When I was growing up, there was no such thing as Off-Broadway. You either got your show on or you didn't.

Quote by Stephen Sondheim

Topics: Stephen Sondheim Quotes

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,...

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

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

So many good songs get written fast, because you know exactly what has to work.

So many good songs get written fast, because you know exactly what has to work.

After the Rodgers and Hammerstein revolution, songs became part of the story, as opposed to...

After the Rodgers and Hammerstein revolution, songs became part of the story, as opposed to...

I was raised to be charming, not sincere.

I was raised to be charming, not sincere.

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....

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.

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

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

I chose and my world was shaken. So what? The choice may have been mistaken;...

I chose and my world was shaken. So what? The choice may have been mistaken;...

Musical comedies aren't written, they are rewritten.

Musical comedies aren't written, they are rewritten.

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...

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.

Nice is different than good.

Nice is different than good.

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...

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...

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,...

Gotta watch out for directors.

Gotta watch out for directors.

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 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...