Events

Join us at The Museum of Broadway on December 11th at 5pm for a conversation with author David Armstrong about his new book Broadway Nation—How Immigrant, Jewish, Queer, and Black Artists Invented the Broadway Musical. Moderated by Tony and Olivier Award-winning lyricist and two-time Academy Award nominee, David Zippel. Broadway Nation—How Immigrant, Jewish, Queer, and Black Artists Invented the Broadway Musical, is a comprehensive history of America’s signature art form, the Broadway musical, with a unique emphasis on the powerful impact that marginalized groups have had on its evolution. 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 that have often been overlooked. Inspired by the large lecture course that author David Armstrong teaches at the University of Washington School of Drama, as well as his popular Broadway Nation podcast, the book celebrates the remarkable artistry and craftsmanship of key figures, from George M. Cohan to Stephen Sondheim to Lin-Manuel Miranda, who have left an indelible mark on this extraordinary cultural phenomenon.

On Saturday, December 20th, at 3pm, join us for a book signing with acclaimed theatre writers Andrew Gerle and Joseph Zellnik for their new book, The Periodic Table of Broadway Musicals! Based on the bestselling viral poster and published by Union Square & Co./Hachette, this delightful and informative volume offers readers a new way to celebrate this quintessentially American art form, organizing nearly 100 years of the best-loved musicals into a “scientific” format that brings new thematic and historical connections to light. Each show’s entry also includes a witty illustrated icon by artists Tatiana Bischak and Nicholas Matej, and a wealth of data and little-known facts. Just like in the original poster, 118 musicals are organized into 10 thematically-related families such as Leading Ladies, The Groundbreakers, and True Stories. The book also includes a pull-out version of the poster and a special “Bonus Family” exploring key off-Broadway musicals. In moving from poster to book, the authors (who are also a married couple) have been able to explore each show more deeply, creating entries that include – in addition to a scaled-up version of the poster’s original artwork – a cast list, run dates, surprising trivia, and an insightful essay exploring the production’s unique place in history. Many of the show entries in the book were enhanced by conversations Gerle conducted with some of the great theatre artists he’s had the honor to work with over the years, like Betty Buckley, Robert Lopez, Richard Maltby, Jr., Randy Graff, Lynn Ahrens, Lee Roy Reams, and more. The personal stories and reflections from the shows they helped create are just part of what will make the essays in the book essential reading for even longtime devotees of Broadway musicals.