A Strange Loop: The Must-See Musical, Sat 17 Jun—Sat 9 Sep 2023, Barbican Theatre

The Barbican Theatre is about to experience a seismic cultural shift as the Tony-winning A Strange Loop comes to London for a limited time this summer. If you are looking for a show that will challenge your preconceptions of musical theatre, A Strange Loop should be at the top of your list.

A Musical Experience Like No Other

A Strange Loop is not your average musical. Instead, with searing wit and unflinching honesty, it tears down the walls of the traditional genre. It takes audiences on a raw and exhilarating journey into the mind of Usher, a young, black, gay musical theatre writer. His quest? To create a “big, Black, and queer-ass American Broadway show.”

Premiering off-Broadway in 2019 before making its way to Broadway, A Strange Loop is a musical experience. But what sets it apart is its unique format. This musical-within-a-musical allows the audience to witness Usher’s creative process, personal and romantic pursuits, and internal struggles with self-hating thoughts.

These negative thoughts are represented by a six-person Greek chorus, which brings a surreal and thought-provoking element to the show. Through blistering satire and bracing self-discovery, A Strange Loop delves deep into themes of sexuality and racism with humour and catchy tunes, including the unforgettable “Memory Song.”

With its bold and unapologetic exploration of identity and the creative process, A Strange Loop is a true masterpiece that leaves audiences spellbound. And for Michael R. Jackson, the show’s writer, composer, and lyricist, is a well-deserved recognition of his immense talent and creative vision.

A Strange Loop: The Accolades Keep Coming

A Strange Loop has taken the musical world by storm, winning accolades and praise from some of the biggest names in entertainment. The critically acclaimed musical has already made a splash in the U.S., receiving numerous awards, including the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2020. It also earned 11 Tony Award nominations, ultimately winning Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical. But it’s not just the critics raving about A Strange Loop. Superstars like RuPaul, Billy Porter, Jennifer Hudson, and Trevor Noah have all weighed in, calling it “above and beyond brilliant,” “one of the greatest musicals I’ve ever seen,” “you do not wanna miss this,” and “one of the funniest and most poignant shows I’ve ever seen,” respectively. A Strange Loop is a show that has captured the hearts and minds of audiences and celebrities alike, solidifying its place as a true masterpiece.

Michael R. Jackson: The Creative Mastermind

Michael R. Jackson is a rising star in the theatre world, and it’s no wonder why. The man is a triple threat: playwright, composer, and lyricist. His much-lauded work, A Strange Loop, has won multiple awards, including the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and 11 Tony Award nominations (winning for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical). But that’s not all. Jackson has also won a slew of other accolades, including a Jonathan Larson Grant, a Whiting Award, and a Windham-Campbell Prize. This man is a force to be reckoned with.

As an alum of Page 73’s Interstate 73 Writers Group, Jackson has honed his craft for years. And with White Girl in Danger and a musical adaptation of the horror film Teeth under his belt, it’s clear that this talented artist is just getting started.

The Creatives

The creative team behind the ground-breaking Broadway musical A Strange Loop includes an array of accomplished artists and award-winners. To name a few: Choreographer Raja Feather Kelly is a three-time Princess Grace Award winner and the Artistic Director of feath3r Theory, a dance theatre and media company based in Brooklyn. In addition, he received the Solange MacArthur Award for New Choreography and was the inaugural recipient of the Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship.

Director Stephen Brackett has directed both on and off-Broadway, including the production of A Strange Loop, which won the Obie and Drama Desk Awards.

Music Supervisor Rona Siddiqui is an Obie Award-winning Music Director, composer, and orchestrator. She won the award for her work on the Off-Broadway and Broadway productions of A Strange Loop.

Orchestrator Charlie Rosen is a Tony Award-winning composer and orchestrator, and his credits include orchestrations for Moulin Rouge! and Be More Chill. Arnulfo Maldonado is a scenic designer whose work has been recognised with a Princess Grace Faberge Theatre Award and a 2020 Obie Sustained Excellence in Set Design. In addition, he received a Special Citation Obie for his work on A Strange Loop.