BROADWAY NATION
A lively and opinionated cultural history of the Broadway Musical that tells the extraordinary story of how Immigrants, Jews, Queers, African-Americans and other outcasts invented the Broadway Musical, and how they changed America in the process. In Season One, writer and host David Armstrong traced the evolution of American Musical Theater from its birth at the dawn of the 20th Century, through its mid-century “Golden Age”, and right up to its current 21st Century renaissance, and explored how musicals have always reflected and shaped our world -- especially in regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, and equality. In Season Two he will continue to highlight musicals, creators, and topics that didn’t fit into last season, and dig deeper into those in which there is much more to explore. In addition, David will investigate a number of new areas of interest that he, and frequent co-host Albert Evans have been researching during their hiatus. As always, Broadway Nation will be unique mix of music, history, opinion, analysis, and interviews with leading Broadway experts, artists, and insiders.
New to BROADWAY NATION?
Episode 80: COLOR AND LIGHT: A Brief History of Broadway Lighting Des…
With TONY winner KEN BILLINGTON
Episode 73: Sondheim, Prince & Gemignani
With Margaret Hall, author of Gemignani - Life And Lessons From Broadway And Beyond
Special Encore Episode: Eubie Blake & The Black Artists Who Invented …
The 1920's brought the second great era of musicals that were written by, staged by, and starring Black theater artists to Broadw…
Recent Episodes
Episode 81: RAZZLE DAZZLE: A Brief History of Lighting Design On Broadway, part 2.
Sept. 22, 2022
With TONY winner KEN BILLINGTON
Episode 80: COLOR AND LIGHT: A Brief History of Broadway Lighting Design
Sept. 15, 2022
With TONY winner KEN BILLINGTON
Episode 76: 20 Years of HAIRSPRAY, part 2
Aug. 18, 2022
With Tony Award winners Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman
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Recent Blog Posts
50th Anniversary of opening of Broadway musical GREASE!
It may be hard for some of us to believe (including me), but this past Valentine’s Day – Feb 14, 2022 – marked the 50th Anniversary of …
New Broadway book: The Letters of Oscar Hammerstein II
This episode of Broadway Nation podcast is an interview with Mark Eden Horowitz about his new book "The Letters Of Oscar Hammerstein II" - a close up vie…
About the Host
DAVID ARMSTRONG
Host, Writer, Producer
David Armstrong is the producer writer and host of the popular podcast BROADWAY NATION, which was inspired by a course he teaches at the University of Washington School of Drama on the history of the Broadway Musical. During his 40 years career in the professional theater he has worked as a director, writer, producer, and choreographer on Broadway and at many leading theater companies across America. He is best known for his work at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle where from 2000 to 2018 he served as the Producing Artistic Director and Executive Producer. During his tenure The 5th produced 19 new musicals, including nine that subsequently moved on to Broadway including the Tony Award winning “Best Musicals” HAIRSPRAY and MEMPHIS.