Tonight, tonight, won't be just any night. Tonight there will be no morning star.
Stephen SondheimRead
After the Rodgers and Hammerstein revolution, songs became part of the story, as opposed to just entertainments in between comedy scenes.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the evolution of musical theater, emphasizing the integration of songs within the narrative.
Stephen Sondheim reflects on the transformative impact of Rodgers and Hammerstein on the genre of musical theater. Their approach shifted the role of songs from mere entertainment interludes to essential components of storytelling, where each song furthers the plot and deepens character development, thus enriching the overall experience of the performance.
Themes
Musical TheaterSongsStorytellingRodgers And HammersteinSondheim
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the evolution of theater, one might quote Sondheim to emphasize the importance of narrative in musicals.
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Swing your razor wide! Sweeney, hold it to the skies!
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