I basically never feel like writing. I am a happy-go-lucky, relaxed, fun-seeking kind of person. And working disturbs that, because it puts me in a state of anxiety.
Robert LopezI like to think my sense of humor is sort of smart and dumb at the same time. I like to work on multiple levels - smart and dumb, funny and sad, profound and mundane, cynical and hopeful.
Robert LopezIt's very hard to go from the intense self-criticism you need to have during previews to all of a sudden letting go of it and trying to enjoy the moment, but I'm doing my best and I'm finally beginning to relax a little bit.
Robert LopezI think one of my favorite productions ever was Sondheims Assassins at the Roundabout in 2004. Beyond brilliant.
Robert LopezIf you're doing a musical, you should be out to give the audience something special, emotional, an uplifting feeling, something that stays with them.
Robert LopezEvery time I see a film or TV show, I think about how that composer made those choices and how that director envisioned music and how that could work onstage or in a film and how you could support that even further by putting lyrics to it.
Robert LopezI'm not an advocate of true rhymes, I don't think. I think that everyone who writes musical theater needs to know how to do true rhymes, because that's the tradition of it, but I do think that in order for the art form to grow, it's important to not let tradition get in the way of innovation. There's all kinds of reasons not to use true rhyme in a lyric, like with off-color humor.
Robert Lopez