#r

On stage, generally speaking, the story is stopped or held back by songs, because that's the convention. Audiences enjoy the song and the singer, that's the point. ↗

— Stephen Sondheim

#back #because #convention #enjoy #generally

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. ↗

— Stephen Sondheim

#between #difference #fade #into #live

One of the hardest things about writing lyrics is to make the lyrics sit on the music in such a way that you're not aware there was a writer there. ↗

— Stephen Sondheim

#aware #hardest #lyrics #make #music

Oscar Hammerstein was a surrogate father during all those many days, and weeks and months when I didn't see my own father. ↗

— Stephen Sondheim

#during #father #hammerstein #i #many

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

— Stephen Sondheim

#exactly #fast #get #good #good songs

Although none of the rules for becoming more alive is valid, it is healthy to keep on formulating them. ↗

— Susan Sontag

#although #becoming #formulating #healthy #keep

The fact is popular art dates. It grows quaint. How many people feel strongly about Gilbert and Sullivan today compared to those who felt strongly in 1890? ↗

— Stephen Sondheim

#art #compared #dates #fact #feel

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

— Stephen Sondheim

#easier #more #restrictions #write #you

Most actors are either a shower of bloody scruffs or think they should dress like Hamlet off stage. ↗

— Martin Freeman

#dress #either #hamlet #like #most

The movie adaptations of stage musicals that I've seen, without exception, in my opinion don't work. A lot of people would disagree with me. ↗

— Stephen Sondheim

#exception #i #in my opinion #lot #me