-emmy-grammy-oscar-tony-award-winners","headline":"All 19 Members of the EGOT Winners' Circle (and 17 Almost-EGOTs)","description":"On January 15, 2024, Elton John won his first Emmy—and officially became a new member of the EGOT winner's circle.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Jennifer M Wood"},"datePublished":"2019-02-11T12:00:00Z","dateModified":"2024-01-16T22:36:10Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/egot-emmy-grammy-oscar-tony-award-winners"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/movies/highest-grossing-movies-1990s","headline":"The 25 Highest Grossing Movies of the 1990s, Ranked","description":"Looking back at the ‘90s, the list of highest grossing movies may not come as much surprise. But how many have you seen?","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Mike Rampton"},"datePublished":"2024-01-01T05:03:00Z","dateModified":"2026-10-19T18:13:03Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/movies/highest-grossing-movies-1990s"}}
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{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/quizzes/movies-tv/identify-grace-kelly-movie-three-clues","headline":"Quiz: Can You Identify the Grace Kelly Movie From Three Clues?","description":"Prove your classic film knowledge with this Grace Kelly quiz.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Alexandria Ingham"},"datePublished":"2026-11-12T13:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-11-12T13:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/quizzes/movies-tv/identify-grace-kelly-movie-three-clues"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/music/hotel-california-lyrics-trial","headline":"The Criminal Trial Over Don Henley’s Handwritten “Hotel California” Lyrics","description":"Three collectors were charged with trying to sell Eagles’ lyric drafts, but the case fell apart mid-trial over emails Henley’s own side had held back.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Matt Hoffman"},"datePublished":"2026-11-11T17:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-11-11T17:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/music/hotel-california-lyrics-trial"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/quizzes/movies-tv/name-lord-of-the-rings-character-one-quote","headline":"Quiz: Can You Name the ‘Lord of the Rings’ Character From One Clue?","description":"In honor of the third season of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ releasing, test your knowledge on the characters in Middle-earth.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Alexandria Ingham"},"datePublished":"2026-11-11T15:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-11-11T15:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/quizzes/movies-tv/name-lord-of-the-rings-character-one-quote"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/movies/quentin-tarantino-movies-ranked","headline":"All 9 Quentin Tarantino Movies, Ranked","description":"With his tenth and possibly final movie still on the horizon, there's no better time to revisit Quentin Tarantino's filmography. ","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Suhaib Adeel"},"datePublished":"2026-11-11T13:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-11-11T13:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/movies/quentin-tarantino-movies-ranked"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/literature/books/colin-meloy-wildwood-interview","headline":"Colin Meloy on the Folklore, Forests, and Political Message of 'Wildwood'","description":"The author and Decemberists frontman talks Portland, AI, and the universal stories behind his novel, now a movie from Laika Studios.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Eden Gordon"},"datePublished":"2026-11-11T02:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-11-11T02:00:01Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/literature/books/colin-meloy-wildwood-interview"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/tv/famous-musicians-on-sesame-street","headline":"8 Famous Musicians Who Appeared on ‘Sesame Street’","description":"From Johnny Cash's song for Oscar the Grouch to B. B. King's ode to the letter \"b,\" these 'Sesame Street' appearances by famous musicians were unforgettable.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Chris Wheatley"},"datePublished":"2026-11-10T21:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-11-10T21:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/tv/famous-musicians-on-sesame-street"}}
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/holidays/holiday-jokes-funny-share-with-everyone","headline":"75 Holiday Jokes That Are So Funny, You'll Want to Share Them With Everyone","description":"These jokes are sure to add a little laughter to your Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's celebrations! ","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Logan DeLoye"},"datePublished":"2026-11-10T19:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-11-10T19:00:01Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/holidays/holiday-jokes-funny-share-with-everyone"}}
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