One difference between poetry and lyrics is that lyrics sort of fade into the background. They fade on the page and live on the stage when set to music.

Quote by Stephen Sondheim

Topics: Stephen Sondheim Quotes

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

The nice thing about doing a crossword puzzle is, you know there is a solution.

The nice thing about doing a crossword puzzle is, you know there is a solution.

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...

When the audience comes in, it changes the temperature of what you've written.

When the audience comes in, it changes the temperature of what you've written.

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

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

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...

I would have been a geologist.

I would have been a geologist.

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....

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...

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.

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 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...

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...

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.

Wherever there is possession of marks, there is fraud ; wherever there is no-possession of...

Wherever there is possession of marks, there is fraud ; wherever there is no-possession of...

Cinema is the most beautiful fraud in the world.

Cinema is the most beautiful fraud in the world.