I'm just like my country. I'm young, scrappy and hungry.

I'm a diamond in the rough, a shiny piece of coal trying to reach my goal.

I had friends who only listened to hip-hop. I had friends who only listened to musicals, and I stood proudly in the middle.

I think one of the things that makes theater special is first of all, it's one of the last places you put your phone away. And second of all, it's one of the last places where we all have a common experience together.

I probably shouldn't brag, but dag I amaze and astonish.

I try to let my decisions be guided not by what I think will succeed or fail, but what I'm going to learn from that process.

I think I learned more about writing scores for Broadway by making mix tapes in the '90s than I did in college. You're learning about rise and fall and energy and tempo shifts. You're showing off your taste and your references. You're trying to be witty by - through placement of music you didn't write.