Ep416 - David Armstrong: Broadway’s Untold Story- Who Really Created the American Musical

Originally recorded for my other podcast Was It Chance? with my co-host Heather Vickery, this conversation with director, producer, educator, and author David Armstrong felt like a perfect fit for The Theatre Podcast as well.

David shares stories from his remarkable 40-year career in theatre — including his years leading Seattle’s Fifth Avenue Theatre, where he helped develop Hairspray before it became a Broadway smash. We dive into his new book, Broadway Nation: How Immigrant, Jewish, Queer, and Black Artists Invented the Broadway Musical, and explore how marginalized voices shaped the art form we love today.

From childhood performances in Cincinnati to mentoring future generations through his course at the University of Washington and his Broadway Nation podcast, David embodies what it means to take creative risks, honor history, and build the future of theatre.

Make sure to check out Was It Chance? wherever you are listening now.

Broadway Nation: How Immigrant, Jewish, Queer, and Black Artists Invented the Broadway Musical ⁠— available everywhere books are sold (or through Bloomsbury for a discount!)

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