--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Theater is a verb before it is a noun, an…" description: "\"Theater is a verb before it is a noun, an act before it is a place.\" — Martha Graham" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d1/martha-graham-2832_actor_theater-is-a-verb-before-it-is-a-noun-an_1322965.png" --- # Theater is a verb before it is a noun, an act before it is… ![“Theater is a verb before it is a noun, an act before it is a place.” quote by Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d1/martha-graham-2832_actor_theater-is-a-verb-before-it-is-a-noun-an_1322965.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d1/martha-graham-2832_actor_theater-is-a-verb-before-it-is-a-noun-an_1322965.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d1/martha-graham-2832_actor_theater-is-a-verb-before-it-is-a-noun-an_1322965.png) > “Theater is a verb before it is a noun, an act before it is a place.” [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art evolves from action to place, emphasizing process over static identity. **In simple terms:** Art is action before it becomes a thing. Key Takeaway Focus on process, not just product. Themes art process theatre creativity Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical artistic When to use this quote - creative workshops - theatre production - personal practice Key Concepts performance theory ontology expression Questions to Reflect On - How does process shape meaning? - Can a noun become a verb again? A Different Perspective May neglect static aspects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Noun Act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noun-act-1279312/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theater Verb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater-verb-4414870/) [Verb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/verb/) [Verb Noun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/verb-noun-579595/) ## Related quotes > [In a language as idiomatically stressed as English, opportunities for misreadings are bound to arise. By a mere backward movement of stress, a verb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/in-a-language-as-idiomatically-stressed-as-english-opportunities-for/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [Mother is a verb, not a noun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/mother-is-a-verb-not-a-noun/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [Is there a God? No. God is a verb, not a noun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micky-dolenz/is-there-a-god-no-god-is-a-verb-not-a-noun/) [Micky Dolenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micky-dolenz/) > [Here is God's purpose - For God, to me, it seems, is a verb not a noun, proper or improper; is the articulation not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/here-is-god-s-purpose-for-god-to-me-it-seems-is-a-verb-not-a-noun-2/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [Mind is a verb not a noun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/mind-is-a-verb-not-a-noun/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [God, to me, it seems, is a verb not a noun, proper or improper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/god-to-me-it-seems-is-a-verb-not-a-noun-proper-or-improper/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [I believe in love the verb, not the noun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/i-believe-in-love-the-verb-not-the-noun/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) > [Life is a verb, not a noun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/life-is-a-verb-not-a-noun/) [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) > [I thought art was a verb, rather than a noun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/i-thought-art-was-a-verb-rather-than-a-noun/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [Better to think of writing, of what one does, as an activity, rather than an identity to keep the calling a verb rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/better-to-think-of-writing-of-what-one-does-as-an-activity-rather/) [Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/) > [Both mother and God are verb, not noun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/both-mother-and-god-are-verb-not-noun/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [God is a verb, not a noun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/god-is-a-verb-not-a-noun/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [Art is a Verb, not a Noun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-west-basden/art-is-a-verb-not-a-noun/) [Ernest West Basden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-west-basden/) > [Love is a verb, not a noun. It is active. Love is not just feelings of passion and romance. It is behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/love-is-a-verb-not-a-noun-it-is-active-love-is-not-just-feelings-of/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“The soul is a verb. . . . Not a noun.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/the-soul-is-a-verb-not-a-noun/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) ## More by Martha Graham > [The body never lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/the-body-never-lies/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [You have no right to go before a public without an adequate technique, just because you feel. Anything feels - a leaf feels, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/you-have-no-right-to-go-before-a-public-without-an-adequate-technique/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/there-is-a-vitality-a-life-force-an-energy-a-quickening-that-is/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [Misery is a communicable disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/misery-is-a-communicable-disease/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [People have asked me why I chose to be a dancer. I did not choose. I was chosen to be a dancer, and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/people-have-asked-me-why-i-chose-to-be-a-dancer-i-did-not-choose-i/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [All things I do are in every woman. Every woman is Medea. Every woman is Jocasta. There comes a time when a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/all-things-i-do-are-in-every-woman-every-woman-is-medea-every-woman/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [The body is shaped, disciplined, honored, and in time, trusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/the-body-is-shaped-disciplined-honored-and-in-time-trusted/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [The secret to dancing is that it is about everything except dancing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/the-secret-to-dancing-is-that-it-is-about-everything-except-dancing/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [What makes a great dancer is not technique. What makes a great dancer is passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/what-makes-a-great-dancer-is-not-technique-what-makes-a-great-dancer/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [The body is a sacred garment. It's your first and last garment; it is what you enter life in and what you depart life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/the-body-is-a-sacred-garment-it-s-your-first-and-last-garment-it-is/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [You are unique, and if that is not fulfilled, then something has been lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/you-are-unique-and-if-that-is-not-fulfilled-then-something-has-been/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [You see, when weaving a blanket, an Indian woman leaves a flaw in the weaving of that blanket to let the soul out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/you-see-when-weaving-a-blanket-an-indian-woman-leaves-a-flaw-in-the/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [Dancing is just discovery, discovery, discovery - what it all means, the way the little bone near the ankle relates itself to the floor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/dancing-is-just-discovery-discovery-discovery-what-it-all-means-the/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [Theater used to be a verb; it used to be an act. But nowadays it is just a noun. It is a place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/theater-used-to-be-a-verb-it-used-to-be-an-act-but-nowadays-it-is/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [There is a force, a quickness that is translated through you into action. If you block it, the world will not have it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/there-is-a-force-a-quickness-that-is-translated-through-you-into/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) [Explore all 148 Martha Graham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) ## 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": "Theater is a verb before it is a noun, an act before it is a place.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martha Graham" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/theater-is-a-verb-before-it-is-a-noun-an-act-before-it-is-a-place/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/theater-is-a-verb-before-it-is-a-noun-an-act-before-it-is-a-place/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d1/martha-graham-2832_actor_theater-is-a-verb-before-it-is-a-noun-an_1322965.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d1/martha-graham-2832_actor_theater-is-a-verb-before-it-is-a-noun-an_1322965.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d1/martha-graham-2832_actor_theater-is-a-verb-before-it-is-a-noun-an_1322965.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Theater is a verb before it is a noun, an act before it is a place.” — Martha Graham", "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": "Martha Graham", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Theater is a verb before it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/theater-is-a-verb-before-it-is-a-noun-an-act-before-it-is-a-place/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/theater-is-a-verb-before-it-is-a-noun-an-act-before-it-is-a-place/#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 } } ] } ```