Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/791562
Armstrong avid Armstrong moved to Seattle aer 20 years in New York City. If you've seen David speak at the opening of a show, you know his passion and expertise. Seventeen years aer arriving in Seattle, David continues to lead e 5th Avenue eatre as producer and artistic director. Shortly upon arriving in town, David learned of the WAC and of the longstanding relationship between the Club and his stage. "So many people who belong to the WAC are connected to the pulse of the city," he says. "e WAC as an organi- zation makes sure it is pertinent to members today and pertinent to how it contributes to Seattle." As any good artist knows, relevance matters. "To stay the same, you have to be different," David says, applauding the WAC for keeping in tune with its members and the city's changing demographics. David knows all about shiing demographics. e 5th Avenue produces shows from the classic musical canon— think Carousel, Oklahoma, and West Side Story, among other copious examples—as well as newer shows, such as e Little Mermaid and Kinky Boots, oen using multiracial casts that push the envelope of stage stereotypes and, hope- fully, attract a wider and younger audience. Each decision aims to open the curtain wider. "As times change, what do we need to do to stay vibrantly a part of the fabric of Seattle?" David asks. e answer includes incubating new works. Hairspray, for example, was staged under David's leadership at e 5th before making a six-year run on Broadway and later premiering on television as Hairspray Live. No matter the show of the moment, there's one place you can find David every Wednesday—the Pilates studio at the WAC. "I've always been an exercise person," he says. With a demanding schedule, David relies on that discipline mixed with pool time on the 6th Floor to ensure regular workouts. He also uses the Inn at the WAC to host theater profes- sionals and says Seattle's musical scene trails only New York and Chicago. "is city has an amazing collection of actors, singers, dancers, and craspeople backstage," David says. "at's the secret—incredible world-class talent." D David 32 WAC Magazine | wac.net