Musicals are plays, but the last collaborator is your audience, so you've got to wait 'til the last collaborator comes in before you can complete the collaboration.

Quote by Stephen Sondheim

Topics: Stephen Sondheim Quotes

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...

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,...

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.

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...

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....

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

My mother wanted me off her hands. She was a working woman. She designed clothes,...

My mother wanted me off her hands. She was a working woman. She designed clothes,...

Musical comedies aren't written, they are rewritten.

Musical comedies aren't written, they are rewritten.

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

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

The fact is popular art dates. It grows quaint. How many people feel strongly about...

The fact is popular art dates. It grows quaint. How many people feel strongly about...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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...

Every writer I've ever spoken to feels fraudulent in some way or other.

Every writer I've ever spoken to feels fraudulent in some way or other.

One difference between poetry and lyrics is that lyrics sort of fade into the background....

One difference between poetry and lyrics is that lyrics sort of fade into the background....

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...

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

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

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...