A handful of works in history have had a direct impact on social policy: one or two works of Dickens, some of Zola, 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' and, in modern drama, Larry Kramer's 'The Normal Heart.'
Tony KushnerRead
So I think I'll say the obvious thing: theater is ephemeral. When a production is done, it's gone forever. You can take pictures of it. You can make a film of it. But it's not the production. It's not the same thing.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Theater is a temporary art form that cannot be fully preserved once a performance ends.
In this quote, Tony Kushner emphasizes the transient nature of theater, highlighting that once a production is completed, it ceases to exist in its original form. While recordings and photographs can capture moments, they cannot replicate the unique essence and experience of a live performance, which is fleeting and momentary.
Themes
TheaterEphemeralArtPerformanceLive
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be shared during theater workshops to discuss the uniqueness of live performances.
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