Quotes from Robert Lopez

I think one of my favorite productions ever was Sondheim's 'Assassins' at the Roundabout in 2004. Beyond brilliant.

I try to turn off the TV and play with my kids as much as I can, and I always hope they're having as good a time as Mormon kids.

With comedy, the jokes will come out, and people will see them coming. Changes in daily life or current events can change the consciousness of audiences and can make the show less funny or feel more stale.

If you're doing a musical, you should be out to give the audience something special, emotional, an uplifting feeling, something that stays with them. And you're not going to do that by bumming them out.

I'm not really a 'puppet' person in particular; I think they are very theatrical, and I've found different uses for them in shows, but my true interest is in writing Broadway musicals.

I always have to re-learn the important lesson that the work is always stronger when I listen and take input from others.

When you're trying to do a traditional book musical like 'Book of Mormon,' it's always nice to have characters that could very naturally break into song, and its good to pick a subject matter that allows that to happen in a way that doesn't disarm the audience.

When a good idea sparks, it's usually because of some subversive angle that means the song we're writing will be fresh.

I admire 'Urinetown.'

People try not to think about what's going on in sub-Saharan Africa. They edit it out of their daily lives. Especially Americans. We prefer a fantasy version of Africa.

You can never assume that something is going to do well.

If you're doing a musical, you should be out to give the audience something special, emotional, an uplifting feeling, something that stays with them.