Michael R. Jackson’s Tony-winning ‘A Strange Loop’ is transforming Broadway. But that’s just the beginning.
A Strange Loop, is having a moment nearly two decades in the making.Recent accolades, including a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, two Tony Awards including Best Musical, and a portrait on the wall at Sardi’s (a milestone for every theater professional who hopes to achieve Broadway success), only scratch the surface of Jackson’s relentless pursuit of truthful storytelling.Jackson’s unapologetically big, Black and beautiful musical tells the story of Usher, who works as an usher at The Lion King and yearns to write his own musical.
Framed by a cast of six Thoughts, its central character — in many ways inspired by Jackson’s life — has changed the face of Broadway.Related: Unapologetically big, Black and beautiful, ‘A Strange Loop’ has changed the face of BroadwayIterations of A Strange Loop took form during Jackson’s time at New York University and years of workshops at rehearsal studios and small theaters, with many of the show’s cast and creative team sticking with it.“Everybody was willing, time and time again, to come back, work on it for free, maybe get some Popeyes chicken and then do a reading in a porn factory,” director Stephen Brackett told Variety. “I think people have a sense of feeling seen in this piece that they haven’t felt working on other shows.”Jackson, too, felt that the years in the making were well spent.“I think a lot about what it means to really spend your time on a piece of art trying to make it as good as it can be,” Jackson said. “Something happening immediately doesn’t mean that it’s good.
Something taking a long time can be worth it. When I’m watching people react and have emotional responses to the show, I know that part of what they’re responding to is that we took our time, whether they know it or.
