--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For me it's more fun to find an…" description: "\"For me it's more fun to find an unexpected moment for a character to sing when you don't expect them to.\" — Stephen Sondheim" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/stephen-sondheim-1556_character_for-me-it-s-more-fun-to-find-an-unexpect_1092142.jpg" --- # For me it's more fun to find an unexpected moment for a… ![“For me it's more fun to find an unexpected moment for a character to sing when you don't expect them to.” quote by Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/stephen-sondheim-1556_character_for-me-it-s-more-fun-to-find-an-unexpect_1092142.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/stephen-sondheim-1556_character_for-me-it-s-more-fun-to-find-an-unexpect_1092142.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/stephen-sondheim-1556_character_for-me-it-s-more-fun-to-find-an-unexpect_1092142.jpg) > “For me it's more fun to find an unexpected moment for a character to sing when you don't expect them to.” [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unexpected singing adds surprise, deepens character, and energizes narrative. **In simple terms:** Surprise singing enriches story. Key Takeaway Use surprise moments to engage audience. Themes creativity character development storytelling Mood playful inventive Type artistic dramatic When to use this quote - stage productions - film scenes - TV episodes - live performances Key Concepts musical theater dramatic timing Questions to Reflect On - How can surprise singing reveal hidden traits? - When is it appropriate to break narrative flow? A Different Perspective Overuse can feel gimmicky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Unexpected moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unexpected-moments/) ## Related quotes > [its fun to do the unexpected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-fun-to-do-the-unexpected/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There was a certain beauty in waiting. This is why he didn’t immediately put his hands on her. Even though every fiber of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riley-murphy/there-was-a-certain-beauty-in-waiting-this-is-why-he-didn-t/) [Riley Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riley-murphy/) > [ the unexpected moment \[is\] always sweeter. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/the-unexpected-moment-is-always-sweeter/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [My best ideas come to me at unexpected moments, like when I'm reading children's books to my kids (the pictures inspire me), shopping, driving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/my-best-ideas-come-to-me-at-unexpected-moments-like-when-i-m-reading/) [Mary Engelbreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-engelbreit/) > [My friends say I make them laugh a lot, so I think that somewhere in me is a little comedic ability that comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selenis-leyva/my-friends-say-i-make-them-laugh-a-lot-so-i-think-that-somewhere-in/) [Selenis Leyva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selenis-leyva/) > [I've never played a character that would sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katey-sagal/i-ve-never-played-a-character-that-would-sing/) [Katey Sagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katey-sagal/) > [It takes every ounce of my concentration and focus every night to be in character, to sing in good voice, to not fall off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruthie-ann-miles/it-takes-every-ounce-of-my-concentration-and-focus-every-night-to-be/) [Ruthie Ann Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruthie-ann-miles/) > [It's almost like a theater, where I can play a character in every song, 'cause Kamelot songs are very... There's always a narrative going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alissa-white-gluz/it-s-almost-like-a-theater-where-i-can-play-a-character-in-every-song/) [Alissa White-Gluz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alissa-white-gluz/) > [Miranda, my character, cannot sing, cannot act, and is really inappropriate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-ballinger/miranda-my-character-cannot-sing-cannot-act-and-is-really/) [Colleen Ballinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-ballinger/) > [“A story is about a single moment in a character's life when a definitive choice is made, after which nothing is the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-heureux/a-story-is-about-a-single-moment-in-a-character-s-life-when-a/) [John L'Heureux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-heureux/) > [When you're playing a character, you don't really want to have an opinion about where you're going to end up. Otherwise, you can't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-lee-miller/when-you-re-playing-a-character-you-don-t-really-want-to-have-an/) [Jonny Lee Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-lee-miller/) > [When I'm on stage, I love the moment... After that, I go out of character and I'm back to being a regular human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-homie-quan/when-i-m-on-stage-i-love-the-moment-after-that-i-go-out-of-character/) [Rich Homie Quan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-homie-quan/) > [Reputation is made in a moment. Character is built in a lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/reputation-is-made-in-a-moment-character-is-built-in-a-lifetime/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Tis not important how the hero does this or this, but what he is. What he is will appear in every gesture and syllable.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/tis-not-important-how-the-hero-does-this-or-this-but-what-he-is-what/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“It's a great moment when someone has character to step up and do the right thing at the right time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-knox/it-s-a-great-moment-when-someone-has-character-to-step-up-and-do-the/) Pam Knox ## More by Stephen Sondheim > [I have, by nature, an analytical mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-have-by-nature-an-analytical-mind/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [“They all deserve to die. Tell you why, Mrs. Lovett, tell you why. Because in all of the whole human race Mrs Lovett, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/they-all-deserve-to-die-tell-you-why-mrs-lovett-tell-you-why-because/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [It's not so hard to be married, I've done it three or four times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/it-s-not-so-hard-to-be-married-i-ve-done-it-three-or-four-times/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I don't find my life that interesting. The shows, maybe. But not me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-don-t-find-my-life-that-interesting-the-shows-maybe-but-not-me/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [“Careful the things you say, Children will listen. Careful the things you do, Children will see. And learn. Children may not obey But children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/careful-the-things-you-say-children-will-listen-careful-the-things/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [“Because in all of the whole human race Mrs. Lovett, there are two kinds of men and only two There's the one staying put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/because-in-all-of-the-whole-human-race-mrs-lovett-there-are-two-kinds/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I love computers. I love writing on them. I love gadgetry. The thing is: I am a slow reader. So, if I am going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-love-computers-i-love-writing-on-them-i-love-gadgetry-the-thing-is/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I have inherited my father's sense of humour about myself. It's a lot more pleasant to make fun of yourself than when someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-have-inherited-my-father-s-sense-of-humour-about-myself-it-s-a-lot/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I prefer neurotic people. I like to hear rumblings beneath the surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-prefer-neurotic-people-i-like-to-hear-rumblings-beneath-the-surface/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I'm sure many writers have these strange, tiny little habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-m-sure-many-writers-have-these-strange-tiny-little-habits/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [Musicals are, by nature, theatrical, meaning poetic, meaning having to move the audience's imagination and create a suspension of disbelief, by which I mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/musicals-are-by-nature-theatrical-meaning-poetic-meaning-having-to/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [Nowadays, there are sometimes more producers than there are people in the cast, because it takes that much money to put a show on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/nowadays-there-are-sometimes-more-producers-than-there-are-people-in/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [Perpetual anticipation is good for the soul but it's bad for the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/perpetual-anticipation-is-good-for-the-soul-but-it-s-bad-for-the-heart/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I was watching him crawl, Back over the wall-! Then bang! Crash! And the lightning flash! And- well, that's another story, Never mind- Anyway...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-was-watching-him-crawl-back-over-the-wall-then-bang-crash-and-the/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I'm always conscious of what I'm writing, conscious of what the actor may ask me. I have a defense for nearly every line in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-m-always-conscious-of-what-i-m-writing-conscious-of-what-the-actor/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) [Explore all 228 Stephen Sondheim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [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/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [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/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For me it's more fun to find an unexpected moment for a character to sing when you don't expect them to.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Sondheim" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/for-me-it-s-more-fun-to-find-an-unexpected-moment-for-a-character-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/for-me-it-s-more-fun-to-find-an-unexpected-moment-for-a-character-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/stephen-sondheim-1556_character_for-me-it-s-more-fun-to-find-an-unexpect_1092142.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/stephen-sondheim-1556_character_for-me-it-s-more-fun-to-find-an-unexpect_1092142.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/stephen-sondheim-1556_character_for-me-it-s-more-fun-to-find-an-unexpect_1092142.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For me it's more fun to find an unexpected moment for a character to sing when you don't expect them to.” — Stephen Sondheim", "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": "Stephen Sondheim", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For me it's more fun to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/for-me-it-s-more-fun-to-find-an-unexpected-moment-for-a-character-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/for-me-it-s-more-fun-to-find-an-unexpected-moment-for-a-character-to/#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 } } ] } ```