---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first American show I did was on…"
description: "\"The first American show I did was on Broadway, which was quite a good start.\" — Sean Mathias"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/sean-mathias-34428_actor_the-first-american-show-i-did-was-on-bro_2641325.jpg"
---

#  The first American show I did was on Broadway, which was…

![“The first American show I did was on Broadway, which was quite a good start.” quote by Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/sean-mathias-34428_actor_the-first-american-show-i-did-was-on-bro_2641325.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/sean-mathias-34428_actor_the-first-american-show-i-did-was-on-bro_2641325.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/sean-mathias-34428_actor_the-first-american-show-i-did-was-on-bro_2641325.jpg)

> “The first American show I did was on Broadway, which was quite a good start.”

[Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote reflects on a career beginning with a notable first performance on Broadway, indicating a strong start can set a positive trajectory.

**In simple terms:** A Broadway debut marks a promising career start.

Key Takeaway

Leverage early successes for future growth.

Themes

career theatre start success

Mood

optimistic reflective

Type

career motivational

When to use this quote

- audition preparation
- networking
- career planning
- publicity strategies

Key Concepts

career development performance arts

Questions to Reflect On

- How can one sustain momentum after a strong debut?
- What steps ensure continued growth?

A Different Perspective

Early success does not guarantee long-term achievement.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Broadway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broadway/)

## Related quotes

> [Everyone in comedy thinks if you go to the U.S. you become a global star but, unfortunately, I've always been a bit anti-American -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/everyone-in-comedy-thinks-if-you-go-to-the-u-s-you-become-a-global/)

[Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/)

> [My last show that I did on Broadway was - I hate to say this, but - 'Cats.' There you go. So I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-marshall/my-last-show-that-i-did-on-broadway-was-i-hate-to-say-this-but-cats/)

[Rob Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-marshall/)

> [Even when I did my Broadway show, I did 15 minutes no one had seen before, because that was the night that Michael Jackson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/even-when-i-did-my-broadway-show-i-did-15-minutes-no-one-had-seen/)

[Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/)

> [I did the Broadway album unfortunately in a year when there were no hits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-baxter/i-did-the-broadway-album-unfortunately-in-a-year-when-there-were-no/)

[Les Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-baxter/)

> [I had opera training for three years, and I have three albums out. I also did a Broadway show. I'm an actor that sings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-camil/i-had-opera-training-for-three-years-and-i-have-three-albums-out-i/)

[Jaime Camil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-camil/)

> [I did my first Broadway show when I was nineteen years old - and to be able to say that I am still working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorna-luft/i-did-my-first-broadway-show-when-i-was-nineteen-years-old-and-to-be/)

[Lorna Luft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorna-luft/)

> [I miss singing. I did Broadway forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bellamy-young/i-miss-singing-i-did-broadway-forever/)

[Bellamy Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bellamy-young/)

> [I did do an off-Broadway show for about 15 months. '91 and '92. It was nice to have a steady paycheck for a while.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/i-did-do-an-off-broadway-show-for-about-15-months-91-and-92-it-was/)

[Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/)

> [I did an Off-Broadway show that was a comedy written by Ann Meara. We were like a family, and we did that show for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-reddick/i-did-an-off-broadway-show-that-was-a-comedy-written-by-ann-meara-we/)

[Lance Reddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-reddick/)

> [What's interesting was with all the shows I did on Broadway, I was either the dance captain or the assistant choreographer - I sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-marshall/what-s-interesting-was-with-all-the-shows-i-did-on-broadway-i-was/)

[Rob Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-marshall/)

> [I did do Broadway for a little less than a year and realized quickly I don't have a passion for it and, more importantly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-dawes/i-did-do-broadway-for-a-little-less-than-a-year-and-realized-quickly/)

[Dominique Dawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-dawes/)

> [I did a Broadway show with Alan Alda and how much money can Alan Alda have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-barrett/i-did-a-broadway-show-with-alan-alda-and-how-much-money-can-alan-alda/)

[Alice Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-barrett/)

> [My parents were really, really cool about supporting what I wanted to do at a really young age. I think I was about 10…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kendrick/my-parents-were-really-really-cool-about-supporting-what-i-wanted-to/)

[Anna Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kendrick/)

> [I did my first Broadway play, 'The Vertical Hour,' in 2006, with Julianne Moore, who's always been one of my favorite actresses. My scene…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/i-did-my-first-broadway-play-the-vertical-hour-in-2006-with-julianne/)

[Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/)

> [The play I did on Broadway a couple of seasons ago started out of town and it moved its way into New York because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/the-play-i-did-on-broadway-a-couple-of-seasons-ago-started-out-of/)

[Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/)

## More by Sean Mathias

> [If I feel I've missed out something, it's properly running a theatre. That would be thrilling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/if-i-feel-i-ve-missed-out-something-it-s-properly-running-a-theatre/)

[Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/)

> [Waiting for Godot' is not an easy play to discover. It is a play that makes us face our own fragile existence. And what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/waiting-for-godot-is-not-an-easy-play-to-discover-it-is-a-play-that/)

[Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/)

> [In your 20s, 30s, early 40s, you work with such a lot of different people, and then suddenly you just can't retain all those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/in-your-20s-30s-early-40s-you-work-with-such-a-lot-of-different/)

[Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/)

> [I love putting a show together, because it's like the chase - I think my masculine side enjoys it most, the aggression of putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/i-love-putting-a-show-together-because-it-s-like-the-chase-i-think-my/)

[Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/)

> [I think it's the duty of the artist to run away from home. I mean I think you have to go far afield to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/i-think-it-s-the-duty-of-the-artist-to-run-away-from-home-i-mean-i/)

[Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/)

> [One still gets a sense from some people that I got this or that gig only because I'm Ian McKellen's ex, which isn't the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/one-still-gets-a-sense-from-some-people-that-i-got-this-or-that-gig/)

[Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/)

> [Actors like to know who they are playing, what they are thinking, feeling, meaning, intending at any one time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/actors-like-to-know-who-they-are-playing-what-they-are-thinking/)

[Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/)

> [I was originally an actor, and then I started to write. One of the most frustrating things about acting was that it was intermittent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/i-was-originally-an-actor-and-then-i-started-to-write-one-of-the-most/)

[Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/)

> [I'm fascinated by what lies beneath the surface. If you manage to put desire on stage, it can be very exciting. It's about getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/i-m-fascinated-by-what-lies-beneath-the-surface-if-you-manage-to-put/)

[Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/)

> [Directing 'Two Plays in Rep' has brought me the greatest professional satisfaction I have ever known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/directing-two-plays-in-rep-has-brought-me-the-greatest-professional/)

[Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/)

> [The strange thing about directing, for me, was that opportunities arose; I'd had some nice roles as an actor, but it just never happened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/the-strange-thing-about-directing-for-me-was-that-opportunities-arose/)

[Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/)

> [Working in New York, even when the reception has been less than sunny, has always brought me great fulfillment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/working-in-new-york-even-when-the-reception-has-been-less-than-sunny/)

[Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/)

> [I didn't go to university. I don't have an academic background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/i-didn-t-go-to-university-i-don-t-have-an-academic-background/)

[Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/)

[Explore all 14 Sean Mathias quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/)

## 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": "The first American show I did was on Broadway, which was quite a good start.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sean Mathias"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/the-first-american-show-i-did-was-on-broadway-which-was-quite-a-good/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Actor"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/the-first-american-show-i-did-was-on-broadway-which-was-quite-a-good/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/sean-mathias-34428_actor_the-first-american-show-i-did-was-on-bro_2641325.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/sean-mathias-34428_actor_the-first-american-show-i-did-was-on-bro_2641325.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65b/sean-mathias-34428_actor_the-first-american-show-i-did-was-on-bro_2641325.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The first American show I did was on Broadway, which was quite a good start.” — Sean Mathias",
                "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": "Sean Mathias",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The first American show I did...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/the-first-american-show-i-did-was-on-broadway-which-was-quite-a-good/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/the-first-american-show-i-did-was-on-broadway-which-was-quite-a-good/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
