--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's what I like about musical theater…" description: "\"That's what I like about musical theater, is that it's very collaborative, not just with the writers, but with the director and the designers and the a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3b/stephen-schwartz-3036_director_that-s-what-i-like-about-musical-theater_2621114.jpg" --- # That's what I like about musical theater, is that it's… ![“That's what I like about musical theater, is that it's very collaborative, not just with the writers, but with the director and the designers and the actors. Everybody's playing in the sandbox, and ideas are coming from everywhere.” quote by Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3b/stephen-schwartz-3036_director_that-s-what-i-like-about-musical-theater_2621114.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3b/stephen-schwartz-3036_director_that-s-what-i-like-about-musical-theater_2621114.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3b/stephen-schwartz-3036_director_that-s-what-i-like-about-musical-theater_2621114.jpg) > “That's what I like about musical theater, is that it's very collaborative, not just with the writers, but with the director and the designers and the actors. Everybody's playing in the sandbox, and ideas are coming from everywhere.” [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Musical theater thrives on collaboration among writers, directors, designers, and actors, creating a shared creative sandbox where ideas emerge from everyone. **In simple terms:** Collaboration fuels musical theater. Key Takeaway Embrace teamwork in creative projects. Themes theatre collaboration creativity Mood enthusiastic inclusive Type creative industry When to use this quote - rehearsal - workshop - production meetings Key Concepts ensemble work creative process Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance diverse ideas? - What structures support healthy collaboration? A Different Perspective Too many voices can cause conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Musical theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical-theater/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Theater, especially musical theater, is a collaborative endeavor. The success of the venture is about the team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-buckley/theater-especially-musical-theater-is-a-collaborative-endeavor-the/) [Betty Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-buckley/) > [I'm not into music - the only music I like is musical theater, but I have every Ween album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/i-m-not-into-music-the-only-music-i-like-is-musical-theater-but-i/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [Thinking back on it, I've been in this business since I was 3, and I grew up in musical theater, so I was raised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-mclean/thinking-back-on-it-i-ve-been-in-this-business-since-i-was-3-and-i/) [A. J. McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-mclean/) > [I was a musical theater major at the University of Arizona. And I primarily trained with Marsha Bagwell. It was a classical program, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-woods/i-was-a-musical-theater-major-at-the-university-of-arizona-and-i/) Christine Woods > [I mean, musical theater really informed so much of my life. It just so perfectly brings order to chaos, which is why we love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/i-mean-musical-theater-really-informed-so-much-of-my-life-it-just-so/) [Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/) > [It's quite clear if you look at the actors in film right now, some of them came from theater but they didn't come from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/it-s-quite-clear-if-you-look-at-the-actors-in-film-right-now-some-of/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [People don't realize that I started in musical theater. That's where my roots are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katee-sackhoff/people-don-t-realize-that-i-started-in-musical-theater-that-s-where/) [Katee Sackhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katee-sackhoff/) > [I wanted to focus on songs that I was inspired by growing up. I love so many of them from the last 100 years,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-groban/i-wanted-to-focus-on-songs-that-i-was-inspired-by-growing-up-i-love/) [Josh Groban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-groban/) > [The dream was to not only make a good-looking film that engaged, but also had the DNA of the show so the fans would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-fellner/the-dream-was-to-not-only-make-a-good-looking-film-that-engaged-but/) [Eric Fellner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fellner/) > [Because I was a dancer, I started going to auditions for musical theater, which forced me to sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/because-i-was-a-dancer-i-started-going-to-auditions-for-musical/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [When I was in high school, I was a bad singer. I mean, all my early acting was musical theater, and my first ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-claflin/when-i-was-in-high-school-i-was-a-bad-singer-i-mean-all-my-early/) [Sam Claflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-claflin/) > [Life is like a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Very popular and not as bad as some would have you believe. That is, unspeakably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-munnery/life-is-like-a-musical-by-andrew-lloyd-webber-very-popular-and-not-as/) [Simon Munnery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-munnery/) > [I really was kind of like a musical nerd. I would watch VH1's 'Behind The Music.' That was heavy when I was a kid.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rico-love/i-really-was-kind-of-like-a-musical-nerd-i-would-watch-vh1-s-behind/) [Rico Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rico-love/) > [We wanted a musical number that would capture the exhilaration of being out on a boat as they were and sailing with the stars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-musker/we-wanted-a-musical-number-that-would-capture-the-exhilaration-of/) [John Musker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-musker/) > [Our newer wonderful writers such as Lin-Manuel Miranda and Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are clearly so well-informed about the history of musical theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/our-newer-wonderful-writers-such-as-lin-manuel-miranda-and-benj-pasek/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) ## More by Stephen Schwartz > [Bringing your show to Broadway is an economic decision on the part of producers and investors that may or may not happen, but sharing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/bringing-your-show-to-broadway-is-an-economic-decision-on-the-part-of/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [You wouldn't walk into a music store and walk out with a piece of music under your arm. So why would it be acceptable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/you-wouldn-t-walk-into-a-music-store-and-walk-out-with-a-piece-of/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [There have always been discussions about a 'Pippin' movie. I think it would lend itself very well to film if one could solve how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/there-have-always-been-discussions-about-a-pippin-movie-i-think-it/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [When I was in high school, I worked at a theatre on Long Island, where I grew up, in the box office and parking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/when-i-was-in-high-school-i-worked-at-a-theatre-on-long-island-where/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [When I perform I try and focus on the lyrics and my interpretation of the lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/when-i-perform-i-try-and-focus-on-the-lyrics-and-my-interpretation-of/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [I think it would be really cool to see 'Enchanted' on Broadway - there's been discussion of it from time to time. You'd have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/i-think-it-would-be-really-cool-to-see-enchanted-on-broadway-there-s/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [I was very happy in Hollywood. I was doing extremely well there and things were good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/i-was-very-happy-in-hollywood-i-was-doing-extremely-well-there-and/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [That was what I always wanted to do for my whole life, to write music in the service of telling stories and communicating ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/that-was-what-i-always-wanted-to-do-for-my-whole-life-to-write-music/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [I had always been interested in opera, going back to my college days at Carnegie Mellon. In my last year there, I even wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/i-had-always-been-interested-in-opera-going-back-to-my-college-days/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [With Bernstein, because we wound up always working music first, it was where I really feel I learned how to write lyrics as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/with-bernstein-because-we-wound-up-always-working-music-first-it-was/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [In 'Wicked,' we developed the concept that Glinda has a public persona who sings in soprano and a private persona who is, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/in-wicked-we-developed-the-concept-that-glinda-has-a-public-persona/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [Alan Menken is so gifted in terms of coming up with these great melodies. What I learned from working with him was how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/alan-menken-is-so-gifted-in-terms-of-coming-up-with-these-great/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [I like works about familiar stories, where one spins the point of view and looks at it from another angle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/i-like-works-about-familiar-stories-where-one-spins-the-point-of-view/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [Excuse me, there's no pretense here. I happen to be genuinely self-absorbed and deeply shallow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/excuse-me-there-s-no-pretense-here-i-happen-to-be-genuinely-self/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [Dancers are the unsung heroes Broadway musicals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/dancers-are-the-unsung-heroes-broadway-musicals/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) [Explore all 141 Stephen Schwartz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) ## More Director quotes > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [Professionally speaking, the proudest moment was when I booked the 'Human Stain.' I knew it had Nicole Kidman, Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris and Gary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/professionally-speaking-the-proudest-moment-was-when-i-booked-the/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [A successful director is someone who has the combination of skills that you can learn, but there's also an intuitive sensibility that they bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-heinrichs/a-successful-director-is-someone-who-has-the-combination-of-skills/) [Rick Heinrichs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-heinrichs/) > [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) > [During script narrations, if I feel the screenplay mood jumping abruptly, I tell the director, and they work on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-sethupathi/during-script-narrations-if-i-feel-the-screenplay-mood-jumping/) [Vijay Sethupathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-sethupathi/) > [I'm publicist, patron of nine charities, creative director, food consultant, recipe developer - and mum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/i-m-publicist-patron-of-nine-charities-creative-director-food/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [I've always wanted to be a director; it's just how my mind has always worked. If I hear music, I see music videos and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-wells/i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-a-director-it-s-just-how-my-mind-has-always/) [Noel Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-wells/) > [There was always a part of me that wanted to be an old-time director. But I couldn't do that. I'm not a pro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/there-was-always-a-part-of-me-that-wanted-to-be-an-old-time-director/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [Steven Spielberg seems to have wanted to be a director from 13. He put his dog in a certain position and made him eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/steven-spielberg-seems-to-have-wanted-to-be-a-director-from-13-he-put/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [Because I thought there's no point trying to second guess what people are looking for, because if I'm the right director for it, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-herron/because-i-thought-there-s-no-point-trying-to-second-guess-what-people/) [Kate Herron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-herron/) > [Sometimes you can't even find the director on a movie set. Sometimes you don't want to find the director on a movie set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-tucci/sometimes-you-can-t-even-find-the-director-on-a-movie-set-sometimes/) [Stanley Tucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-tucci/) > [First of all the criteria that I have that goes into any career decision is whether or not I have the life experience, emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/first-of-all-the-criteria-that-i-have-that-goes-into-any-career/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [As a director, people are trusting you with their lives, with their stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-chai-vasarhelyi/as-a-director-people-are-trusting-you-with-their-lives-with-their/) [Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-chai-vasarhelyi/) > [I loved working with Stephen Frears. He's a really fantastic director. He knows what he wants and how to get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anjelica-huston/i-loved-working-with-stephen-frears-he-s-a-really-fantastic-director/) [Anjelica Huston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anjelica-huston/) [Browse all 2,786 Director quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That's what I like about musical theater, is that it's very collaborative, not just with the writers, but with the director and the designers and the actors. 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