Stephen Sondheim Pieces Quotations

Generally, the best recording is the original cast, because that's the way the piece grew: integrally, with them.

The last collaborator is your audience ... when the audience comes in, it changes the temperature of what you've written. Things that seem to work well -- work in a sense of carry the story forward and be integral to the piece -- suddenly become a little less relevant or a little less functional or a little overlong or a little overweight or a little whatever. And so you start reshaping from an audience.

In not-for-profit theater, you don't worry so much about how the audience is going to react. You want to make them absorb the piece.

I took piano lessons when I was 6. I didn't want to go on with it. I don't remember being moved by a piece of music.

I don't write songs apart from theatrical pieces. I'm not interested in writing songs qua songs.