--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think there's a defined…" description: "\"I don't think there's a defined contemporary American musical, do you?\" — Harold Prince" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/harold-prince-9151_actor_i-don-t-think-there-s-a-defined-contempo_737308.jpg" --- # I don't think there's a defined contemporary American… ![“I don't think there's a defined contemporary American musical, do you?” quote by Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/harold-prince-9151_actor_i-don-t-think-there-s-a-defined-contempo_737308.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/harold-prince-9151_actor_i-don-t-think-there-s-a-defined-contempo_737308.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/harold-prince-9151_actor_i-don-t-think-there-s-a-defined-contempo_737308.jpg) > “I don't think there's a defined contemporary American musical, do you?” [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker doubts a single, clear definition of contemporary American music. **In simple terms:** No fixed genre for modern US music. Key Takeaway Embrace musical diversity. Themes music culture definition Mood inquisitive analytical Type discussion philosophical When to use this quote - concert programming - music education - radio playlists - festival curation Key Concepts genre theory cultural studies American identity Questions to Reflect On - How do you classify new sounds? - What role do labels play in discovery? A Different Perspective Genres still influence marketing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [The most underrated of all contemporary American writers of fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-march/the-most-underrated-of-all-contemporary-american-writers-of-fiction/) [William March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-march/) > [Mother's interest in contemporary American artists emerged during the 1920s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/mother-s-interest-in-contemporary-american-artists-emerged-during-the/) [David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) > [I like contemporary American literature and I like biographies and I like jazz and I like baseball and I like writers who write about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-frakes/i-like-contemporary-american-literature-and-i-like-biographies-and-i/) [Jonathan Frakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-frakes/) > [A lot of contemporary American culture makes its way to this county. Cuba is not some gray, isolated backwater. This is a happening place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/a-lot-of-contemporary-american-culture-makes-its-way-to-this-county/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [“Although relatively more open to same-sex unions, contemporary American culture nevertheless bristles with a need to categorize human eroticism, a force that by its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/although-relatively-more-open-to-same-sex-unions-contemporary/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [The contemporary American novelist benefits in a way from being ignored. It makes you angrier and makes you want to go into all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/the-contemporary-american-novelist-benefits-in-a-way-from-being-2/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [The contemporary American novelist benefits in a way from being ignored. It makes you angrier and makes you want to go into all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/the-contemporary-american-novelist-benefits-in-a-way-from-being/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [This would seem to be a truism in contemporary American politics: The electorate opts for serious leaders, but almost always men who are able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-wagner/this-would-seem-to-be-a-truism-in-contemporary-american-politics-the/) [Alex Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-wagner/) > [The dominant mood of contemporary American culture is the self-celebration of the peasantry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-henry-iii/the-dominant-mood-of-contemporary-american-culture-is-the-self/) [William A. Henry III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-henry-iii/) > [I guess maybe I try to make movies that are closer to real life than are many Hollywood movies. But I still try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/i-guess-maybe-i-try-to-make-movies-that-are-closer-to-real-life-than/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [Catchphrases flourish in contemporary American English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/catchphrases-flourish-in-contemporary-american-english/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I can't think offhand of any American poets who have Mandelstam's urgency, but it's a different country and a different time, and I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-wiman/i-can-t-think-offhand-of-any-american-poets-who-have-mandelstam-s/) [Christian Wiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-wiman/) > [Contemporary American psychiatrist It is a happy talent to know how to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/contemporary-american-psychiatrist-it-is-a-happy-talent-to-know-how/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Regarding the current Broadway revival of The Music Man, Jay Nordlinger wrote: There will always be those who sniff that the show is "feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-willson/regarding-the-current-broadway-revival-of-the-music-man-jay/) [Meredith Willson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-willson/) > [...Venice has been the living future of contemporary American history since its inception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-neeson/venice-has-been-the-living-future-of-contemporary-american-history/) [Liam Neeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-neeson/) ## More by Harold Prince > [I like to do everything you can possibly do before you go into rehearsal, because once we are in rehearsal or on the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/i-like-to-do-everything-you-can-possibly-do-before-you-go-into/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [It's a terrible shame if you're born the brightest guy in your class. If you're not, then you have to hustle-and that's good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/it-s-a-terrible-shame-if-you-re-born-the-brightest-guy-in-your-class/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [I've never been able to understand where great artists come from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/i-ve-never-been-able-to-understand-where-great-artists-come-from/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [I feel so much more comfortable when I'm working on material which makes other people scratch their heads and ask, 'You're going to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/i-feel-so-much-more-comfortable-when-i-m-working-on-material-which/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [One thing is certain: We can't go back. The musical will never be the same as it was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/one-thing-is-certain-we-can-t-go-back-the-musical-will-never-be-the/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [The truth of the matter is that I have lasted a long time, and with it comes both good and bad things. One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/the-truth-of-the-matter-is-that-i-have-lasted-a-long-time-and-with-it/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [I was nine. I saw Orson Welles in 'Julius Caesar.' It was involving, emotional, imaginative. I've never forgotten it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/i-was-nine-i-saw-orson-welles-in-julius-caesar-it-was-involving/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [Criticism is valuable... and self-congratulatory experiences are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/criticism-is-valuable-and-self-congratulatory-experiences-are-not/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [I'm a pragmatic man. I'll veer on the dangerous side, because I love dangerous subjects, but I won't shoot a show in the foot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/i-m-a-pragmatic-man-i-ll-veer-on-the-dangerous-side-because-i-love/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [Everything can't be a postage-stamp-sized project. Everything can't be a chamber piece. Musicals aren't even meant to be that, or identified with it... It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/everything-can-t-be-a-postage-stamp-sized-project-everything-can-t-be/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [I don't look back. I look forward and plan new shows. That's really feeding the most important part of working in the theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/i-don-t-look-back-i-look-forward-and-plan-new-shows-that-s-really/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [Collaboration is just, really, a group of people getting in a room with their eye on a very similar prize and wanting to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/collaboration-is-just-really-a-group-of-people-getting-in-a-room-with/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [I would like to see more new productions of new material by new composers/lyricists/book writers. I would like to see people take more chances.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/i-would-like-to-see-more-new-productions-of-new-material-by-new/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [When I was a 25-year-old kid, I raised $260,000 for my first show, 'The Pajama Game,' in such a homemade, pathetic, endearing way -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/when-i-was-a-25-year-old-kid-i-raised-260-000-for-my-first-show-the/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [I don't know why the guys with the big money don't find five terrific young producers and give each of them enough to commission…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/i-don-t-know-why-the-guys-with-the-big-money-don-t-find-five-terrific/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) [Explore all 75 Harold Prince quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think there's a defined contemporary American musical, do you?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harold Prince" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-defined-contemporary-american-musical-do-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-defined-contemporary-american-musical-do-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/harold-prince-9151_actor_i-don-t-think-there-s-a-defined-contempo_737308.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/harold-prince-9151_actor_i-don-t-think-there-s-a-defined-contempo_737308.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/harold-prince-9151_actor_i-don-t-think-there-s-a-defined-contempo_737308.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't think there's a defined contemporary American musical, do you?” — Harold Prince", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Harold Prince", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't think there's a defined...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-defined-contemporary-american-musical-do-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-defined-contemporary-american-musical-do-you/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```