Casey Nicholaw Quotes

Powerful Casey Nicholaw for Daily Growth

About Casey Nicholaw

Casey Nicholaw, born on August 18, 1956, in the United States, is a renowned theatre director, choreographer, and scenic designer, celebrated for his significant contributions to musical theatre. Known for his energetic and innovative style, Nicholaw's work has been honored with numerous awards, including Tony Awards for 'The Book of Mormon' (2011) and 'Aladdin' (2014). Growing up in California, Nicholaw's passion for the performing arts was ignited at a young age. He began his career as a dancer, performing with the American Ballet Theatre and the New York City Ballet before transitioning to musical theatre. His early influences include the legendary choreographers Bob Fosse and Jerome Robbins. Nicholaw's breakthrough came in 1982 when he was selected to create the choreography for '42nd Street'. This led to a series of successful collaborations with prominent composers, including John Kander and Fred Ebb, on productions such as 'Kiss of the Spider Woman', 'The Rink', and 'Steel Pier'. In the late 1990s, Nicholaw expanded his repertoire to include direction and scenic design. His directorial debut was with the critically acclaimed off-Broadway production of 'The Full Monty' in 1998. This was followed by the Broadway productions of 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' (2004), 'Spamalot' (2005), and 'Elf: The Musical' (2010). Nicholaw's unique blend of humor, emotion, and technical prowess has made him one of the most sought-after artists in musical theatre today. His latest work, 'The Prom', premiered on Broadway in 2018 to critical acclaim, further cementing his status as a visionary in the world of theatre.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Dance is a way of communicating without words."

This quote highlights that dance serves as an expressive, non-verbal mode of communication. It suggests that through movement and rhythm, dancers can convey emotions, ideas, stories, or messages in a universal language that transcends linguistic boundaries. Dance, therefore, is a powerful means to connect, engage, and empathize with others, making it an essential part of human culture and interaction.

"Theater should make you feel something."

This quote by Casey Nicholaw highlights the emotional impact theater is meant to have on its audience. It's a reminder that live performance, whether it be musical or play, aims not just to entertain but also to evoke feelings, stir emotions, provoke thoughts, or even inspire change within the viewers. A successful piece of theater should resonate with us and leave an impression long after the final curtain call.

"I believe that dance is the highest form of expression and I try to capture that essence on stage."

Casey Nicholaw's quote emphasizes his strong belief in dance as a profound medium for artistic self-expression. By staging performances, he aims to translate the essence of this expression into a tangible, visual experience, inviting audiences to connect with and appreciate the beauty, depth, and emotional power inherent within the world of dance.

"When I choreograph, I always try to find the story in the music."

This quote suggests that when Casey Nicholaw creates dance routines, he prioritizes finding a narrative within the music itself. He doesn't just move to the beat, but interprets the emotions, themes, and sequences of events that the music communicates, translating these into cohesive and engaging choreography. In essence, Nicholaw's choreography is an artistic interpretation of a musical story.

"Everyone has a unique voice and I strive to help them find it." (This quote may not be directly from Casey Nicholaw but is often attributed to him.)

This quote suggests that everyone possesses a distinctive style, perspective, or talent in their own right. The speaker, Casey Nicholaw (who represents artists, creators, or mentors), aspires to assist others in discovering and showcasing this unique voice or talent. It's about empowering individuals to express themselves authentically and contribute their individual creativity to the world.

I was always bossy as a kid. I made my friends do shows that I wrote and would take them on tour from house to house.

- Casey Nicholaw

Kid, Always, Made, Bossy

I was in 'Seussical,' and I was in a cage onstage in a purple yarn suit singing backup, and I was like: 'I've had it. I can't do this anymore.' I will say for the record that I did love the show, but I was like: 'I want to do something else. I need a little more.'

- Casey Nicholaw

Love, Show, Something Else, Backup

I was in eighth grade when I did my first Junior Theatre show. I was in 'Annie Get Your Gun' as a dancing Indian.

- Casey Nicholaw

Dancing, Gun, Eighth, Annie

I moved to New York and couldn't get a job as an actor. And waited tables for so long.

- Casey Nicholaw

Long, New, Moved, Waited

It blows me away that my parents, they really weren't much into theater, but they recognized that in me. When I think about the things they did to support that, I'm blown away.

- Casey Nicholaw

Think, Away, I Think, Blown Away

Sometimes you feel like people go, 'Oh, he just does funny dances,' or 'That's cute.' It drives me a little crazy when someone does a dance number where all they do is kick to their head for five minutes, and everyone's like, 'That choreography is amazing.' It takes a lot to choreograph a number that also gets laughs in it.

- Casey Nicholaw

Sometimes, Feel, Choreograph, Choreography

I went to UCLA for a year and a quarter. There were too many students at UCLA interested in what I was interested in, and they couldn't accommodate all of us. I wasn't allowed to take voice or dance, only theater and acting. So I saved my money and, at 19, moved to New York.

- Casey Nicholaw

Voice, Saved, Year, UCLA

In '92, I got my first Broadway show as a performer - 'Crazy for You.' I was in the ensemble. In fact, I was in eight Broadway shows as a dancer. Seven of them were original shows. That's how I learned to create something from the ground up.

- Casey Nicholaw

Fact, Show, Broadway, Broadway Shows

Bouncing ideas off people when you're thinking up comedy is great.

- Casey Nicholaw

Ideas, Comedy, Up, Bouncing

I have a Tony Award now. It hasn't changed too much in the theater world, but it gives me entree for film stuff and TV stuff, where people will see me more easily now because they know me.

- Casey Nicholaw

Award, See, TV, Tony

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.