I'd love to sell out completely. It's just that nobody has been willing to buy.

I learned that people like my work because I praise things that others don't like.

And I seek people who break rules with happiness — and not bringing pain to themselves.

People who want to act rich when they're upper-middle class. They try too hard.

My idea of rich is that you can buy every book you ever want without looking at the price and you're never around assholes. That's the two things to really fight for in life.

With Hairspray, we had a great experience. I always think of the last time I saw Divine: He was in the last booth in the back of the Odeon. Now every time I go in there, I look at that table. It was a wonderful night.Hairspray had been out a week; it was a hit. If I had to pick a night that was going to be the last night.

I mean, what is prison, really, except a good bar without the liquor?