"The purpose of a song is to move the heart and change the world."
This quote by Maury Yeston emphasizes the power of music in touching people's emotions and effecting change. The song serves not just as a means of artistic expression, but also as a tool for impact, inspiring listeners to feel deeply and, ideally, take action towards positive transformation. In other words, the song is both an emotional catharsis and a call-to-action, harnessing the power of human emotions to drive social change.
"The music must always serve the play."
This quote by Maury Yeston emphasizes the importance of subordinating musical elements to the storyline in a theatrical production. In other words, the music is not an end in itself but rather a means to enhance and support the dramatic narrative. It's a reminder that every note, rhythm, or melody should have a purpose within the context of the play, contributing to character development, mood, and advancing the plot. A harmonious blend of music and drama creates a powerful and immersive experience for audiences.
"A great musical has an emotional core that is universal."
Maury Yeston's quote emphasizes the importance of a universal, emotionally relatable theme in creating a successful musical. A great musical should resonate with audiences from diverse backgrounds, transcending cultural, societal, or personal differences by touching on feelings, experiences, or human conditions that are deeply human and widely shared. This universality allows the audience to connect and engage more deeply with the story and characters, fostering an emotional experience that can be personally transformative.
"You can't write something unless you feel it in your bones."
This quote suggests that authentic, deeply felt emotions are essential when creating art or writing. In other words, genuine emotional engagement with a piece is crucial to its creation; the writer must truly "feel" the subject matter in their core or "bones," not just intellectually understand it, to produce impactful and meaningful work.
"Every show tells a story, but the best shows tell a story that the world needs to hear."
This quote suggests that exceptional works in theater not only entertain but also communicate important messages that resonate with audiences and are relevant to the world we live in. The "story" refers to the narrative or theme of the play, musical, or any stage production, and when it's a story that people need to hear, it strikes a chord and has a lasting impact on its audience. Such stories can inspire, provoke thought, foster empathy, or even bring about change.
Every show is a mess at its first preview. No one's had enough time to rehearse in costumes, traffic patterns backstage haven't been worked out, machinery weighing thousands of pounds is being operated for the first time. And, also, it's the first time all the material you've written is before the public.
- Maury Yeston
In a play, a man comes out and says something. Another man comes out and says something. And by the end of the night, we've learned something we didn't know, In a musical, there is singing and dancing for two hours, but you've got to know everything in 5 minutes. Do it in those 5 minutes or you'll lose them.
- Maury Yeston
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