--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Young people have got to start their own…" description: "\"Young people have got to start their own theaters, really. All good theater is a kind of mom-and-pop operation. Start your own theater.\" — Terrence McN..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/terrence-mcnally-30438_kind_young-people-have-got-to-start-their-own_1124236.jpg" --- # Young people have got to start their own theaters, really… ![“Young people have got to start their own theaters, really. All good theater is a kind of mom-and-pop operation. Start your own theater.” quote by Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/terrence-mcnally-30438_kind_young-people-have-got-to-start-their-own_1124236.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/terrence-mcnally-30438_kind_young-people-have-got-to-start-their-own_1124236.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/terrence-mcnally-30438_kind_young-people-have-got-to-start-their-own_1124236.jpg) > “Young people have got to start their own theaters, really. All good theater is a kind of mom-and-pop operation. Start your own theater.” [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He urges young people to create independent theater, emphasizing grassroots, personal productions. **In simple terms:** Start your own small theater. Key Takeaway Support local, independent art. Themes theater entrepreneurship community Mood inspirational pragmatic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - starting a theater company - fundraising - local venues - audience building - creative control Key Concepts DIY production artistic autonomy grassroots cultural impact collaboration Questions to Reflect On - What resources are needed to launch a theater? - How can community support sustain small productions? A Different Perspective Limited resources can hinder sustainability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theaters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theaters/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) ## Related quotes > [I think good theaters are really important. They allow you to exist in a space with other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-think-good-theaters-are-really-important-they-allow-you-to-exist-in/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [I would absolutely recommend for actors to start in the theater because it establishes a foundation in your craft that you can build off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddy-rodriguez/i-would-absolutely-recommend-for-actors-to-start-in-the-theater/) [Freddy Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddy-rodriguez/) > [Someday I'd love to come back and start a theater company in Boulder. That would be a dream come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-lee/someday-i-d-love-to-come-back-and-start-a-theater-company-in-boulder/) [Sheryl Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-lee/) > [There have been several television movies, 'Carrie 2,' two musicals! I remember thinking, the first time there was a musical on Broadway, 'Oh my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/there-have-been-several-television-movies-carrie-2-two-musicals-i/) [Sissy Spacek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/) > [I grew up near New York, and there were a lot of summer stock theaters in the area. I started an apprenticing with some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lloyd/i-grew-up-near-new-york-and-there-were-a-lot-of-summer-stock-theaters/) [Christopher Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lloyd/) > [Some people, they have the energy and projection that is good for theater. I don't have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ivanir/some-people-they-have-the-energy-and-projection-that-is-good-for/) [Mark Ivanir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ivanir/) > [Good theater is not realistic, and should not be. Its purpose, rather, is to highlight, never to spell out a situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-moorehead/good-theater-is-not-realistic-and-should-not-be-its-purpose-rather-is/) [Agnes Moorehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-moorehead/) > [We all need to go to good theater; that is what I believe will save it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-all-need-to-go-to-good-theater-that-is-what-i-believe-will-save-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As soon as white folks say a play's good, the theater is jammed with blacks and whites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-wilson/as-soon-as-white-folks-say-a-play-s-good-the-theater-is-jammed-with/) [August Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-wilson/) > [I'm supposed to be a pretty good theater actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-m-supposed-to-be-a-pretty-good-theater-actor/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [Good theater is not what is expected, but what surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/good-theater-is-not-what-is-expected-but-what-surprises/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Good theater should always send people away feeling changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-farrell/good-theater-should-always-send-people-away-feeling-changed/) [Suzanne Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-farrell/) > [There isn't much improvisation in film - there's virtually none. The people that theoretically could be good at this in a theater situation don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-guest/there-isn-t-much-improvisation-in-film-there-s-virtually-none-the/) [Christopher Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-guest/) > [The Palace is a good theater, you can see from everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/the-palace-is-a-good-theater-you-can-see-from-everywhere/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [I had a good theater career for years. I played Hamlet when I was 22, and I've played some really great roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-gann/i-had-a-good-theater-career-for-years-i-played-hamlet-when-i-was-22/) [Jason Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-gann/) ## More by Terrence McNally > ['American Playhouse' is very supportive of writers. That's really why writers like to write for 'American Playhouse' for very little money. They care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/american-playhouse-is-very-supportive-of-writers-that-s-really-why/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [With me, writing is 60% imagination, 30% people you know and 10% you don't know where it comes from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/with-me-writing-is-60-imagination-30-people-you-know-and-10-you-don-t/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [Cheating is not the American way. It is small, while we are large. It is cheap, while we are richly endowed. It is destructive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/cheating-is-not-the-american-way-it-is-small-while-we-are-large-it-is/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [Whenever you think you're writing what other people want to hear from you, and that it'll be commercial, you're doomed to disaster. Writing has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/whenever-you-think-you-re-writing-what-other-people-want-to-hear-from/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/work-with-good-directors-without-them-your-play-is-doomed-at-the-time/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [If you're trying to write something that you don't understand and embrace at the very core of you, it's not going to turn out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/if-you-re-trying-to-write-something-that-you-don-t-understand-and/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [I'm of the school 'Write what you know.' You can educate yourself, but the best writing usually comes from the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/i-m-of-the-school-write-what-you-know-you-can-educate-yourself-but/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [I like to surprise myself. I've always been attracted to projects where I don't know how they're going to turn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/i-like-to-surprise-myself-i-ve-always-been-attracted-to-projects/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [I may think I have inalienable rights to be alive and happy, but I don't - life is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/i-may-think-i-have-inalienable-rights-to-be-alive-and-happy-but-i-don/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [Technology promises to let us do anything from anywhere with anyone. But it also drains us as we try to do everything everywhere. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/technology-promises-to-let-us-do-anything-from-anywhere-with-anyone/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [In those days, you had to like one or the other. You couldn't like Sutherland AND Callas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/in-those-days-you-had-to-like-one-or-the-other-you-couldn-t-like/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [“MARIA. So. How is everyone? Can you hear me? I don't believe in microphones. Singing is first of all about projection. So is speech.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/maria-so-how-is-everyone-can-you-hear-me-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [There are so many rules about play writing. I'd have a nervous breakdown if I followed them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/there-are-so-many-rules-about-play-writing-i-d-have-a-nervous/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [Write plays that matter. Raise the stakes. Shout, yell, holler, but make yourself heard. It's time for playwrights to reclaim the theatre. We do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/write-plays-that-matter-raise-the-stakes-shout-yell-holler-but-make/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [I don't think I've ever written anything even remotely naturalistic. The closest probably would be seen as 'Frankie and Johnny,' and that's only 'cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-written-anything-even-remotely-naturalistic/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) [Explore all 17 Terrence McNally quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) ## More Kind quotes > [Money is the kind of instrument which is very speedily produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-chubais/money-is-the-kind-of-instrument-which-is-very-speedily-produced/) [Anatoly Chubais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-chubais/) > [Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-on-slumdog-millionaire-we-have/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [One of the reasons that I do a lot of different kinds of pictures is because I learn a lot when I'm doing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-jason-leigh/one-of-the-reasons-that-i-do-a-lot-of-different-kinds-of-pictures-is/) [Jennifer Jason Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-jason-leigh/) > [I remember that the bass was turned up slightly more on the mix from last week, and I thought that was good - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/i-remember-that-the-bass-was-turned-up-slightly-more-on-the-mix-from/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [I always step on the plane with my right foot and touch the outside of the plane with my left hand. Sometimes you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-davis/i-always-step-on-the-plane-with-my-right-foot-and-touch-the-outside/) [Hope Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-davis/) > [Every time I finish a song... most of the time it's in my own head, like this sounds too much like a Townes Van…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/every-time-i-finish-a-song-most-of-the-time-it-s-in-my-own-head-like/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [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/) > [I did not know that the planning for biological and chemical warfare was so widespread in England, and even in France before France fell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/i-did-not-know-that-the-planning-for-biological-and-chemical-warfare/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) > [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/) > [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [You're getting into some kind of shape, cop." Aw, come on, now." Butch grinned. "Don't let that shower we took go to your head."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/you-re-getting-into-some-kind-of-shape-cop-aw-come-on-now-butch/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [You don't want to fix things that aren't broken, so that kind of stops you from make changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/you-don-t-want-to-fix-things-that-aren-t-broken-so-that-kind-of-stops/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) > [You felt a deep sorrow, the kind of melancholy you feel when you're in a beautiful place and the sun is going down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thrity-umrigar/you-felt-a-deep-sorrow-the-kind-of-melancholy-you-feel-when-you-re-in/) [Thrity Umrigar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thrity-umrigar/) Browse all 40,753 Kind quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Young people have got to start their own theaters, really. All good theater is a kind of mom-and-pop operation. Start your own theater.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terrence McNally" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/young-people-have-got-to-start-their-own-theaters-really-all-good/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Kind" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/young-people-have-got-to-start-their-own-theaters-really-all-good/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/terrence-mcnally-30438_kind_young-people-have-got-to-start-their-own_1124236.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/terrence-mcnally-30438_kind_young-people-have-got-to-start-their-own_1124236.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/terrence-mcnally-30438_kind_young-people-have-got-to-start-their-own_1124236.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Young people have got to start their own theaters, really. All good theater is a kind of mom-and-pop…” — Terrence McNally", "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": "Terrence McNally", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Young people have got to start...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/young-people-have-got-to-start-their-own-theaters-really-all-good/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/young-people-have-got-to-start-their-own-theaters-really-all-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 } } ] } ```