Joe Mantello Quotes

Directing is something I always wanted to do. I started when I was 13 directing scenes in high school and then plays in college with my theatre company.

The good thing about helping an actor create a performance is, you really don't know how you're going to do it. It's a challenge every time you get to the set. That keeps the energy flowing all the time.

I've always been very comfortable in a set environment. All the collaborating going on, seeing how actors work - it all excites me.

Gosh, I'd like to direct Our Town on stage.

I have been working up until recently with Neil Simon, who has been adapting the character to me.

I don't get nervous when I'm directing a play. It's not like acting.

Working on a play is a vibrant and collaborative business. Everyone from the choreographer to the music director to the director to the writers work together toward the same goal, and everyone chimes in on everything.

Acting is my job.

I always think that the deal, once I do the script, sort of the experience I go through writing, which is everything you can imagine, but I always think it's the one thing I can do when I'm directing is say is that it's all about the actors, that I can say, 'We're all here to serve the actors.'

I love the entire process of being on the set and being able to create a character. It's so much fun. In 'Think Like a Man,' I have a very small part. They told me it wasn't a big budget, but I don't care about any of that. I'll do it for free simply because I love being on the set with other creative people.

To be able to work with actors who are doing such good work, not only makes it easier for you, but it makes you better.

I fell in love with Alan Ayckbourn the day I met him and, starting with 'The Norman Conquests,' went on to do eight plays with him. He tells you just what you want to know and has a brilliant way of solving problems.

I have a theater background, so I like finding beats, working on things and having rehearsal.

I've been acting for a while, but theater is pretty different. I've never been in a play.

I feel very privileged to have worked with a lot of outstanding actors: Alun Armstrong, Peter Mullan, Matt Smith and Andrew Garfield.

You always hear actors say, 'Theater is my first love,' and it is. It's a time when you really get to do what you do, and there's not a lot of waiting around and interruption and not a lot of money involved - sometimes money really clouds the waters of creativity.

I'm just a stage actress. I'm very comfortable onstage.

Most actors go, 'I read the script and fell in love with it'; I fall in love with the directors.

When it comes to writing musicals, you write the best piece you can. Then, its destiny is in the hands of the actors and the director.

Acting is a funny job because you're always playing a hundred levels of pretend, but when you're working with great designers who end up doing a lot of that work for you, you can focus on the things you want to focus on.

After a certain point of time, life's practicality hits you. So I got into theatre, did stage plays and worked along with Naseeruddin Shah and Nana Patekar, people who are committed to the craft part.

I have been rather selective, doing not more than two or thee films a year, so that leaves me with plenty of time to prep for my plays and theatre activities.

I've enjoyed lots of productions, and it's always been down to the actors I've been working with.

Good actors can tell you more about your play than 1,000 hours alone at your desk.

I think theatre helped, only because it was acting experience. I got to work with a lot of directors.