--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What musical performers bring to straight…" description: "\"What musical performers bring to straight characterizations is that physical flexibility that comes with knowing your body so well. A lot of actors are..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b7/rita-moreno-2697_body_what-musical-performers-bring-to-straigh_1144993.jpg" --- # What musical performers bring to straight… ![“What musical performers bring to straight characterizations is that physical flexibility that comes with knowing your body so well. A lot of actors are terribly awkward. Terribly. And I think it's so important for them, when they're young, to work on their physical selves.” quote by Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b7/rita-moreno-2697_body_what-musical-performers-bring-to-straigh_1144993.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b7/rita-moreno-2697_body_what-musical-performers-bring-to-straigh_1144993.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b7/rita-moreno-2697_body_what-musical-performers-bring-to-straigh_1144993.jpg) > “What musical performers bring to straight characterizations is that physical flexibility that comes with knowing your body so well. A lot of actors are terribly awkward. Terribly. And I think it's so important for them, when they're young, to work on their physical selves.” [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Physical awareness enhances performance; many actors lack it. **In simple terms:** Knowing your body improves acting. Key Takeaway Develop body awareness early. Themes acting physicality training self‑awareness Mood educational inspirational Type professional advice When to use this quote - theatre workshops - dance classes - bodywork sessions Key Concepts performance art kinesthetic intelligence embodiment Questions to Reflect On - How can actors improve bodily confidence? - What exercises best build physical expressiveness? A Different Perspective Physical training may not suit all styles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Flexibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flexibility/) [Performers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performers/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [When you examine the lives of the most influential people who have ever walked among us, you discover one thread that winds through them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/when-you-examine-the-lives-of-the-most-influential-people-who-have/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“It is not primarily our physical selves that limit us but rather our mindset about our physical limits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-j-langer/it-is-not-primarily-our-physical-selves-that-limit-us-but-rather-our/) [Ellen J. Langer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-j-langer/) > [“The columnist gives these words to the longings of an 11-year-old he meets with Tourette's syndrome: "Wisdom is encoded in our common language. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/the-columnist-gives-these-words-to-the-longings-of-an-11-year-old-he/) [George will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [Books, books, books in all their aspects, in form and spirit, their physical selves and what reading releases from their hieroglyphic pages, in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-clark-powell/books-books-books-in-all-their-aspects-in-form-and-spirit-their/) [Lawrence Clark Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-clark-powell/) > [In a personal way, to do with family and the father-son relationship, in a kind of artistic way with regard to him being an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/in-a-personal-way-to-do-with-family-and-the-father-son-relationship/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [I love performing in a good straight play as well and I'm a crossover actor, I crossover from plays to musicals, musicals to plays.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-schroeder/i-love-performing-in-a-good-straight-play-as-well-and-i-m-a-crossover/) [Erica Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-schroeder/) > [The dance, just as the performance of the actor, is kinesthetic art, art of the muscle sense. The awareness of tension and relaxation within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-arnheim/the-dance-just-as-the-performance-of-the-actor-is-kinesthetic-art-art/) [Rudolf Arnheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-arnheim/) > [The actor has to develop his body. The actor has to work on his voice. But the most important thing the actor has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/the-actor-has-to-develop-his-body-the-actor-has-to-work-on-his-voice/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [In the (film) industry, body size doesn't matter. What matters is how much an actor contributes through his performance and not his body size.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/in-the-film-industry-body-size-doesn-t-matter-what-matters-is-how/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) > [I think that actresses can be in all different shapes and sizes, but it is a profession, and as an actor, your body is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebel-wilson/i-think-that-actresses-can-be-in-all-different-shapes-and-sizes-but/) [Rebel Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebel-wilson/) > [If you think aficionados of a living Constitution want to bring you flexibility, think again. You think the death penalty is a good idea?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/if-you-think-aficionados-of-a-living-constitution-want-to-bring-you/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [I think there is a big and significant difference between being a leader and being a manager-leaders lead from the heart. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-jung/i-think-there-is-a-big-and-significant-difference-between-being-a/) [Andrea Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-jung/) > [I describe family values as responsibility towards others, increase of tolerance, compromise, support, flexibility. And essentially the things I call the silent song of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-minuchin/i-describe-family-values-as-responsibility-towards-others-increase-of/) [Salvador Minuchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-minuchin/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Enjoying success requires the ability to adapt. Only by being open to change will you have a true opportunity to get the most from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-ryan/enjoying-success-requires-the-ability-to-adapt-only-by-being-open-to/) [Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) ## More by Rita Moreno > [This is my idea of heaven, coming home and watching the news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/this-is-my-idea-of-heaven-coming-home-and-watching-the-news/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) > [When was the last time you saw a musical about people at war with each other?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/when-was-the-last-time-you-saw-a-musical-about-people-at-war-with/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) > [Being in service and being involved in something that is greater than you is what makes a person complete and whole. The very first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/being-in-service-and-being-involved-in-something-that-is-greater-than/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) > [As you get older one tends to develop what I call a wobble. I would rather eat glass than let that happen to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/as-you-get-older-one-tends-to-develop-what-i-call-a-wobble-i-would/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) > [They made me use an accent, which I wasn't thrilled about because a lot of us, obviously, don't have them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/they-made-me-use-an-accent-which-i-wasn-t-thrilled-about-because-a/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) > [Retirement is just not in my DNA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/retirement-is-just-not-in-my-dna/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) > [All my life, I faced sexism and racism and then, when I hit 40, ageism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/all-my-life-i-faced-sexism-and-racism-and-then-when-i-hit-40-ageism/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) > [You see a script, and you say, 'Oh, I can play the heck out of that,' talk to your agent, and he says they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/you-see-a-script-and-you-say-oh-i-can-play-the-heck-out-of-that-talk/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) > [I have stamina, and I have energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/i-have-stamina-and-i-have-energy/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) > [Los Angles is not my favorite city. Well, I shouldn't say that... I love to visit it, on a temporary basis. It's just such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/los-angles-is-not-my-favorite-city-well-i-shouldn-t-say-that-i-love/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) > [My idol when I was a kid was Elizabeth Taylor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/my-idol-when-i-was-a-kid-was-elizabeth-taylor/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) > [I should be a representative for AARP!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/i-should-be-a-representative-for-aarp/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) > [I get embarrassed when I go to an actor or actress's home and it's filled with pictures of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/i-get-embarrassed-when-i-go-to-an-actor-or-actress-s-home-and-it-s/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) > [You talk about meant to be - oh my goodness, I have never done anything else in my life except be a performer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/you-talk-about-meant-to-be-oh-my-goodness-i-have-never-done-anything/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) > [I think Mike Nichols is brilliant, but I think Jerry Robbins was a genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/i-think-mike-nichols-is-brilliant-but-i-think-jerry-robbins-was-a/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) [Explore all 154 Rita Moreno quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) ## 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": "What musical performers bring to straight characterizations is that physical flexibility that comes with knowing your body so well. A lot of actors are terribly awkward. Terribly. And I think it's so important for them, when they're young, to work on their physical selves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rita Moreno" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/what-musical-performers-bring-to-straight-characterizations-is-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/what-musical-performers-bring-to-straight-characterizations-is-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b7/rita-moreno-2697_body_what-musical-performers-bring-to-straigh_1144993.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b7/rita-moreno-2697_body_what-musical-performers-bring-to-straigh_1144993.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b7/rita-moreno-2697_body_what-musical-performers-bring-to-straigh_1144993.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What musical performers bring to straight characterizations is that physical flexibility that comes with…” — Rita Moreno", "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": "Rita Moreno", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What musical performers bring to straight...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/what-musical-performers-bring-to-straight-characterizations-is-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/what-musical-performers-bring-to-straight-characterizations-is-that/#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 } } ] } ```