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 buttongadgethave share on social
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 backgrounddifferencefade Change image and share on social
Every time one can write a self-deluded song, you are way ahead of the game, way ahead. Self-delusion is the basis of nearly all the great scenes in all the great plays, from 'Oedipus' to 'Hamlet.' Stephen Sondheim aheadbasisdelude Change image and share on social
I chose and my world was shaken. So what? The choice may have been mistaken; the choosing was not. You have to move on. Stephen Sondheim choicechoosemistake Change image and share on social
I happen to like movies and plays about dislikeable people as long as I get to know why they are what they are. Stephen Sondheim dislikeablehappenlong Change image and share on social
Making lyrics feel natural, sit on music in such a way that you don't feel the effort of the author, so that they shine and bubble and rise and fall, is very, very hard to do. Whereas you can sit at the piano and just play and feel you're making art. Stephen Sondheim artauthorbubble share on social
The nice thing about doing a crossword puzzle is, you know there is a solution. Stephen Sondheim crosswordnicepuzzle Change image and share on social
Musicals are plays, but the last collaborator is your audience, so you've got to wait 'til the last collaborator comes in before you can complete the collaboration. Stephen Sondheim audiencecollaborationcollaborator Change image and share on social
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 ambitioncelebrityclothe Change image and share on social
When you know your cast well and their strengths and weaknesses, you can start writing for them, just the way Shakespeare wrote for his actors. Stephen Sondheim actorcastshakespeare Change image and share on social