David Armstrong w/ Mathew Wright, BROADWAY NATION

Former Artistic Director and Executive Producer at The 5th Avenue Theatre, lecturer, and writer David Armstrong visits the Readings Room to discuss Broadway Nation: How Immigrant, Jewish, Queer, and Black Artists Invented the Broadway Musical, a lively cultural history of the Broadway Musical that for the first time explores and reveals how this uniquely American art form was created almost exclusively by people who were marginalized from almost all other aspects of mainstream society. He is joined in conversation by Mathew Wright, ArtsWest’s Artistic Director.

A lively cultural history of the Broadway Musical that for the first time explores and reveals how this uniquely American art form was created almost exclusively by people who were marginalized from almost all other aspects of mainstream society — especially Immigrant, Jewish, Queer, African American, and female artists.

At the turn of the 20th century, immigrants, Jews, Queers, and African Americans faced exclusion from mainstream American society, with limited employment opportunities. They found their calling in the emerging field of "Show Business", particularly the burgeoning Broadway Musical. Their pioneering spirit not only seized this opportunity but also continued to shape and dominate the Broadway Musical for over a century, creating an art form that has deeply influenced American culture.

Throughout its history, the Broadway Musical has subtly and at times boldly championed human rights and liberal values, reflecting its creators' and performers' diverse backgrounds. Unlike previous works on musical theatre history, this book weaves these diverse threads into a comprehensive narrative, repositioning Black, Queer, and Women artists at the heart of the story, acknowledging their long-standing contributions often overlooked.

Broadway Nation is a valuable resource for both students and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of this beloved American art form. Readers will gain profound insights into the history and transformation of the Broadway Musical over a span of more than a century. Additionally, the book celebrates the remarkable artistry and craftsmanship of key figures, from George M. Cohan to Lin Manuel-Miranda, who have left an indelible mark on this extraordinary cultural phenomenon.

David Armstrong is the writer, producer, and host of the popular podcast Broadway Nation. With over 180 episodes to date, this musical theater history podcast has been heard by nearly 300,000 people worldwide. Armstrong is also an Affiliate Lecturer at the University of Washington School of Drama, where he teaches a course on the history of the Broadway musical that inspired both the podcast and the book. During his 40-year career in the professional theater, Armstrong has worked as a director, producer, playwright, and choreographer at leading theatre companies across America, as well as on and off Broadway. He is best known for his work at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, where from 2000 to 2018 he served as the Artistic Director & Executive Producer. During his tenure, The 5th produced 19 new musicals, nine of which subsequently moved to Broadway, including Disney’s Aladdin, A Christmas Story—The Musical, and the Tony Award-winning “Best Musicals” Hairspray and Memphis.

Mathew Wright has been in service as ArtsWest’s Artistic Director since 2014, in a debut season that began with Green Day’s American Idiot and ended with Death of a Salesman. Since then, he has programmed and produced over 40 productions with an ever-expanding number of phenomenal artists. Prior to joining ArtsWest as Artistic Director, he spent three years working as a freelance director, teaching artist, and educations programs coordinator at The 5th Avenue, where he directed The Rising Star Project in its first four years; Adventure Musical Theatre tours of Northwest Bookshelf, Klondike! and It Happened At the World’s Fair; and assistant/associate directed Cinderella, Titanic: The Concert, The Music Man, Pirates of Penzance, and Oliver! Other work in Seattle includes directing Rosenstock Productions’ Wisemen at ACT, and projects at Seattle Rep, Intiman, Balagan, and Seattle Mainstreet Music Festival. Prior to moving to Seattle, Mathew worked as a director and musical director in Philadelphia, where he received a 2007 Barrymore Award for The Fantasticks (Musical Direction) and was nominated in 2012 for Marat/Sade (Original Score/Musical Direction.) Proud alumnus of Rutgers (BA, Theater) and Temple (MFA, Directing.)