--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The majority of great work that's being…" description: "\"The majority of great work that's being done in the theater is happening Off Broadway, where you can't make a living.\" — Steven Pasquale" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/steven-pasquale-31882_broadway_the-majority-of-great-work-that-s-being_432425.jpg" --- # The majority of great work that's being done in the… ![“The majority of great work that's being done in the theater is happening Off Broadway, where you can't make a living.” quote by Steven Pasquale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/steven-pasquale-31882_broadway_the-majority-of-great-work-that-s-being_432425.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/steven-pasquale-31882_broadway_the-majority-of-great-work-that-s-being_432425.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/steven-pasquale-31882_broadway_the-majority-of-great-work-that-s-being_432425.jpg) > “The majority of great work that's being done in the theater is happening Off Broadway, where you can't make a living.” [Steven Pasquale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pasquale/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Notes that Off‑Broadway offers great art but low pay, highlighting financial strain. **In simple terms:** Great theater work often lacks income. Key Takeaway Advocate for fair compensation. Themes art economics career Mood determined realistic Type industry motivational When to use this quote - off‑Broadway productions - artist budgeting - career decisions Key Concepts Labor value industry structure Questions to Reflect On - How can artists sustain themselves? - What reforms help? A Different Perspective May discourage aspiring artists. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Broadway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broadway/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [You can't make money on Broadway. You make nothing. You maybe make like $1,350 a week after you pay out all the producers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-quinn/you-can-t-make-money-on-broadway-you-make-nothing-you-maybe-make-like/) [Colin Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-quinn/) > [For me, my 20s were all about reaching for the brass ring of work in theater, television, and film, surviving in between by waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-walsh/for-me-my-20s-were-all-about-reaching-for-the-brass-ring-of-work-in/) [Kate Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-walsh/) > [It always amazed me - it still does - that people offer me work. And when the theater was my basic bread and butter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenda-jackson/it-always-amazed-me-it-still-does-that-people-offer-me-work-and-when/) [Glenda Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenda-jackson/) > [Work in the theater is more fun than fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/work-in-the-theater-is-more-fun-than-fun/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [Getting work in theater has always been sort of cyclical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/estelle-parsons/getting-work-in-theater-has-always-been-sort-of-cyclical/) [Estelle Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/estelle-parsons/) > [My work in the theater began to shift more towards young audience type of work and education programs for children, arts education programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-walton-hamilton/my-work-in-the-theater-began-to-shift-more-towards-young-audience/) [Emma Walton Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-walton-hamilton/) > [What I like about theater is its team work. Theater is also all-time creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goenawan-mohamad/what-i-like-about-theater-is-its-team-work-theater-is-also-all-time/) [Goenawan Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goenawan-mohamad/) > [I work in theater, so I am always working in front of empty chairs. They represent a future presence. They are never just chairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haris-pasovic/i-work-in-theater-so-i-am-always-working-in-front-of-empty-chairs/) [Haris Pasovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haris-pasovic/) > [Most of my work had been in theater, and I was jumping not just into television but 'L.A. Law,' which had all these megastars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verica/most-of-my-work-had-been-in-theater-and-i-was-jumping-not-just-into/) [Tom Verica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verica/) > [Variety is the thing for me to be able to work in theater and be involved in more films and TV movies that say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/variety-is-the-thing-for-me-to-be-able-to-work-in-theater-and-be/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [My dad used to work in the theater as a stage manager, production manager, and lighting designer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mackay/my-dad-used-to-work-in-the-theater-as-a-stage-manager-production/) [George MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mackay/) > [There are people who've enjoyed my work in the theater, and they let me know that it was special for them. I'm not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/there-are-people-who-ve-enjoyed-my-work-in-the-theater-and-they-let/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [I want to do work that means something to me so that when I go to work at the theater eight times a week,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-porter/i-want-to-do-work-that-means-something-to-me-so-that-when-i-go-to/) [Billy Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-porter/) > [I have always wanted to work in the theater. I've always felt the glamour of being backstage and that excitement, but I've never actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-anderson/i-have-always-wanted-to-work-in-the-theater-i-ve-always-felt-the/) [Wes Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-anderson/) > [I always wanted to have a career that would keep me at home in New York so I can work in the theater all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-cannavale/i-always-wanted-to-have-a-career-that-would-keep-me-at-home-in-new/) [Bobby Cannavale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-cannavale/) ## More by Steven Pasquale > [I didn't realize what a love affair I would have with big city life until I got to New York City. In a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pasquale/i-didn-t-realize-what-a-love-affair-i-would-have-with-big-city-life/) [Steven Pasquale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pasquale/) > [I love TV and film and will happily work there if it's good. But I want the ability to choose between things, to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pasquale/i-love-tv-and-film-and-will-happily-work-there-if-it-s-good-but-i/) [Steven Pasquale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pasquale/) > [Stand-up would be my worst nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pasquale/stand-up-would-be-my-worst-nightmare/) [Steven Pasquale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pasquale/) > [But professionally I've never felt as strongly about a project, with the exception of 'The Bridges of Madison County', as 'The Light in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pasquale/but-professionally-i-ve-never-felt-as-strongly-about-a-project-with/) [Steven Pasquale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pasquale/) > [Theres a fine line between playing a dim-witted character and playing a cartoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pasquale/theres-a-fine-line-between-playing-a-dim-witted-character-and-playing/) [Steven Pasquale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pasquale/) > [I'm not one of those actors who wants to live in some kind of dark character and wants to live in the darkness so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pasquale/i-m-not-one-of-those-actors-who-wants-to-live-in-some-kind-of-dark/) [Steven Pasquale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pasquale/) > [If I had maintained my athletic fantasy, I probably would have ended up as a fat football coach somewhere in central Pennsylvania. I'm really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pasquale/if-i-had-maintained-my-athletic-fantasy-i-probably-would-have-ended/) [Steven Pasquale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pasquale/) > [My career is weird because it's not like I'm a Liev Schreiber or a Philip Seymour Hoffman, incredibly well-respected theater actors who dabble in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pasquale/my-career-is-weird-because-it-s-not-like-i-m-a-liev-schreiber-or-a/) [Steven Pasquale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pasquale/) > [I just respond to the stories I'm being asked to tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pasquale/i-just-respond-to-the-stories-i-m-being-asked-to-tell/) [Steven Pasquale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pasquale/) > [I'm not into dragon chasing - trying to become Bradley Cooper. I want to be a New York actor. I want to plant a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pasquale/i-m-not-into-dragon-chasing-trying-to-become-bradley-cooper-i-want-to/) [Steven Pasquale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pasquale/) > [So somehow we've got to get back to making stuff for people that are not necessarily interested in seeing the common Broadway fare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pasquale/so-somehow-we-ve-got-to-get-back-to-making-stuff-for-people-that-are/) [Steven Pasquale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pasquale/) > [My parents retired to New York City, and my brother and both of my sisters ended up in New York City. We are all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pasquale/my-parents-retired-to-new-york-city-and-my-brother-and-both-of-my/) [Steven Pasquale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pasquale/) > [Television is a completely 1,000 percent different skill set than being on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pasquale/television-is-a-completely-1-000-percent-different-skill-set-than/) [Steven Pasquale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pasquale/) > [Kissing making out on the ground Bali Hai Bali Hai Bali Hai!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pasquale/kissing-making-out-on-the-ground-bali-hai-bali-hai-bali-hai/) [Steven Pasquale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pasquale/) > [With every year that passes, the easier I cry. The wind blows and I find myself moved by something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pasquale/with-every-year-that-passes-the-easier-i-cry-the-wind-blows-and-i/) [Steven Pasquale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pasquale/) [Explore all 16 Steven Pasquale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pasquale/) ## More Broadway quotes > [When somebody mentions that I did a play with George C. Scott, I'm like, it can't have happened. What was I doing on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/when-somebody-mentions-that-i-did-a-play-with-george-c-scott-i-m-like/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [I thought my first few jobs would just be off, off, off, off, off broadway. And by chance and how the world works, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-thought-my-first-few-jobs-would-just-be-off-off-off-off-off/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [A lot of Broadway has that immigrant narrative of America as a place where you can become something else against all odds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-kass/a-lot-of-broadway-has-that-immigrant-narrative-of-america-as-a-place/) [Deborah Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-kass/) > [I would love to go back to Broadway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-finneran/i-would-love-to-go-back-to-broadway/) [Katie Finneran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-finneran/) > [“On Broadway it was still bright afternoon and the gassy air was almost motionless under the leaden spokes of sunlight, and sawdust footprints lay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/on-broadway-it-was-still-bright-afternoon-and-the-gassy-air-was/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [That's why I had to leave Hair on Broadway, because I did it for about a year, and one night I was doing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcguire/that-s-why-i-had-to-leave-hair-on-broadway-because-i-did-it-for-about/) [Barry McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcguire/) > [I starred in a Broadway play that was Sidney Poitier's first directing job and the cast was Lou Gossett, Cicely Tyson, Diana Ladd and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/i-starred-in-a-broadway-play-that-was-sidney-poitier-s-first/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [All of a sudden, I was a young kid in my early 20s, and I had a couple of Broadway shows to my credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/all-of-a-sudden-i-was-a-young-kid-in-my-early-20s-and-i-had-a-couple/) [Jon Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/) > [When I was little, I saw the play 'Les Miserables' on Broadway, I thought it was the most amazing thing I have ever seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-tisdale/when-i-was-little-i-saw-the-play-les-miserables-on-broadway-i-thought/) [Ashley Tisdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-tisdale/) > [I never thought my life's path would take me to Broadway, but when I heard they were creating a musical based on one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-morgan/i-never-thought-my-life-s-path-would-take-me-to-broadway-but-when-i/) [Lorrie Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-morgan/) > [I aspired from early on to write a novel, to be in the 'New Yorker,' to be on Broadway, and at least in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-o-donnell/i-aspired-from-early-on-to-write-a-novel-to-be-in-the-new-yorker-to/) [Mark O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-o-donnell/) > [The Beatles have a deeper appreciation of all music. There's a humor, there's a Broadway sense, and later on, the Indian stuff came in.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-vivino/the-beatles-have-a-deeper-appreciation-of-all-music-there-s-a-humor/) Jimmy Vivino > [I remember going onstage on Broadway in this Leigh Bowery thing for a track like "Ich Bin Kunst." I've got breasts, this latex dripping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/i-remember-going-onstage-on-broadway-in-this-leigh-bowery-thing-for-a/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [I am an off-Broadway, nonprofit kind of guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lapine/i-am-an-off-broadway-nonprofit-kind-of-guy/) [James Lapine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lapine/) > [I never wanted to just be on Broadway, I wanted to be Simba.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-mclaughlin/i-never-wanted-to-just-be-on-broadway-i-wanted-to-be-simba/) [Caleb McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-mclaughlin/) [Browse all 1,139 Broadway quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broadway/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The majority of great work that's being done in the theater is happening Off Broadway, where you can't make a living.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven Pasquale" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pasquale/the-majority-of-great-work-that-s-being-done-in-the-theater-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Broadway" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pasquale/the-majority-of-great-work-that-s-being-done-in-the-theater-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/steven-pasquale-31882_broadway_the-majority-of-great-work-that-s-being_432425.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/steven-pasquale-31882_broadway_the-majority-of-great-work-that-s-being_432425.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/steven-pasquale-31882_broadway_the-majority-of-great-work-that-s-being_432425.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The majority of great work that's being done in the theater is happening Off Broadway, where you can't make…” — Steven Pasquale", "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": "Steven Pasquale", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pasquale/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The majority of great work that's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pasquale/the-majority-of-great-work-that-s-being-done-in-the-theater-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pasquale/the-majority-of-great-work-that-s-being-done-in-the-theater-is/#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 } } ] } ```