--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The musical has always been in jeopardy…" description: "\"The musical has always been in jeopardy - until - or was in jeopardy until it was realised that it is probably the safest living theatre art form.\" — H..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ed/harold-prince-9151_always_the-musical-has-always-been-in-jeopardy_1736534.jpg" --- # The musical has always been in jeopardy - until - or was… ![“The musical has always been in jeopardy - until - or was in jeopardy until it was realised that it is probably the safest living theatre art form.” quote by Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ed/harold-prince-9151_always_the-musical-has-always-been-in-jeopardy_1736534.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ed/harold-prince-9151_always_the-musical-has-always-been-in-jeopardy_1736534.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ed/harold-prince-9151_always_the-musical-has-always-been-in-jeopardy_1736534.jpg) > “The musical has always been in jeopardy - until - or was in jeopardy until it was realised that it is probably the safest living theatre art form.” [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. Theatre is risky, but musical theatre becomes safe when it embraces its unique strengths and audience appeal. **In simple terms:** Musicals are risky but become safe when embraced. Key Takeaway Embrace musical strengths to reduce risk. Themes risk theatre audience engagement Mood reflective strategic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - new productions - revivals - fundraising - marketing strategies Key Concepts artistic risk commercial viability genre evolution Questions to Reflect On - What risks are worth taking? - How to balance safety and experimentation? A Different Perspective Safety may limit experimental innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-form/) [Jeopardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jeopardy/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [“Jace was probably the safest boyfriend in the world since he was pretty much banned from (1) getting angry, (2) making sexual advances, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/jace-was-probably-the-safest-boyfriend-in-the-world-since-he-was/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Without class differences, England would cease to be the living theatre it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/without-class-differences-england-would-cease-to-be-the-living/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [Fatigue is the safest sleeping draught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/fatigue-is-the-safest-sleeping-draught/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [The wronged side is always the safest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/the-wronged-side-is-always-the-safest/) [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) > [“Return London. Safest route.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-rucka/return-london-safest-route/) [Greg Rucka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-rucka/) > [The church should be the safest place on the planet to talk about anything, including same-sex attraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/the-church-should-be-the-safest-place-on-the-planet-to-talk-about/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [To secure our future prosperity, we must do all that we can to make sure that Britain remains one of the safest and cleanest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-rudd/to-secure-our-future-prosperity-we-must-do-all-that-we-can-to-make/) [Amber Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-rudd/) > [In difficult and desperate cases, the boldest counsels are the safest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/in-difficult-and-desperate-cases-the-boldest-counsels-are-the-safest/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [Statistically, 2012 was the safest year to travel on a plane, in the history of aviation. Not one major passenger plane crashed. It's pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-campbell/statistically-2012-was-the-safest-year-to-travel-on-a-plane-in-the/) [Dallas Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-campbell/) > [Safety is number one at Uber... so we make sure the system is in place so riders get the safest ride possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-kalanick/safety-is-number-one-at-uber-so-we-make-sure-the-system-is-in-place/) [Travis Kalanick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-kalanick/) > [Amateur boxing is one of the safest sports around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-calzaghe/amateur-boxing-is-one-of-the-safest-sports-around/) [Joe Calzaghe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-calzaghe/) > [The safest place to be is always halfway into your future, without even knowing what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-krulwich/the-safest-place-to-be-is-always-halfway-into-your-future-without/) [Robert Krulwich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-krulwich/) > [He who cures a disease may be the skillfullest, but he that prevents it is the safest physician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-fuller/he-who-cures-a-disease-may-be-the-skillfullest-but-he-that-prevents/) [Thomas Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-fuller/) > [“But really, the safest place to be…was always right in the center of God’s will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-romang/but-really-the-safest-place-to-be-was-always-right-in-the-center-of/) [Mark Romang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-romang/) > [For the larger interest of humanity, Islamic society presents the safest place on this planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermaine-jackson/for-the-larger-interest-of-humanity-islamic-society-presents-the/) [Jermaine Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermaine-jackson/) ## 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": "The musical has always been in jeopardy - until - or was in jeopardy until it was realised that it is probably the safest living theatre art form.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harold Prince" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/the-musical-has-always-been-in-jeopardy-until-or-was-in-jeopardy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/the-musical-has-always-been-in-jeopardy-until-or-was-in-jeopardy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ed/harold-prince-9151_always_the-musical-has-always-been-in-jeopardy_1736534.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ed/harold-prince-9151_always_the-musical-has-always-been-in-jeopardy_1736534.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ed/harold-prince-9151_always_the-musical-has-always-been-in-jeopardy_1736534.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The musical has always been in jeopardy - until - or was in jeopardy until it was realised that it is…” — 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": "The musical has always been in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/the-musical-has-always-been-in-jeopardy-until-or-was-in-jeopardy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/the-musical-has-always-been-in-jeopardy-until-or-was-in-jeopardy/#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 } } ] } ```