Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Famous Theatre Quotes

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chel
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Posted: 12/17/09 at 8:47am

Not inspiring per se, but one of my favorites:

"Actors without techies are just naked people in the dark trying to emote. Techies without actors are people with marketable job skills."

chel

www.windhamtheaterguild.org

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falstaff29
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Posted: 12/20/09 at 7:39pm

In its original context, doesn't apply to theater, but a line that's always resonated with me is Steiner's remark in La Dolce Vita that he's "too serious to be an amateur, but not enough to be a professional." I know that line describes me, and it also describes a lot of the best people I've worked with in community theater, who really work hard to put on high quality shows, demand a lot from themselves and others, and take a special pride in their work, but are also committed to their day jobs and families and life outside the theater.

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Topper
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Posted: 1/08/10 at 11:02am

"Artistic temperament is a disease that afflicts amateurs." G. K. Chesterton

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

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JoeMc
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Posted: 5/23/10 at 7:27pm

I came across this on the AACT website in the a 'tip of the month' public section;-
Once in a Lifetime
On the wall of the lobby of the Performing Arts Guild of South Kitsap, of Port Orchard, Washington, is a sign that read,
"Theater is life, film is art, television is furniture.
If you have cable, you are probably paying $1200 a year for furniture.
If you take a friend to a couple of movies a month and buy popcorn,
you are probably paying around $400 a year for art.
What can we persuade you to pay for life?"

[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

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doublezero420
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Posted: 5/25/10 at 2:08pm

“In the theater the audience wants to be surprised but by things that they expect” - Tristan Bernard

“Theaters are like brothels; one never knows what he will find inside - or whom”

“Practice as if you are the worst. Perform as if you are the best."

and the John Barrymore quote in my sig.

aaron

“One of my chief regrets during my years in the theater is that I could not sit in the audience and watch me” -John Barrymore

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Spectrum
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Joined: 4/16/04
Location: United States
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Posted: 8/23/11 at 5:25pm

I know this thread is old, but I just discovered a bunch of quotes that I think are worth repeating. Enjoy!

My playground was the theatre. I'd sit and watch my mother pretend for a living. As a young girl, that's pretty seductive. – Gwyneth Paltrow

Many plays, certainly mine, are like blank cheques. The actors and directors put their own signatures on them. – Thornton Wilder

It's one of the tragic ironies of the theatre that only one man in it can count on steady work -- the night watchman. – Tallulah Bankhead

Theatre going is a communal act, movie going a solitary one. – Robert Brustein

The primary function of a theatre is not to please itself, or even to please its audience. It is to serve talent. - Robert Brustein

Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.

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Directing
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Directing

Author	Message
chel Celebrity Joined: 6/20/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 106	Posted: 12/17/09 at 8:47am
	Not inspiring per se, but one of my favorites: "Actors without techies are just naked people in the dark trying to emote. Techies without actors are people with marketable job skills."
	chel www.windhamtheaterguild.org
	IP Logged

falstaff29 Celebrity Joined: 9/17/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 155	Posted: 12/20/09 at 7:39pm
	In its original context, doesn't apply to theater, but a line that's always resonated with me is Steiner's remark in La Dolce Vita that he's "too serious to be an amateur, but not enough to be a professional." I know that line describes me, and it also describes a lot of the best people I've worked with in community theater, who really work hard to put on high quality shows, demand a lot from themselves and others, and take a special pride in their work, but are also committed to their day jobs and families and life outside the theater.
	IP Logged

Topper Celebrity Joined: 1/27/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 543	Posted: 1/08/10 at 11:02am
	"Artistic temperament is a disease that afflicts amateurs." G. K. Chesterton
	"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
	IP Logged

JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 5/23/10 at 7:27pm
	I came across this on the AACT website in the a 'tip of the month' public section;- Once in a Lifetime On the wall of the lobby of the Performing Arts Guild of South Kitsap, of Port Orchard, Washington, is a sign that read, "Theater is life, film is art, television is furniture. If you have cable, you are probably paying $1200 a year for furniture. If you take a friend to a couple of movies a month and buy popcorn, you are probably paying around $400 a year for art. What can we persuade you to pay for life?"
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
	IP Logged

doublezero420 Star Joined: 4/13/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 50	Posted: 5/25/10 at 2:08pm
	“In the theater the audience wants to be surprised but by things that they expect” - Tristan Bernard “Theaters are like brothels; one never knows what he will find inside - or whom” “Practice as if you are the worst. Perform as if you are the best." and the John Barrymore quote in my sig.
	aaron “One of my chief regrets during my years in the theater is that I could not sit in the audience and watch me” -John Barrymore
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Spectrum Celebrity Joined: 4/16/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 176	Posted: 8/23/11 at 5:25pm
	I know this thread is old, but I just discovered a bunch of quotes that I think are worth repeating. Enjoy! My playground was the theatre. I'd sit and watch my mother pretend for a living. As a young girl, that's pretty seductive. – Gwyneth Paltrow Many plays, certainly mine, are like blank cheques. The actors and directors put their own signatures on them. – Thornton Wilder It's one of the tragic ironies of the theatre that only one man in it can count on steady work -- the night watchman. – Tallulah Bankhead Theatre going is a communal act, movie going a solitary one. – Robert Brustein The primary function of a theatre is not to please itself, or even to please its audience. It is to serve talent. - Robert Brustein
	Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.
	IP Logged

Topic: Famous Theatre Quotes
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