A close-up on screen can say all a song can.

Quote by Stephen Sondheim

Topics: Stephen Sondheim Quotes

I would have been a geologist.

I would have been a geologist.

If people have split views about your work, I think it's flattering. I'd rather have...

If people have split views about your work, I think it's flattering. I'd rather have...

Everyone I used to play with has either given up or is dead.

Everyone I used to play with has either given up or is dead.

The movie adaptations of stage musicals that I've seen, without exception, in my opinion don't...

The movie adaptations of stage musicals that I've seen, without exception, in my opinion don't...

I firmly believe lyrics have to breathe and give the audience's ear a chance to...

I firmly believe lyrics have to breathe and give the audience's ear a chance to...

If you're dealing with a musical in which you're trying to tell a story, it's...

If you're dealing with a musical in which you're trying to tell a story, it's...

When you know your cast well and their strengths and weaknesses, you can start writing...

When you know your cast well and their strengths and weaknesses, you can start writing...

I fell into lyric writing because of music. I backed into it.

I fell into lyric writing because of music. I backed into it.

Nice is different than good.

Nice is different than good.

The dumbing down of the country reflects itself on Broadway. The shows get dumber, and...

The dumbing down of the country reflects itself on Broadway. The shows get dumber, and...

The more restrictions you have, the easier anything is to write.

The more restrictions you have, the easier anything is to write.

I played the organ when I went to military school, when I was 10. They...

I played the organ when I went to military school, when I was 10. They...

Generally, the best recording is the original cast, because that's the way the piece grew:...

Generally, the best recording is the original cast, because that's the way the piece grew:...

By the time I was 22, I was a professional. A young and flawed professional,...

By the time I was 22, I was a professional. A young and flawed professional,...

I don't listen to recordings of my songs. I don't avoid it, I just don't...

I don't listen to recordings of my songs. I don't avoid it, I just don't...

One of the hardest things about writing lyrics is to make the lyrics sit on...

One of the hardest things about writing lyrics is to make the lyrics sit on...

My personal life and my artistic life do not interfere with each other.

My personal life and my artistic life do not interfere with each other.

I really don't want to write a score until the whole show is cast and...

I really don't want to write a score until the whole show is cast and...

You can't have personal investors anymore because it's too expensive, so you have to have...

You can't have personal investors anymore because it's too expensive, so you have to have...

When I was growing up, there was no such thing as Off-Broadway. You either got...

When I was growing up, there was no such thing as Off-Broadway. You either got...