The dumbing down of the country reflects itself on Broadway. The shows get dumber, and the public gets used to them.

Quote by Stephen Sondheim

Topics: Stephen Sondheim Quotes

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

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

There's something inimical about the camera and song.

There's something inimical about the camera and song.

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...

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...

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....

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.

Gotta watch out for directors.

Gotta watch out for directors.

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...

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.

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,...

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.

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

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

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...

Musicals are, by nature, theatrical, meaning poetic, meaning having to move the audience's imagination and...

Musicals are, by nature, theatrical, meaning poetic, meaning having to move the audience's imagination and...

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...

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...

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...

Musical comedies aren't written, they are rewritten.

Musical comedies aren't written, they are rewritten.

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,...