--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's interesting - years ago, I had such…" description: "\"It's interesting - years ago, I had such bad stage fright during musical theater auditions that I just gave up. And now I'm on Broadway.\" — Tom Lenk" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/tom-lenk-30138_auditions_it-s-interesting-years-ago-i-had-such-ba_2759417.jpg" --- # It's interesting - years ago, I had such bad stage fright… ![“It's interesting - years ago, I had such bad stage fright during musical theater auditions that I just gave up. And now I'm on Broadway.” quote by Tom Lenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/tom-lenk-30138_auditions_it-s-interesting-years-ago-i-had-such-ba_2759417.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/tom-lenk-30138_auditions_it-s-interesting-years-ago-i-had-such-ba_2759417.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/tom-lenk-30138_auditions_it-s-interesting-years-ago-i-had-such-ba_2759417.jpg) > “It's interesting - years ago, I had such bad stage fright during musical theater auditions that I just gave up. And now I'm on Broadway.” [Tom Lenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lenk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Overcoming severe stage fright led to a Broadway career, showing perseverance transforms fear into success. **In simple terms:** Stage fear can be turned into achievement through persistence. Key Takeaway Persist despite fear. Themes courage career theater Mood determined hopeful Type inspirational motivational When to use this quote - auditions - performance - career transition - public speaking Key Concepts resilience personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What fear have you turned into a strength? - How can you keep practicing under pressure? A Different Perspective Fear may linger and cause setbacks if not addressed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Auditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auditions/) [Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) [Broadway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broadway/) [Fright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fright/) [Fright Musical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fright-musical-3158147/) [Gave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gave/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Musical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical/) [Musical theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical-theater/) [Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Stage fright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage-fright/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theater Auditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater-auditions-2753184/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [In England, theater auditions are gentler experiences. You sit down with the director and talk about the play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/in-england-theater-auditions-are-gentler-experiences-you-sit-down/) [Tom Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sturridge/) > [I would love to work on Broadway, but I don't know that it would manifest itself in musical theater… I have terrible stage fright…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-johansson/i-would-love-to-work-on-broadway-but-i-don-t-know-that-it-would/) [Scarlett Johansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-johansson/) > [I did my first play in fifth grade. This same fifth grade teacher asked me several years later what I wanted to do when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-hemmens/i-did-my-first-play-in-fifth-grade-this-same-fifth-grade-teacher/) [Heather Hemmens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-hemmens/) > [There was a while when I got really bad stage fright and I basically felt...I was incredibly angry. I felt like everything had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-slate/there-was-a-while-when-i-got-really-bad-stage-fright-and-i-basically/) [Jenny Slate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-slate/) > [Actually, I failed drama in high school because of nerves. I wasnt able to memorize the words. I had complete stage fright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-marie/actually-i-failed-drama-in-high-school-because-of-nerves-i-wasnt-able/) [Constance Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-marie/) > [Stage fright is a real thing. It's debilitating to some people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-shaffir/stage-fright-is-a-real-thing-it-s-debilitating-to-some-people/) [Ari Shaffir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-shaffir/) > [I used to suffer from stage fright, which at times was an ordeal. I won't perform live again. I'm going to do some TV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnetha-faltskog/i-used-to-suffer-from-stage-fright-which-at-times-was-an-ordeal-i-won/) [Agnetha Faltskog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnetha-faltskog/) > [I get stage fright with short stories. For me it feels like standup comedy: kill or die. I'm more confident when I begin a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sefi-atta/i-get-stage-fright-with-short-stories-for-me-it-feels-like-standup/) [Sefi Atta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sefi-atta/) > [I know a lot of screen actors who think they left it too long to go back on stage and now they have really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-lou-wood/i-know-a-lot-of-screen-actors-who-think-they-left-it-too-long-to-go/) [Aimee Lou Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-lou-wood/) > [I don't get stage fright, I actually love the energy, I love the spontaneity, I love the adrenaline you get in front of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-burke/i-don-t-get-stage-fright-i-actually-love-the-energy-i-love-the/) [Brooke Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-burke/) > [Stage fright and acting blocks are just unfocused or misplaced energy. Everything is possible if you know how and where to focus to invite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjo-riikka-makela/stage-fright-and-acting-blocks-are-just-unfocused-or-misplaced-energy/) [Marjo-Riikka Makela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjo-riikka-makela/) > [Actually, I failed drama in high school because of nerves. I wasn't able to memorize the words. I had complete stage fright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-marie/actually-i-failed-drama-in-high-school-because-of-nerves-i-wasn-t/) [Constance Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-marie/) > [At first, I had such stage fright, and it was always comforting to look over and see my big brother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-spielberg/at-first-i-had-such-stage-fright-and-it-was-always-comforting-to-look/) [Sasha Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-spielberg/) > [Of course it does on opening night, but I've never had that devastating stage fright that some people get, but apparently, you can develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-collins/of-course-it-does-on-opening-night-but-i-ve-never-had-that/) [Joan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-collins/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) ## More by Tom Lenk > [I'm an old fashioned theater major at heart. I love to do a show, do something with friends; I'm kind of a nerd in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lenk/i-m-an-old-fashioned-theater-major-at-heart-i-love-to-do-a-show-do/) [Tom Lenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lenk/) > [My first big one-person show was basically a combination of my family, me during puberty, embarrassing newspaper articles that were written about me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lenk/my-first-big-one-person-show-was-basically-a-combination-of-my-family/) [Tom Lenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lenk/) > [I doubt I will ever be in another Michael Bay movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lenk/i-doubt-i-will-ever-be-in-another-michael-bay-movie/) [Tom Lenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lenk/) > [I enjoy doing these silly little videos, and a lot of stuff online is stuff I actually created for my live comedy shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lenk/i-enjoy-doing-these-silly-little-videos-and-a-lot-of-stuff-online-is/) [Tom Lenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lenk/) > [I loved doing 'Rock of Ages' in N.Y. and that, but its such a large scale, and so many things go into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lenk/i-loved-doing-rock-of-ages-in-n-y-and-that-but-its-such-a-large-scale/) [Tom Lenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lenk/) > [I find the best things are done for yourself or start as a small project and become a big thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lenk/i-find-the-best-things-are-done-for-yourself-or-start-as-a-small/) [Tom Lenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lenk/) > [I love the experience of getting to direct because I can have all of the fun of helping shape the show, but I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lenk/i-love-the-experience-of-getting-to-direct-because-i-can-have-all-of/) [Tom Lenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lenk/) > [I like to put on a wig or a fake mustache and do something silly with friends, do a little dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lenk/i-like-to-put-on-a-wig-or-a-fake-mustache-and-do-something-silly-with/) [Tom Lenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lenk/) > [I'm an old fashioned theater major at heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lenk/i-m-an-old-fashioned-theater-major-at-heart/) [Tom Lenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lenk/) > [My theater nerd world and my comic friend world are colliding... That's the thing that I was nerdy about, was theatre. I wasn't as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lenk/my-theater-nerd-world-and-my-comic-friend-world-are-colliding-that-s/) [Tom Lenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lenk/) > [I love dark chocolate. I'm also a peanut butter and chocolate fanatic. That's pretty much the greatest invention of the last century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lenk/i-love-dark-chocolate-i-m-also-a-peanut-butter-and-chocolate-fanatic/) [Tom Lenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lenk/) > [I'm an old-fashioned theatre major at heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lenk/i-m-an-old-fashioned-theatre-major-at-heart/) [Tom Lenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lenk/) > [Side note, I was Prom Prince. My friend and I campaigned to be Prom King and Queen, and we got the rest of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lenk/side-note-i-was-prom-prince-my-friend-and-i-campaigned-to-be-prom/) [Tom Lenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lenk/) > [I don't get recognized too much, which is cool because, you know, I don't want people to be overwhelmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lenk/i-don-t-get-recognized-too-much-which-is-cool-because-you-know-i-don/) [Tom Lenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lenk/) > [There's no such thing as a part-time 'Buffy' fan; people watch it compulsively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lenk/there-s-no-such-thing-as-a-part-time-buffy-fan-people-watch-it/) [Tom Lenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lenk/) [Explore all 17 Tom Lenk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lenk/) ## More Auditions quotes > [My favorite performance would definitely be "Toxic," which was my blind audition song. It was the start of it all and it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-martinez/my-favorite-performance-would-definitely-be-toxic-which-was-my-blind/) [Melanie Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-martinez/) > [Ed Koch once said that New York City is where immigrants come to audition for America. That's what happened to my parents; that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-manuel-miranda/ed-koch-once-said-that-new-york-city-is-where-immigrants-come-to/) [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-manuel-miranda/) > [I have had to give auditions for every film I had done until 'Dedh Ishqiya.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huma-qureshi/i-have-had-to-give-auditions-for-every-film-i-had-done-until-dedh/) [Huma Qureshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huma-qureshi/) > [When preparing for auditions, I have no rituals. I just try to be as prepared as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-basco/when-preparing-for-auditions-i-have-no-rituals-i-just-try-to-be-as/) [Dante Basco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-basco/) > [I have a large watch collection, and classic watches are especially important to me. I had a silver Rolex, and I actually gave it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-have-a-large-watch-collection-and-classic-watches-are-especially/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [I got into acting in high school mainly because I wasn't doing anything else and started to hit a few bumps in the road.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-letscher/i-got-into-acting-in-high-school-mainly-because-i-wasn-t-doing/) [Matt Letscher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-letscher/) > [Always my fallback is - I'm gonna move to a poor town and open a scone shop... Sometimes after some bad auditions I think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-rannells/always-my-fallback-is-i-m-gonna-move-to-a-poor-town-and-open-a-scone/) [Andrew Rannells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-rannells/) > [I would go to different production houses everyday for auditions and they would reject me saying you cant talk, smile, dance, or act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-tamboli/i-would-go-to-different-production-houses-everyday-for-auditions-and/) [Nikki Tamboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-tamboli/) > [Like every audition I go on, I do my best, but after that, I let it go because, you know, the rejection rate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/like-every-audition-i-go-on-i-do-my-best-but-after-that-i-let-it-go/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [“Some people look like they sound better than they actually sound, because they look confident and have good posture," once musician, a veteran of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/some-people-look-like-they-sound-better-than-they-actually-sound/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [Life beats down and crushes our souls and theatre reminds us that we have one. At least the type of theatre that I'm interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanford-meisner/life-beats-down-and-crushes-our-souls-and-theatre-reminds-us-that-we/) [Sanford Meisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanford-meisner/) > [It's funny, I get really nervous when I audition for voiceovers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-benz/it-s-funny-i-get-really-nervous-when-i-audition-for-voiceovers/) [Julie Benz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-benz/) > [I've gone into auditions and I think they have an assumption about me when they see my photo and then I open my mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-negga/i-ve-gone-into-auditions-and-i-think-they-have-an-assumption-about-me/) [Ruth Negga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-negga/) > [When I was six years old my friend was auditioning for 'Annie,' and I decided I wanted to audition with her. My mom was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-emerson/when-i-was-six-years-old-my-friend-was-auditioning-for-annie-and-i/) [Jacqueline Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-emerson/) > [I managed to get onto 'The Hobbit,' which is a story in itself. I missed the main round of auditions but managed to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-stevens/i-managed-to-get-onto-the-hobbit-which-is-a-story-in-itself-i-missed/) [Conan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-stevens/) [Browse all 789 Auditions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auditions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's interesting - years ago, I had such bad stage fright during musical theater auditions that I just gave up. 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