“Most of the people dishing out judgment have no working experience of the theatre, have not written a professional play, a sketch, or even a joke; have never worked in a theatre, taken an acting class, or published any extended piece of work. They are creative virgins; everything they know about theatre is book-learned and second-hand.” PeopleKnowsBookPlayHandsActingClassCreativeTakenPiecesWrittenJudgmentJokesTheatreVirginsSecond HandActing Classes Author:John Lahr
“I know in an existential sense that life can change on a dime ... something has instantly and inexorably changed in American life.” KnowsChangedExistentialDimesAmerican Life Author:John Lahr
“A prose writer never sees a reader walk out of a book; for a playwright, it's another matter. An audience is an invaluable education. In my experience, theatre artists don't know what they've made until they've made it.” KnowsMadeBookMatterArtistWalksAudienceReaderTheatreMade ItProsePlaywrightInvaluable Author:John Lahr
“I was the first critic ever to win a Tony - for co-authoring 'Elaine Stritch at Liberty.' Criticism is a life without risk; the critic is risking his opinion, the maker is risking his life. It's a humbling thought but important for the critic to keep it in mind - a thought he can only know if he's made something himself.” IfsKnowsMindFirstsMadeImportantWinningLibertyOpinionRiskCriticismCriticsMakersHumbling Author:John Lahr
“Theatre people, who are an adaptive species, know that to remain sane in the process of production where everyone and his uncle has an opinion about how to fix a show, you must pick the people whose knowledge and taste you trust and stick only to these few. The Tweetocracy is no place to look.” PeopleKnowsLooksShowsProcessOpinionTastePicksSticksSpeciesProductionsTheatreSaneUnclesAdaptive Author:John Lahr
“Writers don't always know what they mean - that's why they write. Their work stands in for them. On the page, the reader meets the authoritative, perfected self; in life, the writer is lumbered with the uncertain, imperfect one.” KnowsWritingMeanSelfReaderPagesImperfectUncertain Author:John Lahr
