--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Musical numbers should carry the action…" description: "\"Musical numbers should carry the action of the play and should be representative of the personalities of the characters who sing them.\" — Jerome Kern" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/413/jerome-kern-49636_action_musical-numbers-should-carry-the-action_2928924.png" --- # Musical numbers should carry the action of the play and… ![“Musical numbers should carry the action of the play and should be representative of the personalities of the characters who sing them.” quote by Jerome Kern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/413/jerome-kern-49636_action_musical-numbers-should-carry-the-action_2928924.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/413/jerome-kern-49636_action_musical-numbers-should-carry-the-action_2928924.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/413/jerome-kern-49636_action_musical-numbers-should-carry-the-action_2928924.png) > “Musical numbers should carry the action of the play and should be representative of the personalities of the characters who sing them.” [Jerome Kern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kern/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Songs must advance the plot and reflect characters’ inner lives. **In simple terms:** Music should drive story and reveal character. Key Takeaway Write songs that move the narrative. Themes musical theatre songwriting characterization Mood dramatic creative Type instructional artistic When to use this quote - musical productions - stage plays - film scores - character songs Key Concepts Narrative songwriting theatrical composition Questions to Reflect On - How can a song reveal a character’s secret? - When should a song replace dialogue? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on music can distract from dialogue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Representatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representatives/) ## Related quotes > [It's the basic rule of musicals: Characters sing when their emotions become so intense that they can't do anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-kitt/it-s-the-basic-rule-of-musicals-characters-sing-when-their-emotions/) [Tom Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-kitt/) > [I can play characters who sing, but I don't like singing in a nightclub or something. 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