Musicals are, by nature, theatrical, meaning poetic, meaning having to move the audience's imagination and create a suspension of disbelief, by which I mean there's no fourth wall.

Quote by Stephen Sondheim

Topics: Stephen Sondheim Quotes

Musical comedies aren't written, they are rewritten.

Musical comedies aren't written, they are rewritten.

Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos.

Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos.

All the best performers bring to their role something more, something different than what the...

All the best performers bring to their role something more, something different than what the...

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...

Gotta watch out for directors.

Gotta watch out for directors.

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.

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...

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...

It ain't just a question of misunderstood, Deep down inside him, he's no good

It ain't just a question of misunderstood, Deep down inside him, he's no good

The worst thing you can do is censor yourself as the pencil hits the paper....

The worst thing you can do is censor yourself as the pencil hits the paper....

In the Rodgers and Hammerstein generation, popular hits came out of shows and movies.

In the Rodgers and Hammerstein generation, popular hits came out of shows and movies.

Math and music are intimately related. Not necessarily on a conscious level, but sure.

Math and music are intimately related. Not necessarily on a conscious level, but sure.

There's something inimical about the camera and song.

There's something inimical about the camera and song.

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 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...

Musicals are plays, but the last collaborator is your audience, so you've got to wait...

Musicals are plays, but the last collaborator is your audience, so you've got to wait...

Lyrics have to be underwritten. That's why poets generally make poor lyric writers because the...

Lyrics have to be underwritten. That's why poets generally make poor lyric writers because the...

Nowadays, there are sometimes more producers than there are people in the cast, because it...

Nowadays, there are sometimes more producers than there are people in the cast, because it...

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.

Oscar Hammerstein was a surrogate father during all those many days, and weeks and months...

Oscar Hammerstein was a surrogate father during all those many days, and weeks and months...