--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Broadway is not about surprises. It's…" description: "\"Broadway is not about surprises. It's about rewarding the putrid, formulaic crap that makes Broadway Broadway.\" — Hilton Als" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/hilton-als-7671_about_broadway-is-not-about-surprises-it-s-abo_2826073.jpg" --- # Broadway is not about surprises. It's about rewarding the… ![“Broadway is not about surprises. It's about rewarding the putrid, formulaic crap that makes Broadway Broadway.” quote by Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/hilton-als-7671_about_broadway-is-not-about-surprises-it-s-abo_2826073.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/hilton-als-7671_about_broadway-is-not-about-surprises-it-s-abo_2826073.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/hilton-als-7671_about_broadway-is-not-about-surprises-it-s-abo_2826073.jpg) > “Broadway is not about surprises. It's about rewarding the putrid, formulaic crap that makes Broadway Broadway.” [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Broadway thrives on familiar formulas that audiences love, rewarding predictable entertainment over surprise. **In simple terms:** Broadway rewards familiar, formulaic shows. Key Takeaway Embrace tradition in theatrical productions. Themes theatre audience expectations commercialism Mood critical reflective Type analytical commentary When to use this quote - producing shows - marketing - audience analysis Key Concepts cultural criticism entertainment economics Questions to Reflect On - How does predictability affect audience satisfaction? - Can surprise coexist with commercial success? A Different Perspective Innovation may be undervalued, limiting artistic growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Broadway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broadway/) [Surprises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprises/) ## Related quotes > [I go to a lot of plays. I tend to prefer the off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway more than the Broadway shows. That's where I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-chenoweth/i-go-to-a-lot-of-plays-i-tend-to-prefer-the-off-broadway-and-off-off/) Ellen Chenoweth > [If you don't go to Broadway, you're a fool. On Broadway, off Broadway, above Broadway, below Broadway, go! Don't tell me there isn't something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/if-you-don-t-go-to-broadway-you-re-a-fool-on-broadway-off-broadway/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [People see a lot of huge stuff on Broadway, but there's always Off-Broadway energy and also shows that you can work in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-devine/people-see-a-lot-of-huge-stuff-on-broadway-but-there-s-always-off/) [Loretta Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-devine/) > [And I don't consider Broadway the acropolis of theatrical art. I mean Broadway is commercial - that's what it is. It's expensive seats and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kushner/and-i-don-t-consider-broadway-the-acropolis-of-theatrical-art-i-mean/) [Tony Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kushner/) > [I would love to do a non-musical Broadway or Off-Broadway play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candice-patton/i-would-love-to-do-a-non-musical-broadway-or-off-broadway-play/) [Candice Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candice-patton/) > [Surprises are beautiful because they come without waiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/surprises-are-beautiful-because-they-come-without-waiting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Economists must always be prepared for surprises: they find many in trying to find order in the universe of their study.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kuznets/economists-must-always-be-prepared-for-surprises-they-find-many-in/) [Simon Kuznets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kuznets/) > [“Nothing surprises me now," I tell him. I am stoic. I am Joan of Arc, with liver damage and an unused penis.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/nothing-surprises-me-now-i-tell-him-i-am-stoic-i-am-joan-of-arc-with/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [“LIFE HOLDS SURPRISES OF ALL KINDS, IN HIGHER STYLE, IT COULD DELIVER ANYTIME THROUGH THICK FORESTS”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-i-iyemere/life-holds-surprises-of-all-kinds-in-higher-style-it-could-deliver/) R.i. Iyemere > [“If you are ready for the bad surprises, then you are ready to reach the unreachable places! ~”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-you-are-ready-for-the-bad-surprises-then-you-are-ready-to-reach/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I'm crazy about surprises. I love chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-grey/i-m-crazy-about-surprises-i-love-chance/) [Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/) > [Life is full of surprises, capitalize on the good ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-surprises-capitalize-on-the-good-ones/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It surprises me how quickly the press likes to reach conclusions about my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sussanne-khan/it-surprises-me-how-quickly-the-press-likes-to-reach-conclusions/) [Sussanne Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sussanne-khan/) > [History is full of surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/history-is-full-of-surprises/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## More by Hilton Als > [Challenging is good, like good conversation, yes? Who wants to have dinner with the same old easy listening music sounding friends all the time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/challenging-is-good-like-good-conversation-yes-who-wants-to-have/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) > [I think someone like Khandi Alexander, who's now on 'Treme,' is one of the most extraordinary actresses I've seen in years. But she's dependent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/i-think-someone-like-khandi-alexander-who-s-now-on-treme-is-one-of/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) > [I have not seen 'The Lion King.' I don't do black folklore. And I'm black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/i-have-not-seen-the-lion-king-i-don-t-do-black-folklore-and-i-m-black/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) > [I think you're not really teaching anyone unless you're learning yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/i-think-you-re-not-really-teaching-anyone-unless-you-re-learning/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) > [I used to always love taking photos, but I would always give a camera away to someone else. Now I don't give the camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/i-used-to-always-love-taking-photos-but-i-would-always-give-a-camera/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) > [If I feel like I haven't really tapped into the essence of the story when I do an assignment, I may revisit it on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/if-i-feel-like-i-haven-t-really-tapped-into-the-essence-of-the-story/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) > [Inspiration takes many forms, but it's rarely pure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/inspiration-takes-many-forms-but-it-s-rarely-pure/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) > [Great sadness can be off putting, hard to comprehend, especially if it hasn't been your experience. It's amazing for me to know now that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/great-sadness-can-be-off-putting-hard-to-comprehend-especially-if-it/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) > [I think that Tyler Perry's genius really has been to tap into the domestic market. He knows what his audience is based on, having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/i-think-that-tyler-perry-s-genius-really-has-been-to-tap-into-the/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) > [I love Andre Leon Talley as a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/i-love-andre-leon-talley-as-a-person/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) > [I thought of the structure as musical. The first piece, for instance, contains the names/subject matter of every person to come in the book.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/i-thought-of-the-structure-as-musical-the-first-piece-for-instance/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) > [People have a copyright on their own life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/people-have-a-copyright-on-their-own-life/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) > [People are quick to make monuments of anything they live long enough to control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/people-are-quick-to-make-monuments-of-anything-they-live-long-enough/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) > [Racism seduces us with its desire to categorize, shutting out the living and breathing and 'different' world all around us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/racism-seduces-us-with-its-desire-to-categorize-shutting-out-the/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) > [I was so well loved by my mother that if people have any expectations of me I really don't notice because I'm hardest on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/i-was-so-well-loved-by-my-mother-that-if-people-have-any-expectations/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) [Explore all 88 Hilton Als quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. 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That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. 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