--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that of musicals - especially the…" description: "\"I think that of musicals - especially the big, splashy ones - require an actor that's also part cheerleader, too, and that's really tough to do if it's..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/john-lloyd-young-24154_actor_i-think-that-of-musicals-especially-the_1335970.jpg" --- # I think that of musicals - especially the big, splashy… ![“I think that of musicals - especially the big, splashy ones - require an actor that's also part cheerleader, too, and that's really tough to do if it's not something that really grabs you and your heart's not in it.” quote by John Lloyd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/john-lloyd-young-24154_actor_i-think-that-of-musicals-especially-the_1335970.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/john-lloyd-young-24154_actor_i-think-that-of-musicals-especially-the_1335970.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/john-lloyd-young-24154_actor_i-think-that-of-musicals-especially-the_1335970.jpg) > “I think that of musicals - especially the big, splashy ones - require an actor that's also part cheerleader, too, and that's really tough to do if it's not something that really grabs you and your heart's not in it.” [John Lloyd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lloyd-young/) ## 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 argues that musical theater demands performers who can both act and bring energetic, cheerleader-like enthusiasm, which is challenging without genuine passion. **In simple terms:** Musicals need actors with both acting skill and high energy. Key Takeaway Seek roles that truly inspire you. Themes theatre performance passion Mood enthusiastic reflective inspirational Type performer coach When to use this quote - audition preparation - career choices - artistic development Key Concepts musical theatre acting technique audience engagement Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance technical skill with enthusiasm? - What motivates you to pursue challenging roles? A Different Perspective Passion alone may not guarantee skill; casting can be subjective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Cheerleader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheerleader/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musicals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musicals/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [Everytime I say "sure" when I mean "no," everytime I smile brightly when I'm exploding with rage, every time I imagine my man's achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bernikow/everytime-i-say-sure-when-i-mean-no-everytime-i-smile-brightly-when-i/) [Louise Bernikow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bernikow/) > [I was a theater geek, and I was a surly cheerleader, and that's really kind of a contradiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-zea/i-was-a-theater-geek-and-i-was-a-surly-cheerleader-and-that-s-really/) [Natalie Zea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-zea/) > [I hate musicals, especially film musicals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santigold/i-hate-musicals-especially-film-musicals/) [Santigold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santigold/) > [You think, 'Musicals, they must always be romantic' - You'd be surprised how few of them historically have ever been romantic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/you-think-musicals-they-must-always-be-romantic-you-d-be-surprised/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [I don't think musicals are my thing. I'm not a big fan. Definitely have to get on the stage and do something like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-westwick/i-don-t-think-musicals-are-my-thing-i-m-not-a-big-fan-definitely-have/) [Ed Westwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-westwick/) > [I think musicals are a lowbrow, populist art form. And I don't mean lowbrow in a condescending way at all - they are designed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-wolfe/i-think-musicals-are-a-lowbrow-populist-art-form-and-i-don-t-mean/) [George C. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-wolfe/) > [I think musicals can be more than what people imagine. That'll be the case with 'Matilda.' It's such a clever thing to stage. Parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertie-carvel/i-think-musicals-can-be-more-than-what-people-imagine-that-ll-be-the/) [Bertie Carvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertie-carvel/) > [I think that both musicals and opera have a capacity to get to an inner emotional landscape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-taymor/i-think-that-both-musicals-and-opera-have-a-capacity-to-get-to-an/) [Julie Taymor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-taymor/) > [Nowadays the audience has changed. No one can anticipate the audience. That's what I think musicals will come to. No backstage stories, nothing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincente-minnelli/nowadays-the-audience-has-changed-no-one-can-anticipate-the-audience/) [Vincente Minnelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincente-minnelli/) > [That's what I think musicals will come to. No backstage stories, nothing of that sort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincente-minnelli/that-s-what-i-think-musicals-will-come-to-no-backstage-stories/) [Vincente Minnelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincente-minnelli/) > [But I think musicals are going to have to deal with important subjects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincente-minnelli/but-i-think-musicals-are-going-to-have-to-deal-with-important-subjects/) [Vincente Minnelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincente-minnelli/) > [I have made as much out of myself as could be made of the stuff, and no man should require more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/i-have-made-as-much-out-of-myself-as-could-be-made-of-the-stuff-and/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [Clearly if the United States' relationship with Cuba changed, which would require a regime change inside Cuba, if Cuba moved towards a more democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/clearly-if-the-united-states-relationship-with-cuba-changed-which/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [Many jobs at Google require math, computing, and coding skills, so if your good grades truly reflect skills in those areas that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/many-jobs-at-google-require-math-computing-and-coding-skills-so-if/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It require you to connect today's actions to tomorrow's results. There's a season for sowing a season for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ryan-blair/self-discipline-is-an-act-of-cultivation-it-require-you-to-connect/) [Gary Ryan Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ryan-blair/) ## More by John Lloyd Young > [When you look at sort of pop stardom now, some of these singers, it seems like the idea of them was created in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lloyd-young/when-you-look-at-sort-of-pop-stardom-now-some-of-these-singers-it/) [John Lloyd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lloyd-young/) > [The thing early on that you think is 'wrong' with you, that makes you not fit in with everyone else, becomes the key to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lloyd-young/the-thing-early-on-that-you-think-is-wrong-with-you-that-makes-you/) [John Lloyd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lloyd-young/) > [I'm looking for smart friends all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lloyd-young/i-m-looking-for-smart-friends-all-the-time/) [John Lloyd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lloyd-young/) > [My mother died of cystic fibrosis before I knew her. I was two years old, and I don't remember her. I do remember, though,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lloyd-young/my-mother-died-of-cystic-fibrosis-before-i-knew-her-i-was-two-years/) [John Lloyd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lloyd-young/) > [I did have a falsetto, but I only used it when I was joking around with friends or to annoy my girlfriends, or in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lloyd-young/i-did-have-a-falsetto-but-i-only-used-it-when-i-was-joking-around/) [John Lloyd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lloyd-young/) > [During 'Jersey Boys,' I discovered one of the most rewarding ways to use your goodwill is to motivate fans and friends into lending support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lloyd-young/during-jersey-boys-i-discovered-one-of-the-most-rewarding-ways-to-use/) [John Lloyd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lloyd-young/) > [I approach the singing kind of like with dialect thoughts in my mind. I have to sound like this on certain things to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lloyd-young/i-approach-the-singing-kind-of-like-with-dialect-thoughts-in-my-mind/) [John Lloyd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lloyd-young/) > [I think Frankie Valli did everything right. He kept singing. And you also have to remember, he was confined to a certain society, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lloyd-young/i-think-frankie-valli-did-everything-right-he-kept-singing-and-you/) [John Lloyd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lloyd-young/) > [I was a Hollywood musical fan as a kid, and I know how rare it is for someone who originates the Broadway role to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lloyd-young/i-was-a-hollywood-musical-fan-as-a-kid-and-i-know-how-rare-it-is-for/) [John Lloyd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lloyd-young/) > [My natural mother passed away from cystic fibrosis when I was a toddler, so I feel a great deal of empathy for people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lloyd-young/my-natural-mother-passed-away-from-cystic-fibrosis-when-i-was-a/) [John Lloyd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lloyd-young/) > [ It was a surprise to me and a happy accident that it was such a skill \[natural falsetto\] - a latent skill and that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lloyd-young/it-was-a-surprise-to-me-and-a-happy-accident-that-it-was-such-a-skill/) [John Lloyd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lloyd-young/) > [I've learned to keep my work on the stage or on the screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lloyd-young/i-ve-learned-to-keep-my-work-on-the-stage-or-on-the-screen/) [John Lloyd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lloyd-young/) > [But when you get to know a character so well, you start to have insights that you can't show because you're confined to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lloyd-young/but-when-you-get-to-know-a-character-so-well-you-start-to-have/) [John Lloyd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lloyd-young/) > [I don't have a Jersey dialect. So when I approached the singing, I approached it the same way as an actor I approach a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lloyd-young/i-don-t-have-a-jersey-dialect-so-when-i-approached-the-singing-i/) [John Lloyd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lloyd-young/) > [It's funny - Frankie Valli's story and that advice that he was just getting from, you know, Christopher Walken's character, is very true for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lloyd-young/it-s-funny-frankie-valli-s-story-and-that-advice-that-he-was-just/) [John Lloyd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lloyd-young/) [Explore all 25 John Lloyd Young quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lloyd-young/) ## 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! 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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 think that of musicals - especially the big, splashy ones - require an actor that's also part cheerleader, too, and that's really tough to do if it's not something that really grabs you and your heart's not in it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Lloyd Young" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lloyd-young/i-think-that-of-musicals-especially-the-big-splashy-ones-require-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lloyd-young/i-think-that-of-musicals-especially-the-big-splashy-ones-require-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/john-lloyd-young-24154_actor_i-think-that-of-musicals-especially-the_1335970.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/john-lloyd-young-24154_actor_i-think-that-of-musicals-especially-the_1335970.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/john-lloyd-young-24154_actor_i-think-that-of-musicals-especially-the_1335970.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think that of musicals - especially the big, splashy ones - require an actor that's also part cheerleader…” — John Lloyd Young", "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": "John Lloyd Young", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lloyd-young/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think that of musicals -...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lloyd-young/i-think-that-of-musicals-especially-the-big-splashy-ones-require-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lloyd-young/i-think-that-of-musicals-especially-the-big-splashy-ones-require-an/#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 } } ] } ```