I think that both musicals and opera have a capacity to get to an inner emotional landscape.

And I just think that to introduce an unknown Shakespeare is thrilling, too - not to do Hamlet or Romeo and Juliet, to do the richer Shakespeare. People will come to this and not know the story.

People have become so literal because they're used to reality-based television.

Because my parents had given me tremendous respect, trust, and freedom as a child, I knew how to take responsibility for myself. If you're constantly being told "No, don't do that" or "We don't trust you," you can't develop that responsibility.

People will justify whatever for a good cause.

We have often been attracted to the story of the other, the outcast. And he and I just loved working together, so it just kept happening, and our relationship is completely bound up with our work. We enjoy each other's art.

I believe that if you really have a strong idea, you can say, "What do you think? Let's see how my idea plays off yours."