--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I taught a class about the Tony Awards at…" description: "\"I taught a class about the Tony Awards at a summer theater camp the year after I graduated from high school. So, the first time I was nominated for 'Sp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/967/jonathan-groff-4035_childhood_i-taught-a-class-about-the-tony-awards-a_886825.png" --- # I taught a class about the Tony Awards at a summer theater… ![“I taught a class about the Tony Awards at a summer theater camp the year after I graduated from high school. So, the first time I was nominated for 'Spring Awakening,' it felt like a surreal dream: it was every childhood dream I had come true. It felt like a fairy tale.” quote by Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/967/jonathan-groff-4035_childhood_i-taught-a-class-about-the-tony-awards-a_886825.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/967/jonathan-groff-4035_childhood_i-taught-a-class-about-the-tony-awards-a_886825.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/967/jonathan-groff-4035_childhood_i-taught-a-class-about-the-tony-awards-a_886825.png) > “I taught a class about the Tony Awards at a summer theater camp the year after I graduated from high school. So, the first time I was nominated for 'Spring Awakening,' it felt like a surreal dream: it was every childhood dream I had come true. It felt like a fairy tale.” [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Achieving a lifelong dream feels surreal and validates early passions **In simple terms:** Dreams realized feel magical and affirming Key Takeaway Cherish and pursue your passions early Themes dreams validation career artistic fulfillment Mood joyful reflective inspired Type personal narrative motivational When to use this quote - high school graduation - theater camp - first nomination - award ceremony Key Concepts self-actualization nostalgia identity formation Questions to Reflect On - How did this nomination change your artistic goals? - What pressures arise after a dream is fulfilled? A Different Perspective Dreams may mask practical challenges of sustaining success ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Childhood dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood-dream/) [Fairy tale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy-tale/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spring/) [Spring awakening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spring-awakening/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I grew up loving cars. It was completely and utterly, without a doubt, my childhood dream. Whether your childhood dream progresses or changes, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-cooper/i-grew-up-loving-cars-it-was-completely-and-utterly-without-a-doubt/) [Dominic Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-cooper/) > [I dream in colour, and its always very surreal. My dream world is complete Hieronymus Bosch and Dali. I love it, I look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-dream-in-colour-and-its-always-very-surreal-my-dream-world-is/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [“Perhaps, but this Awakening felt very different from those in the past. A peculiar sensation seemed to spread throughout his body, propelled by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-cox/perhaps-but-this-awakening-felt-very-different-from-those-in-the-past/) [Greg Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-cox/) > [We can use music as a tool to overcome things. It was a beautiful age and realization for me, an awakening. I felt like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-ragan/we-can-use-music-as-a-tool-to-overcome-things-it-was-a-beautiful-age/) [Chuck Ragan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-ragan/) > [“The journey was a surreal dream. This world was about knowing the person you’d always wanted to be and setting your foot down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hawke/the-journey-was-a-surreal-dream-this-world-was-about-knowing-the/) [Christopher Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hawke/) > [I was playing this character, Melchior Gabor, who was a rebel and who was a person who didn't let the world define him, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-was-playing-this-character-melchior-gabor-who-was-a-rebel-and-who/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I left 'Spring Awakening,' and within a month of leaving the show, I came out to my parents and to my friends and broke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-left-spring-awakening-and-within-a-month-of-leaving-the-show-i-came/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [As a kid growing up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, all I wanted to do was be on Broadway in a musical. 'Spring Awakening' kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/as-a-kid-growing-up-in-lancaster-pennsylvania-all-i-wanted-to-do-was/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I did 'Spring Awakening' on Broadway for about three years, and I did over 500 performances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-did-spring-awakening-on-broadway-for-about-three-years-and-i-did/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > ['Spring Awakening' was a discovery for all involved. None of us will ever have that specific sense of revelation in the same way -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/spring-awakening-was-a-discovery-for-all-involved-none-of-us-will/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [After 'Spring Awakening,' I wanted to do things that are really challenging and outside my comfort zone: things that scare me a little and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/after-spring-awakening-i-wanted-to-do-things-that-are-really/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [When I was doing 'Spring Awakening' the first couple of years I was living in New York, I was gay, and I was living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/when-i-was-doing-spring-awakening-the-first-couple-of-years-i-was/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I loved traditional musical comedy. That was my passion. Then 'Spring Awakening' happened, and it took that rock n' roll and pop music to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-loved-traditional-musical-comedy-that-was-my-passion-then-spring/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I would say 'Looking' and 'Spring Awakening' are the most important and personal projects I've ever been apart of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-would-say-looking-and-spring-awakening-are-the-most-important-and/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [When I was 20 years old, I got cast in 'Spring Awakening' and got swept up in this experience where it was kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/when-i-was-20-years-old-i-got-cast-in-spring-awakening-and-got-swept/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) ## More by Jonathan Groff > [If I've had roadblocks along the way for being gay, I'm not aware of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/if-i-ve-had-roadblocks-along-the-way-for-being-gay-i-m-not-aware-of/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [When I was 20 years old, I got cast in 'Spring Awakening' and got swept up in this experience where it was kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/when-i-was-20-years-old-i-got-cast-in-spring-awakening-and-got-swept/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I'd moved to New York to pursue a career in theatre, and it's very practical how you do it - I just went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-d-moved-to-new-york-to-pursue-a-career-in-theatre-and-it-s-very/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [While I was in high school, I saw Sutton Foster in 'Thoroughly Modern Millie,' and she was the one that was most inspiring to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/while-i-was-in-high-school-i-saw-sutton-foster-in-thoroughly-modern/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I loved 'Weekend,' and it meant a lot to me when I saw it in the movie theater. I think 'Looking' feels more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-loved-weekend-and-it-meant-a-lot-to-me-when-i-saw-it-in-the-movie/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [Coming out, for me, was slightly painful. It was a relief, but it was also painful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/coming-out-for-me-was-slightly-painful-it-was-a-relief-but-it-was/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I never look at myself online, and I don't read gossip Web sites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-never-look-at-myself-online-and-i-don-t-read-gossip-web-sites/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I would say 'Looking' and 'Spring Awakening' are the most important and personal projects I've ever been apart of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-would-say-looking-and-spring-awakening-are-the-most-important-and/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [The hardest I've ever laughed was with Lea Michele.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/the-hardest-i-ve-ever-laughed-was-with-lea-michele/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [Dating can be painful, can be great, can be confusing, can be weird, but I don't do it online because I'm not really an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/dating-can-be-painful-can-be-great-can-be-confusing-can-be-weird-but/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I loved traditional musical comedy. That was my passion. Then 'Spring Awakening' happened, and it took that rock n' roll and pop music to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-loved-traditional-musical-comedy-that-was-my-passion-then-spring/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I feel like certainly there are people expecting 'Looking' to be representative of everyone that's gay, the entire gay community. And it's a dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-feel-like-certainly-there-are-people-expecting-looking-to-be/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [It's so awesome to be a part of something that is successful not because there's a famous person in it or because it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/it-s-so-awesome-to-be-a-part-of-something-that-is-successful-not/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [When I was doing 'Spring Awakening' the first couple of years I was living in New York, I was gay, and I was living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/when-i-was-doing-spring-awakening-the-first-couple-of-years-i-was/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I was definitely planning to go to college, but I deferred my admission to Carnegie Mellon to be in a non-equity tour of 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-was-definitely-planning-to-go-to-college-but-i-deferred-my/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) [Explore all 117 Jonathan Groff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) ## More Childhood quotes > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. 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Foster homes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shamrock/i-had-a-rough-upbringing-group-homes-foster-homes/) [Frank Shamrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shamrock/) > [When I talk about my childhood I used to say it as if it was scripted and I'd make jokes because it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-katona/when-i-talk-about-my-childhood-i-used-to-say-it-as-if-it-was-scripted/) [Kerry Katona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-katona/) > [Every man remembers his childhood as a kind of mythical age, just as every nation's childhood is its mythical age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-leopardi/every-man-remembers-his-childhood-as-a-kind-of-mythical-age-just-as/) [Giacomo Leopardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-leopardi/) > [It's a very familiar type of place where people either go to their house on the lake or they get together in different places.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/it-s-a-very-familiar-type-of-place-where-people-either-go-to-their/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [Downstairs in my house, I have a museum room. I keep all of my awards down there, and childhood photos, and even all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/downstairs-in-my-house-i-have-a-museum-room-i-keep-all-of-my-awards/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [On paper, it looks rough, but I had a great childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-morton/on-paper-it-looks-rough-but-i-had-a-great-childhood/) [Samantha Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-morton/) > [Let positive, strong, helpful thoughts enter into your brains from very childhood. 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It was a mixture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/i-m-not-sure-i-would-have-ever-started-to-draw-let-alone-write-if-my/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) [Browse all 5,837 Childhood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I taught a class about the Tony Awards at a summer theater camp the year after I graduated from high school. So, the first time I was nominated for 'Spring Awakening,' it felt like a surreal dream: it was every childhood dream I had come true. 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