100 Quotes by Brian Stokes Mitchell

The first role that I played as a musical - I was 14 years old, and I played Birdie in 'Bye Bye Birdie.' That was an awakening of, 'Wow, I'm good at that. People are responding.' And I hardly knew what I was doing back then, but there was something that people were seeing.

Everybody comes to the planet with certain gifts. It may be writing, it may be acting, it may be singing, it may be being a lawyer, it may be making a beautiful cabinet, it may be being a spectacular dry cleaner. It could be anything. We all have gifts in different areas.

I always call myself the luckiest actor in the world because I made a living solely as a performer from the time I left home at 17 years old.

My father was a huge jazz fan, so I remember him playing Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughn, and Count Basie.

The first time I really had an influence on a show was during 'Ragtime.' It's still the most magical show that I've ever done.

I think the problem is when people hear 'arts education,' they think, 'I don't want my son to be some painter that's going to be hanging in some museum after he dies. I don't want my daughter to be a struggling artist making no money.' People don't realize it's more than that. It's beautiful. It brings beauty to our lives.

'Kiss Me, Kate' was my 'Ragtime' Tony.

I love the theater, and I just don't love television like that.

Artists make our lives livable and enjoyable.