Michael R. Jackson's Pulitzer Prize-winning, blisteringly funny masterwork exposes the heart and soul of a young artist grappling with desires, identity, and instincts he both loves and loathes. Hell-bent on breaking free of his own self-perception, Usher wrestles with the thoughts in his head, brought to life on stage by a hilarious, straight-shooting ensemble. Bold and heartfelt in its truth-telling, A STRANGE LOOP is the big, Black, and queer-ass Great American Musical for all.
Navel-gazy? Sure. But, two decades in the making, this is a piece full of craft and rigor, and nobody is writing off Michael R. Jackson, a big gay Black guy who's no longer struggling to write a musical...
Jaquel Spivey, in his Broadway debut, plays Usher with such hang-dog and sweet poignancy that it may take audience members supreme self-restraint not to go up on stage and give him a hug. He's battling a toxic stew of romantic rejection and artistic self-doubt, from shame for his secret love of white girl music to fears of being a race traitor. Along for the ride are six sensational actors who play the chorus: Antwayn Hopper, L Morgan Lee, John-Michael Lyles, James Jackson Jr., John-Andrew Morrison and Jason Veasey. Stephen Brackett's direction is crisp and carefully varied over 100 minutes and terrific choreography by Raja Feather Kelly combines everything from twerking to gospel swaying.
| 2019 | Off-Broadway |
Playwrights Horizons World Premiere Off-Broadway |
| 2020 |
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Production |
|
| 2022 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
| 2023 | West End |
West End |
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Jaquel Spivey |
| 2022 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Awards | L Morgan Lee |
| 2022 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Awards | Jaquel Spivey |
| 2022 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Musical | A Strange Loop |
| 2022 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Jaquel Spivey |
| 2022 | Tony Awards | Best Book of a Musical | Michael R. Jackson |
| 2022 | Tony Awards | Best Direction of a Musical | Stephen Brackett |
| 2022 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design of a Musical | Jen Schriever |
| 2022 | Tony Awards | Best Musical | A Strange Loop |
| 2022 | Tony Awards | Best Orchestrations | Charlie Rosen |
| 2022 | Tony Awards | Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre | Michael R. Jackson |
| 2022 | Tony Awards | Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre | Michael R. Jackson |
| 2022 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical | John-Andrew Morrison |
| 2022 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical | Jaquel Spivey |
| 2022 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical | L Morgan Lee |
| 2022 | Tony Awards | Best Scenic Design of a Musical | Arnulfo Maldonado |
| 2022 | Tony Awards | Best Sound Design of a Musical | Drew Levy |
| 2021 | Theatre World Awards | Theatre World Awards | Jaquel Spivey |
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