Broadway Nation How Immigrant, Jewish, Queer, and Black Artists invented the Broadway Musical
Produktdetaljer
Biografisk notat
David Armstrong is the writer, producer, and host of Broadway Nation — the popular podcast that tells the remarkable story of how Immigrants, Jews, Queers, African Americans, Women, and other outcasts invented the Broadway Musical and how they changed America in the process. With more than 100 episodes to date, Broadway Nation has reached an audience of more than 135,000 listeners. This podcast was inspired by the popular large lecture course (100 students each quarter) that Armstrong teaches at the University of Washington School of Drama which is titled 'The Broadway Musical'. During his 40-year career Armstrong has worked as a director, producer, playwright, and choreographer at leading theatre companies across America as well as off and on Broadway. He is best known for his work at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle where from 2000 to 2018 he served as 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.“David Armstrong’s Broadway Nation is a lively, engaging, and fascinating journey through the vibrant history of the Broadway musical. With thoughtful, insightful readings of numerous productions, Armstrong uncovers the ground-breaking contributions of immigrant, Jewish, queer, and Black artists—many of whom were marginalized yet shaped one of America’s most enduring art forms. Through rich anecdotes and keen insights, this compelling book reclaims their legacies, offering a fresh perspective on theater history. Whether you’re a historian, a theatermaker, or a passionate fan, Broadway Nation is an important and impossible-to-put-down tribute to the diverse voices behind the Great White Way.”
Stacy Wolf, Princeton University, author of Beyond Broadway and Changed for Good
“A fascinating, comprehensive, and timely gem of a book that more than lives up to its promise of delivering no less than five books in one. Kudos to David Armstrong for his masterful exploration of the origins, continuities, and connections among five indispensable groups of artists that made the American musical and the musical American: Immigrants, Jews, Queers, Blacks, and Women (I, J, Q, B, and W).”
Geoffrey Block, author of Enchanted Evenings: The Broadway Musical from “Show Boat” to Sondheim and Lloyd Webber
“Through his passion and intellect, David sheds a light on the communities that collectively crafted the Broadway musical. His experience as a writer, director, producer, and educator comes together in a refreshing examination of the histories that make up the art form.”
Ian Eisendrath, Olivier Award-winning and Grammy-nominated Music Producer, Music Supervisor, Conductor, and Arranger of theater and film, including Come From Away, A Christmas Story, Disney’s live-action Snow White, and Hulu's Only Murders In The Building
“David Armstrong's insightful history of the evolution of the Broadway Musical and its creators is captivating and comprehensive as well as indispensable.”
Tony Award-winning lyricist David Zippel
“Everyone interested in musical theatre — students, working professionals, and passionate fans — will be entirely captivated by this comprehensive history of the Broadway musical and its story of the Black, Gay, Jewish, and Immigrant men and women who invented it. I said it when I first worked with him in 1982, and I say it again now in 2025, ‘David Armstrong is a genius!’”
Jenifer Lewis, actress and author of The Mother of Black Hollywood
A groundbreaking exploration that reveals the powerful impact of marginalized groups on the evolution of the Broadway Musical.
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.
Table Of Contents
Forward
Introduction
Overture: What Is A Broadway Musical?
Prologue: Before Broadway
Act I: The Genesis Era
Chapter 1: Yearning To Breathe Free —The Immigrants Who Invented The Broadway Musical
Chapter 2: Forgotten Forefathers (and Foremothers) — The Black Artists Who Invented the Broadway Musical
Chapter 3: The Queer Artists Who Invented Broadway
Chapter 4: Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better — The Founding Mothers of Broadway
Act II: The Silver Age Of Broadway
Chapter 5: All That Jazz — The Silver Age of Broadway, part 1: The 1920s
Chapter 6: Old Man Trouble, I Don’t Mind Him — The Silver Age of the Broadway Musical, part 2: The 1930s
Act III: The Golden Age Of Broadway
Chapter 7: By Your Pupils You’ll Be Taught: A Broadway Legacy Chain From Harbach, to Hammerstein, to Sondheim, to Miranda
Chapter 8: Something’s Coming, Something Good — The Golden Age of Broadway, part 1
Chapter 9: Another Openin’ of Another Show!: The Golden Age of Broadway, part 2: the 1940s
Chapter 10: Open A New Window — The Golden Age of Broadway, part 3
Part IV: The Modern Era of Broadway
Chapter 11: Let The Sunshine In — The Modern Era of Broadway, part 1: The Multiple Revolutions of the 1970s
Chapter 12: Do You Hear The People Sing?: Cameron Mackintosh & The British Invasion (or Sondheim vs the Poperetta) — The Modern Era of Broadway, part 2
Act V: The Principal Themes of the Broadway Musical
Chapter 13: Principal Themes of The Broadway Musical #1 — Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better: The Trials and Triumphs of Transgressive Women
Chapter 14: Principal Themes of The Broadway Musical #2 — Make Them Hear You: Equity, Social Justice, and Inclusion.
Chapter 15: Principal Themes Of The Broadway Musical #3 — We Know We Belong To The Land: The Vital Importance of Community
Chapter 16: Defying Gravity: Broadway in the Twenty-first Century — The Modern Era, part 3.
Selected Bibliography