When the audience comes in, it changes the temperature of what you've written. Stephen Sondheim More Quotes by Stephen Sondheim More Quotes From Stephen Sondheim By the time I get through writing a score, I know the book better than the book writer does, because I've examined every word, and questioned the book writer on every word. Stephen Sondheim doewritingbook He came from a rock band and even though he was not a lead singer, I knew he was musical just from that. I also knew that he was intelligent enough from talking to him, that he would not play this part unless he could handle it vocally. I knew he was not about to get up there and have to have his voice dubbed or come off croaking. So Johnny Depp casted Johnny Depp. I trusted him entirely. I knew that he was no fool and he would only do it if he felt he could handle it. I told him to listen to the score carefully and if you can handle it, fine by me, and I was right. Stephen Sondheim rocksintelligenttalking Johnny Depp's performance is quite remarkable. Sweeney's desire for revenge and the simmering anger and hurt that he feels carry the story forward, and Johnny finds the most remarkable variety within that narrow set of emotions. The intensity is at a boil all the time and he never drops it. It's real anger. Stephen Sondheim realrevengehurt You can't have personal investors anymore because it's too expensive, so you have to have corporate investment or a lot of rich people. Stephen Sondheim vaccinesrichpeople 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 singersstoriessong I love computers. I love writing on them. I love gadgetry. The thing is: I am a slow reader. So, if I am going to get my work done, I read, like, a newspaper and that's it. If I got into websites and the internet, I wouldn't get any work done. Stephen Sondheim computerdonewriting I like songs that are part of a dramatic texture, and therefore I like the scenes to be active. I wanna follow the story and that means you lean on the actors. Stephen Sondheim storiessongmean I played the organ when I went to military school, when I was 10. They had a huge organ, the second-largest pipe organ in New York State. I loved all the buttons and the gadgets. I've always been a gadget man. Stephen Sondheim militarynew-yorkschool My mother wanted me off her hands. She was a working woman. She designed clothes, and she was a celebrity collector. It's my mother's ambition to be a celebrity. Stephen Sondheim ambitionmotherhands My main goal is to tell a story. Stephen Sondheim goalstories I do not dwell on dreams I know how soon a dream becomes an expectation How can I have expectations? Look at me, No, Captain, Look at me, Look at me! Stephen Sondheim expectationsdreamlooks He has a more acute ear than most producers. He takes it seriously and is more daring, imaginative and endlessly creative. He likes to take chances. Stephen Sondheim entertainment I was knocked out -- I thought it was wonderful, they seemed so fresh and meticulous and theatrical. Stephen Sondheim entertainment I'm always conscious of what I'm writing, conscious of what the actor may ask me. I have a defense for nearly every line in the song. Stephen Sondheim mealwayswritingsong I certainly wanted my name in lights. I wanted my name on a marquee. I wanted recognition on Broadway. Stephen Sondheim namelightsrecognitionbroadway I would have been a geologist. Stephen Sondheim wouldbeengeologist I was a mathematician by nature, and still am - I just knew I didn't want to be a mathematician. So I decided not to take any mathematics courses. Stephen Sondheim justmathematicsnaturewant He taught me how to structure a song, what a character was, what a scene was ; he taught me how to tell a story, how not to tell a story, how to make stage directions practical, i soaked it all up, and I still practice the principles he taught me that afternoon. Stephen Sondheim
