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Tom Kitt Quotes

Powerful Tom Kitt for Daily Growth

About Tom Kitt

Thomas M. Kitt (born July 16, 1978) is an American composer, lyricist, and musician who has made significant contributions to the world of musical theatre. Born in Livingston, New Jersey, Kitt developed a love for music at an early age, learning to play piano and guitar. He graduated from The Juilliard School with a Bachelor of Music in composition in 2000. Kitt's breakthrough came in 2003 when he co-wrote the book, music, and lyrics for the Off-Broadway musical "Juno" which earned him his first Drama Desk Award nomination. However, it was his collaboration with Brian Yorkey on the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical "Next to Normal" (2008) that propelled Kitt into the spotlight. The show, a poignant exploration of mental illness, garnered numerous awards including three Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. In 2013, Kitt composed the music for "If/Then," another collaboration with Yorkey. The musical starred Idina Menzel and explored the concept of parallel lives through the character of Elizabeth, a city planner navigating her personal and professional life in New York City. Kitt continues to write music for various projects, including the scores for the plays "The Library" (2017) and "Whisper House" (2018). He is also a member of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop and has taught at several institutions, including Juilliard and NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Through his work, Tom Kitt has brought a unique voice to musical theatre, tackling complex themes with a keen understanding of character development and an unwavering commitment to storytelling. His contributions have solidified his place as one of the most exciting talents in contemporary American musical theatre.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Music is the language of the spirit. It calls to something deep within all of us."

This quote emphasizes that music transcends ordinary language, communicating on a profound emotional level with every individual. Music taps into our innermost feelings, evoking emotions that are universal and deeply human. In essence, it serves as an expression of the soul and connects people across cultures, ages, and experiences.

"The notes I write are just a starting point. The magic happens when they're brought to life by the performer."

This quote by Tom Kitt underscores the collaborative nature of music creation, emphasizing that while he writes the notes, it's the performer who infuses them with life and emotion, thereby transforming the written composition into a unique, living performance. It suggests that the true power of a piece lies in its interpretation by the artist, not just in its original composition.

"I believe that art should challenge and inspire, and music has the power to do both."

Tom Kitt's quote emphasizes the dual role of art, particularly music, in provoking thought and inspiring feelings within us. Art serves as a mirror that reflects societal issues, ideas, or emotions, thus challenging our perspectives. Simultaneously, it stirs inspiration by evoking emotions, stimulating creativity, and offering solace or comfort through its beauty and harmony. Ultimately, art, such as music, engages us intellectually and emotionally, making us question, learn, and grow.

"Every note matters, every rest is significant."

This quote emphasizes the importance of every element in a piece of music, whether it's a played note or a silent pause (rest). It suggests that each component has a purpose and contributes to the overall structure and mood of the composition. In other words, every aspect of music, no matter how seemingly small, plays a crucial role in creating the desired impact on the listener.

"In composing, as in life, it's important to take risks and be true to yourself."

This quote emphasizes the importance of authenticity and risk-taking in both creative pursuits, such as composition, and everyday life. It suggests that being oneself and taking calculated risks can lead to growth, innovation, and success. In other words, embracing individuality and pushing boundaries is a key part of personal and artistic development.

One of the arrangements I'm really proud of is '21 Guns' because the chorus has this descending bass line with a suspended type of progression that immediately screamed 'Bach' to me.

- Tom Kitt

Proud, Guns, Line, Descending

I love musical comedy; I love comedy in general, and I have varied taste in terms of books, film, theatre, and culture.

- Tom Kitt

Love, Comedy, Musical, Musical Comedy

Living involves making bold choices. You can't always know how they're going to turn out, and you can always play that game of wondering what might have been if you had made another decision.

- Tom Kitt

Play, Always, Making, Wondering

I was meant to be a composer. I was meant to meet my wife and have our three children. There were a number of factors that led to all of that happening, which, if you mapped it out, you would say, 'God, a lot had to go right for all of those things to line up.'

- Tom Kitt

Line, Had, Led, Meant To Be

Most people have been touched by the battles of mental illness in some way or another. It's either going on in their families or next door to them, or they know people who have experienced it.

- Tom Kitt

Door, Next, Some, Battles

My love of Green Day is on so many levels. It's their genius for songwriting, the fact that they write about very important subjects, both personal and political, and they're just a timeless band.

- Tom Kitt

Love, Fact, Very, Levels

I was inspired to be a singer/songwriter from an early age.

- Tom Kitt

Age, Early, Inspired, Early Age

Alice Ripley was someone who had had a huge effect on me when I had gotten out of college and decided that this was the road I wanted to take - to write musicals.

- Tom Kitt

College, Gotten, Alice, Musicals

It's the basic rule of musicals: Characters sing when their emotions become so intense that they can't do anything else.

- Tom Kitt

Emotions, Rule, Musicals

I've had so many experiences with film or musicals or books where I just walk away changed in some way. One of the things that makes me want to be a writer is to pour my heart into something and hope that I can affect someone in that same way.

- Tom Kitt

Some, Away, Affect, Musicals

It's all about the audience and the people who support your work and respond to it. So, anytime I hear that 'Next to Normal' is affecting people, it goes beyond my wildest dreams of what I set out to do when I started to write 'Next to Normal.'

- Tom Kitt

Next, About, Affecting, Respond

I was very lucky in that I had a happy home life and that I was interested in things my parents wanted to provide for me.

- Tom Kitt

Happy, Lucky, Very, Home Life

The world of cheerleading is incredibly demanding, incredibly physical, and it has a lot of risk. The way people fly through the air is so thrilling to watch, but it takes hours and hours of practice and training.

- Tom Kitt

Practice, Through, Hours, Hours And Hours

Any musical is a major undertaking.

- Tom Kitt

Musical, Major, Any, Undertaking

I'm very influenced by the work of George Martin and the string arrangements that he did for the Beatles.

- Tom Kitt

String, Influenced, Very, Arrangements

There's no better feeling as a writer than to see your piece going beyond what you can have ever imagined. And a wonderful way for that to happen is for new audiences to discover it.

- Tom Kitt

New, Discover, Happen, Wonderful Way

I didn't want to box myself into writing just rock music because you can try to force it into moments that don't want it.

- Tom Kitt

Myself, Want, Box, Rock Music

I hope Green Day write more for the theater. They're brilliant at it.

- Tom Kitt

Green, More, Brilliant, Green Day

Green Day were heroes of mine growing up.

- Tom Kitt

Growing Up, Growing, Mine, Green Day

Green Day is a band that you always felt had something to say, whether it was about the times or love or heartache.

- Tom Kitt

Love, Green, Always, Green Day

The thing about 'Next to Normal' is that it really is an ensemble piece for six actors. They are all asked to do very important things in the show, and I think all six are equal in terms of telling the story.

- Tom Kitt

Normal, Next, Very, Important Things

In the back of my mind, when we were developing 'Next to Normal,' I always heard Alice Ripley.

- Tom Kitt

Mind, Next, Always, Alice

I do not take my job lightly.

- Tom Kitt

Job, Take, Lightly

'Cabaret' was one of the first pieces of musical theater I saw that showed the possibilities of what musical theater can do.

- Tom Kitt

Possibilities, Pieces, Cabaret

'American Idiot' is not only one of my favorite albums of all time, it's become an anthem of a generation.

- Tom Kitt

Generation, Albums, Anthem, Idiot

I don't think you are ever really done working on something, especially if you can get back into rehearsal.

- Tom Kitt

Think, Done, Back, Rehearsal

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