When I was asked to do a song from 'In the Heights' at the White House in 2009, I chose instead to do 'Alexander Hamilton' because I felt like I was meeting a moment.
I have often been asked why I am so fond of playing male parts. As a matter of fact, it is not male parts, but male brains that I prefer.
For me, lyrics are the most important thing in a song. And if they don't have meaning, I would never sing them - unless and until someone who loves your work asks me to do so.
Some people do specials, like, when they've only been doing comedy for three years or something. Which is fine! But I'm kind of old fashioned, and I knew that I didn't want to do one too early.
I intend not to do an item song ever. I find the term 'item songs' bizarre. I do not want to comment on its presence and its popularity, but I would rather avoid it.
I think from an actor's point of view, you always want something to play that's dramatic or something that feels like it could be very bold in choice. And of course, the boldest possible choice you could play at the end of a character's life is death.
I'm pretty adamant to do an American accent because you get it immediately.
I never wanted to do observational humor because I never wanted to tell people what they were seeing.
I always want to play the songs that people want to hear.
Personally, I prefer to play against the look: If a character appears particularly unhinged, with makeup running down her face, I like to play her as if she has it together. I think that juxtaposition makes it so much more interesting.
Maybe you're better to play a villain just straight out.
I do glamorous roles only when the script demands it and that too with limitations.
When people give me the choice to either sing or dance, I'd rather dance than sing.
It's a simple formula for me now, I don't play any song I don't want to play.
I don't like it when bands don't want to play that one song everybody wants to hear. I think that's cheating everybody, and I think it's selfish of an artist to do that.
I was keen to stage 'Faust,' although I find Goethe's 'Faust' indigestible.
I have the luxury of having the choice to perform and go up on stage every night.
If I could sing, I wouldn't be a guitarist.
For artistic fulfillment I prefer to work live. For career advancement, I go to the media.
Yes, but I have to say this: the band is going to decide where the band plays.
As a live stand-up comedy performer, I have the benefit of choosing real entrance music.
But for me, you also have to be conscious of what is going to play. And that includes playing with. Sometimes it's just a vibe. It's what's going to make this scene work. And sometimes there may be something that restricts you that has to do with something that maybe is historically accurate. And then you have to weigh that decision and give up something for a scene to work.
