Actors Quote by Terrence McNally
“Work with good directors. Without them your play is doomed. At the time of my first play, I thought a good director was someone who liked my play. I was rudely awakened from that fantasy when he directed it as if he loathed it. . . . Work with good actors. A good actor hears the way you (and no one else) write. A good actor makes rewrites easy. A good actor tells you things about your play you didn't know.”
About This Quote
Source Play: Unspecified, interview excerpt
Collaboration with skilled directors and actors is essential; they shape, interpret, and improve a play beyond the writer’s vision.
In simple terms: Good collaborators elevate a play.
Key Takeaway
Seek strong collaborators.
Themes
theatre
collaboration
creative process
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
advice
creative
When to use this quote
- theatre productions
- rehearsals
- script development
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
directing
acting
playwriting
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you choose collaborators?
- What signs indicate a director’s vision aligns with yours?
A Different Perspective
A great director may clash with the writer’s expectations, causing conflict.
