I was encouraged by my mother and, to a lesser extent, by my father.

If an American audience is given a serious musical theater piece that is well produced, dramatically gripping and wonderfully acted, they'll respond to it.

Anyone who creates something new or does something different artistically is going to be singled out.

I find it enormously valuable to be sure that that the pacing is what I think it is and that the scenes have the shape I think they have musically and dramatically.

I was trying to do something that seemed very natural and easy but which bridged that gulf between the singing voice and the speaking voice.

Most of the important composers in our country are clustered in the Northeast.

People in very high places suddenly fall, and we are always surprised because we don't factor in the basic element that they're humans and, therefore, they are flawed and have weaknesses.