Broadway Quote by Frank Rich
““I was struck by how life moved so fast, almost cruelly, on Broadway. Fiorello! had fled the Broadhurst to make way for Sail Away , as if it had never existed. I studied each such metamorphosis with contradictory emotions of excitement and loss. With their new marquees and posters and glass-encased displays of fresh photos, the theaters promised a teeming bounty of surprises. But there remained not a shred of their previous tenants, who were gone forever and mourned by no one, perhaps, except me. When shows left the National, I knew they were going on to Broadway or at least to another town on the road. Where did the plays that left New York go?””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The New York Times, “Broadway’s Metamorphosis”, 1990
The author reflects on the rapid, relentless change of Broadway theaters, feeling both excitement for new productions and sorrow for the loss of past shows and their histories.
In simple terms: Broadway changes quickly, bringing new shows while old ones disappear, evoking mixed emotions.
Key Takeaway
Embrace change but honor what’s lost.
Themes
change
nostalgia
art
urban life
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
observational
critical
When to use this quote
- theater criticism
- urban development
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
cultural flux
impermanence
memory
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you preserve the past amid constant change?
- What value does nostalgia hold in progress?
A Different Perspective
Loss of history can diminish cultural continuity.
