BROADWAY NATION cover art

BROADWAY NATION

BROADWAY NATION

Written by: Broadway Podcast Network
Listen for free

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, host David Armstrong traces 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 also explore how musicals have reflected and shaped our world -- especially in regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, and equality.Broadway Podcast Network Art Entertainment & Performing Arts World
Episodes
  • Encore Episode: Round in Circles — The Story of Rodgers & Hammerstein's CAROUSEL, part 1

    Encore Episode: Round in Circles — The Story of Rodgers & Hammerstein's CAROUSEL, part 1
    May 26 2026
    My guest on Broadway Nation this week is Barry Kester, author of the fascinating new book: Round In Circles — The Story of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CAROUSEL. I thought I knew a lot about Carousel — and in fact Albert Evans and I have previously devoted several previous episodes to that show and its truly groundbreaking innovations. However, we both found this book to be filled with new information, new discoveries, and new insights. Based on his exemplary research, Barry Kester takes us deep inside Rodgers & Hammerstein’s creative process as they endeavor to transform Ferenc Molnar’s dark, fantastical play, Liliom, into their second Broadway musical collaboration, which they know will be compared to their first show, Oklahoma!, which had become the most successful Broadway Musical of all time and was still going strong! So, they consciously set out to do something very different. At the center of this story is a dynamic woman, producer Theresa Helborn, who was the inspiring, driving force behind the show. In fact, without Helborn there would have been no Carousel or Oklahoma! This is the first of three episodes in which Barry will share with us not only these fascinating stories but also his own unlikely and surprising tale of how he came to write this book. Become A PATRON of Broadway Nation! If you are a fan ofBroadway Nation, I invite you to become a PATRON! For a just $7.00 a month you can receive exclusive access to never-before-heard, unedited versions of many of the discussion that I have with my guests — in fact I often record nearly twice as much conversation as ends up in the edited versions. And you will also have access to additional in-depth conversations with my frequent co-host Albert Evans that have not been featured on the podcast. And all patrons receive special “on-air” shout-outs and acknowledgment of your vital support of this podcast. And if you are very enthusiastic about Broadway Nation, there are additional PATRON levels that come with even more benefits. If you would like to support the work of Broadway Nation and receive these exclusive member benefits, please just click on this link: ⁠https://broadwaynationpodcast.supercast.tech/⁠ Thank you in advance for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
  • Ep 16: The Golden Age of Broadway, Part 2

    Ep 16: The Golden Age of Broadway, Part 2
    May 20 2026
    The Golden Age of Broadway’s new revolutionary way of writing musicals did not just apply to Musical Plays like those of Rodgers & Hammerstein and Lerner & Loewe. It also transformed the Musical Comedy. In this episode, I share the stories of how the unlikely success of Irving Berlin's ANNIE GET YOUR GUN and Cole Porter's KISS ME KATE inspired a new generation of writers, directors, choreographers, stars, and producers, including Jule Styne, Frank Loessor, Adler & Ross, Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse, Gwen Verdon, and Michael Kidd to bring the Musical Comedy to new heights with shows such as GUYS AND DOLLS, THE PAJAMA GAME, DAMN YANKEES, FUNNY GIRL, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • Ep 201: More Feminist Approaches in Musical Theatre

    Ep 201: More Feminist Approaches in Musical Theatre
    May 3 2026
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_c
No reviews yet