Gene Wilder Quotes

It's impossible for me to play a part without thinking about the audience.

When I performed the songs in front of an audience at the end of each project and I knew the storytellers were in the crowd listening, that was hard.

I think it's really, really good for me to be on stage once a year. It keeps your chops good. There's nothing else like it.

I find a similarity between performing music onstage and acting - a reality of emotion.

Once you've experienced the warmth of an audience, the achievement of getting your first laugh, and entertaining them, singing or playing piano, it just keeps it all going.

Ever since I was a little kid, I loved being the centre of attention. I think it's part of the reason why I loved skating. You're literally in a fishbowl. You're in the middle of the ice by yourself, and the world is watching.

There's nothing like performing for a live audience.

I feel like I grow wings on stage.

The first time that I stepped onto a stage, it was life-changing. For once, I felt comfortable and in a place where I belonged. It changed my life forever.

I was very shy as a kid but when I found out I could perform and have people's attention everything changed for me. My mom likes to joke that until I was eight or nine I only knew what my sneakers looked like because I constantly walked around with my head down. But all of a sudden the stage made sense and that's what brought me out of my shell and a monster was created.

I love live theater; I like the relationship between the show and the audience. That's my comfort zone, but more than anything, it's what makes me happy.

I come from an era, in my world, where you just had to define yourself as who you are and what you do. I happen to be an actor. I happen to be someone that loves to act, that also likes music, that also likes to speak, and that also has an opinion.

Every time I go out on a stage I consider myself very lucky. Because, in a time where people are economically thinking about what to go and see - so, when I am on a stage, and it doesn't matter where I am, that's my favorite show. I come home after and say "That was my favorite show".

I got on stage and I went, "Oh wow. No stage fright." I couldn't do public speaking, and I couldn't play the piano in front of people, but I could act. I found that being on stage, I felt, "This is home." I felt an immediate right thing, and the exchange between the audience and the actors on stage was so fulfilling. I just went, "That is the conversation I want to have."

It makes me sad when I see artists who come alive when they go onstage, because, gee, I really come alive when I'm home.

I think the great thing about theatre, and if you start in theatre, is that it does build a confidence in poetic themes and ideas.

I consider theater, this is a vacation for me from LA, I sort of view this as I get to have this vacation and during my vacation I get to work on acting. It's like an acting class. And if I go too long without doing a play, I just feel empty. Like approaching a role, I feel like the pool is very shallow, like I'm drawn from it. So I need to come back and do a play, fortunately I've been able to, every couple of years.

It's a little bit odd. The first time you do the play, you kind of throw yourself into it, trying to get the most out of all the individual moments. Then, a few hours later, you're still there, wondering what you could possibly do differently than what you just did a couple hours ago.

I think a lot of people get into stand-up to be the center of attention, which is perfectly legitimate. But I think I got in there to be heard.

I would love to work on Broadway, but I don't know that it would manifest itself in musical theater.... I have terrible stage fright that I'd have to get over.

When you are in a good theatre show, it is a wonderful and very fulfilling experience, entertaining a large audience and their showing their appreciation for your efforts.

I wasn't comfortable on stage for years. It was good - 18 shows. I want to do it again.

I was so shy and so quiet, and the only time I had my own voice and I could really connect with people was when I was singing or on stage.

I played Winnie the Pooh in first grade. I was an early adopter of standing in front of people and looking like an idiot.

I feel like when I go on stage I feel so excited at the prospect that there will be a true connection.