Where the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window.

You always do that with movie musicals. You prerecord and then you lip-synch to playback.

Because I come from the theater, I use the images of the theater and of movies a great deal when I write. I see the story in my head. I have to break down the outline of a story first. I have to know where I'm going. Usually I have a good beginning and a good ending, and then I think, "Now I have to find my way through it."

If the director says you can do better, particularly in a love scene, then it is rather embarrassing.

It is not enough to reach for the brass ring. You must also enjoy the merry go round.

If I'm reading about a river or the trees or the wind blowing or the stars at night, if you can hear that in the music in some way, you've wedded the two and your imagination takes off. To be able to hear that in music is really important.

Dear Lady Gaga , thank you for the wonderful tribute. Oh my god, it really warmed my heart!