Ry Armstrong
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Ry Armstrong | |
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| Website | https://www.ryarmstrong.co/ |
Ry Armstrong (born Ryan Anderson) is an American actor, musician, producer and political candidate.[1][2] They appeared in the films Uncut Gems and The Curious Incident of Everett Wilder, and the TV series The Plot Against America, and The Gilded Age, where they received co-star credit.[1][3] Armstrong ran for Seattle Washington's City Council in 2023, finishing seventh in the primary election.[4] They are running for Mayor of Seattle in the 2025 Seattle mayoral election.[5]
Background
[edit]Armstrong was born in Seattle, Washington, and grew up in Kenmore. At the age of six, they joined the Northwest Choirs.[6] They toured nationally with the choir and performed with the Seattle Symphony. Armstrong attended Inglemoor High School, where they participated in the Rising Star Project at 5th Avenue Theatre.[6][1]
Armstrong graduated from Central Washington University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in musical theater in 2016.[6] Armstrong served as President of the Associated Students of Central Washington University for one year. [7] Armstrong identifies as genderqueer. They reside in Seattle.[1][4][8]
Career
[edit]Music and acting
[edit]Armstrong contributed vocals to The Shoe Bird album, which was nominated for a Grammy Award.[when?][9] After college, Armstrong toured the United States with TheatreWorks, performing in various regional productions in Florida, Kansas, Michigan and Vermont.[6]
In 2017, Armstrong released Crossroads, an album featuring re-imagined Broadway show music.[6][10] Proceeds from the album were donated to 5th Avenue Theatre's Rising Stars Project, the Northwest Choirs, and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.[6] In 2019, Armstrong starred in Spirit of the Yule, an adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol produced by Denise Winter and Linda Dowdell at The Key City Public Theater in Port Townsend, Washington.[11]
In 2021, Armstrong's company, RYCO Theatricals, led a campaign to claim a Guinness World Record for the largest online video album of people singing the same song. The project aimed to gather 5,000 artists singing From Now On from The Greatest Showman, with permission from Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Disney.[2]
In October 2022, Armstrong produced and starred in Neglect, a play at Teatro Latea,[where?] as part of Fall/Winterfest presented off-off-Broadway with New York Theater Festival. The play had three performances at the theater.[12]
Business
[edit]Armstrong founded RYCO Theatricals, a production company, in 2013, where they currently sit on the Board of Directors. They also serve as the CEO of Indie Chameleon Inc., a record label.[13][14]
Politics
[edit]Armstrong ran as a candidate for District 3 of Seattle in the 2023 Seattle City Council election,[15] hoping to become the first openly nonbinary person on the Seattle City Council. They finished seventh in the primary.[4] Their platform included advocating for the use of compostable alternatives to plastics, implementing a carbon emission tax on corporations, mandating that the city provide shelter for the houseless, and exploring the possibility of using a retired battleship for housing.[4]
In 2025, Armstrong announced their campaign for Mayor of Seattle in the 2025 Seattle mayoral election.[16] They are one of three candidates to raise more than $100,000 by the time of the campaign filing deadline in May.[17]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]- Crossroads (2017)[6]
Filmography
[edit]- Uncut Gems (2019) - extra (uncredited)
- The Curious Incident of Everett Wilder (2020)
- The Plot Against America (2020) - extra (uncredited)
- The Gilded Age (2022) - Russell House Footman
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Patterson, Denny (March 31, 2022). "Meet Genderqueer 'Gilded Age' Actor Ry Armstrong". Out Front.
- ^ a b "Calling All Broadway Devotees: Join a Guinness World Record Attempt by Singing The Greatest Showman | Playbill".
- ^ "The Gilded Age's Ry Armstrong to Debut New Play Neglect | Playbill".
- ^ a b c d Krieg, Hannah (2023-03-13). "Drama Kid Ry Armstrong Wants Your Vote in District 3". The Stranger.
- ^ McCall, Vivian. "Ry Armstrong Wants Bruce Harrell's Job". The Stranger. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Kenmore native creates album featuring Broadway stars for a good cause". Bothell-Kenmore Reporter. August 17, 2017.
- ^ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryontheryse
- ^ Patrick, Bobby (2022-05-10). "Review: Ry Armstrong Conveys The Gender Queer Aesthetic With A Few Friends, Some Fab Tunes, & A Whole Lot Of Pronouns In (THEY // SHE // HE) At The Green Room 42". BroadwayWorld.com.
- ^ "Ry Armstrong: Credits, Bio, News & More | Broadway World". www.broadwayworld.com.
- ^ "The Crossroads Album. Ry Armstrong and Friends". www.broadwayworld.com.
- ^ de la Paz, Diane Urbani (2019-12-11). "A Christmas Carol has new 'Spirit' in Port Townsend". Peninsula Daily News.
- ^ "Neglect by The Gilded Age's Ry Armstrong Begins Performances October 11 | Playbill".
- ^ "RYCO // About Us". www.ryco.org.
- ^ "Indie Chameleon - Ry Armstrong". www.indiechameleon.com.
- ^ "Who's running for Seattle City Council in 2023". March 7, 2023.
- ^ McCall, Vivian. "Ry Armstrong Wants Bruce Harrell's Job". The Stranger.
- ^ Santos, Melissa (13 May 2025). "7 challengers aim to unseat Seattle's mayor in 2025". Axios.