--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Unless we build theater and performing…" description: "\"Unless we build theater and performing arts, then we're not going to be creating future patrons. We need to make it accessible.\" — Michael Arden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/michael-arden-13817_actor_unless-we-build-theater-and-performing-a_809154.jpg" --- # Unless we build theater and performing arts, then we're… ![“Unless we build theater and performing arts, then we're not going to be creating future patrons. We need to make it accessible.” quote by Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/michael-arden-13817_actor_unless-we-build-theater-and-performing-a_809154.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/michael-arden-13817_actor_unless-we-build-theater-and-performing-a_809154.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/michael-arden-13817_actor_unless-we-build-theater-and-performing-a_809154.jpg) > “Unless we build theater and performing arts, then we're not going to be creating future patrons. We need to make it accessible.” [Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating accessible theater ensures future audiences and sustains the arts ecosystem. **In simple terms:** Make arts reachable to build future patrons. Key Takeaway Invest in inclusive, community‑focused arts. Themes arts accessibility future community patrons Mood hopeful urgent Type advocacy strategic When to use this quote - school programs - community outreach - ticket subsidies Key Concepts cultural sustainability public engagement education Questions to Reflect On - What barriers prevent people from attending? - How can we broaden access? A Different Perspective Funding constraints can limit accessibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Performing arts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performing-arts/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [Take some wood and canvas and nails and things. Build yourself a theater, a stage, light it, learn about it. When you've done that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-o-neill/take-some-wood-and-canvas-and-nails-and-things-build-yourself-a/) [Eugene O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-o-neill/) > [My goal is to take my years of experience and make it accessible to newer creators so they don't need to go through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pokimane/my-goal-is-to-take-my-years-of-experience-and-make-it-accessible-to/) Pokimane > [The Web meant that I didn't have to schlep a whole bunch of stuff to a museum and fight with all their constraints and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-goldberg/the-web-meant-that-i-didn-t-have-to-schlep-a-whole-bunch-of-stuff-to/) [Ken Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-goldberg/) > [So if a college education is indispensable, the challenge as I see it is how to make it more accessible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-gee/so-if-a-college-education-is-indispensable-the-challenge-as-i-see-it/) [Gordon Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-gee/) > [We have the greatest hospitals, doctors, and medical technology in the world - we need to make them accessible to every American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/we-have-the-greatest-hospitals-doctors-and-medical-technology-in-the/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [When you place art in the shops, it's a way to make it more accessible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurizio-cattelan/when-you-place-art-in-the-shops-it-s-a-way-to-make-it-more-accessible/) [Maurizio Cattelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurizio-cattelan/) > [“My goal is not to upset the apple cart, but to make it more accessible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/my-goal-is-not-to-upset-the-apple-cart-but-to-make-it-more-accessible/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [I want to make accessible movies for bright people, but I don't want to play games and be coy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/i-want-to-make-accessible-movies-for-bright-people-but-i-don-t-want/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [When I grew up in Cincinnati in 1974, the Board of Education set up the performing school, similar to the New York performing arts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-carroll/when-i-grew-up-in-cincinnati-in-1974-the-board-of-education-set-up/) [Rocky Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-carroll/) > [Posing is a performing art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/posing-is-a-performing-art/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [I grew up in the church, singing in choirs, and I went to a performing arts school, and I had a gospel group, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tweet/i-grew-up-in-the-church-singing-in-choirs-and-i-went-to-a-performing/) Tweet > [Work hard and follow your dreams. I work nine and a half hours a day, five days a week; it's a lot of hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzy-greene/work-hard-and-follow-your-dreams-i-work-nine-and-a-half-hours-a-day/) Lizzy Greene > [I did go to a performing arts school, so that facilitated my creativity, though I ended up going in a more musical direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-did-go-to-a-performing-arts-school-so-that-facilitated-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would tell any and all young people who are curious about a life in the performing arts to stay curious, stay humbled, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-debose/i-would-tell-any-and-all-young-people-who-are-curious-about-a-life-in/) [Ariana DeBose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-debose/) > [I was painfully shy, so my aunt suggested to my mum that me and my brother go to Stage 84, a performing arts school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-cooke/i-was-painfully-shy-so-my-aunt-suggested-to-my-mum-that-me-and-my/) [Christian Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-cooke/) ## More by Michael Arden > [I had a sort of rocky upbringing, and I think the theater was a safe place for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arden/i-had-a-sort-of-rocky-upbringing-and-i-think-the-theater-was-a-safe/) [Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) > [My dream would be to have 50 people in a show with each person from a different country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arden/my-dream-would-be-to-have-50-people-in-a-show-with-each-person-from-a/) [Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) > [A lot of times, comedy writers will go for the gay joke, and I've been vocal about saying, 'Go for the smart joke.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arden/a-lot-of-times-comedy-writers-will-go-for-the-gay-joke-and-i-ve-been/) [Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) > [So many gay men are mothers to so many young people, me included. I've had gay men who were more mother to me than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arden/so-many-gay-men-are-mothers-to-so-many-young-people-me-included-i-ve/) [Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) > [I created my family with the people I met in the theater and escaped in the stories I told and the characters I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arden/i-created-my-family-with-the-people-i-met-in-the-theater-and-escaped/) [Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) > [I want to create an environment that actors can be really free in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arden/i-want-to-create-an-environment-that-actors-can-be-really-free-in/) [Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) > [I've played gay, and I've played straight... I'm proud to be a gay man myself, and I'm thrilled to get the opportunity to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arden/i-ve-played-gay-and-i-ve-played-straight-i-m-proud-to-be-a-gay-man/) [Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) > [My favorite collaborator is Dane Laffrey, who designed the set for 'Once on This Island,' but we've worked together since high school, when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arden/my-favorite-collaborator-is-dane-laffrey-who-designed-the-set-for/) [Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) > [Say you have a young black kid, and you come to see a Sondheim show. You love the material, but you look on stage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arden/say-you-have-a-young-black-kid-and-you-come-to-see-a-sondheim-show/) [Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) > [I think all my favorite directors have acted. They understand how an actor thinks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arden/i-think-all-my-favorite-directors-have-acted-they-understand-how-an/) [Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) > [If you've never heard a piece of Mozart, then Mozart could sound scary or confusing, so it's all about learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arden/if-you-ve-never-heard-a-piece-of-mozart-then-mozart-could-sound-scary/) [Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) > [I remember sitting at home in West Texas listening to my 'Songs for a New World' CD over and over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arden/i-remember-sitting-at-home-in-west-texas-listening-to-my-songs-for-a/) [Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) > [I often think about what love can inspire in the world, not just in the eyes of the object of your affection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arden/i-often-think-about-what-love-can-inspire-in-the-world-not-just-in/) [Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) > [We learn the most from listening, and I don't just mean with our ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arden/we-learn-the-most-from-listening-and-i-don-t-just-mean-with-our-ears/) [Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) > [Magic in plays and musicals, I think, is more often created because of the work of an incredible company rather than a single component.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arden/magic-in-plays-and-musicals-i-think-is-more-often-created-because-of/) [Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) [Explore all 49 Michael Arden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) ## 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": "Unless we build theater and performing arts, then we're not going to be creating future patrons. 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