6 Quotes By Stephen Sondheim


Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos.
Stephen Sondheim on art

All the best performers bring to their role something more, something different than what the author put on paper. That's what makes theatre live. That's why it persists.
Stephen Sondheim on best

I'm interested in the theater because I'm interested in communication with audiences. Otherwise I would be in concert music.
Stephen Sondheim on communication

Musicals are, by nature, theatrical, meaning poetic, meaning having to move the audience's imagination and create a suspension of disbelief, by which I mean there's no fourth wall.
Stephen Sondheim on imagination

In the Rodgers and Hammerstein generation, popular hits came out of shows and movies.
Stephen Sondheim on movies

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 on poetry