Overview
Synopsis
A Strange Loop follows the journey of an overweight, gay, black musical theater writer named Usher as he navigates life in New York City. Plagued by his own constant criticizing thoughts, Usher dedicates his time to writing a new musical, also called A Strange Loop, about an overweight, gay, black musical theater writer in New York City. As he grapples with the everyday struggles of being a young queer, black artist, Usher must confront his family and innermost thoughts to break free of their conformity and his own self-perception. With a fantastically soulful score and a spirited, straight-shooting book, A Strange Loop explores the challenges of sexual and racial identity in this coming of age, Tony award–winning tale, as Usher tries to understand his own strange loop.
Show Information
Context
A Strange Loop was written by Michael R. Jackson, and was developed over 10 years before its premiere in 2019. Based on a monologue written by Jackson in his final year of undergraduate school at New York University, Why I Can’t Get Work told the author’s story; a black, gay man struggling in his New York City life. In 2006, Jackson presented a one-act, one-man show entitled Fast Food Town, a compilation of his original monologue with songs incorporated throughout. It played for one night
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A Strange Loop opens at The Lion King on Broadway as the protagonist, Usher, asks everyone to take their seats for the start of Act Two. He announces what the show will entail and grapples with how to best handle life as a queer black man in New York City (“Intermission Song”). After the show, Usher decides to improve himself and the musical he is writing for the better, but struggles with the presence of his innermost thoughts: daily self-loathing, financial faggotry, corporate niggatry,
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Character Portrayals
See StageAgent members who have performed roles in A Strange Loop .
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Songs
- Intermission Song – Usher, Thoughts
- Today – Usher, Thoughts
- We Wanna Know – Thoughts
- Inner White Girl – Usher, Thoughts
- Didn't Want Nothin' – Thought 5, Thoughts
- Exile in Gayville – Usher, Thoughts
- Second Wave – Usher
- Tyler Perry Writes Real Life – Usher, Thought 3, Thoughts
- Writing a Gospel Play – Usher, Thoughts
- A Sympathetic Ear – Thought 1
- Inwood Daddy – Usher, Thought 6, Thoughts
- Boundaries – Usher
- Periodically – Thought 4, Usher
- Didn't Want Nothin' Reprise – Thought 5
- Precious Little Dream / AIDS Is God's Punishment – Usher, Thoughts
- Memory Song – Usher, Thoughts 2-6
- A Strange Loop – Usher, Thoughts
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Key Terms
A ballad is a song style that tells a story through simple, lyrical verses and a steady rhythm. In theatre, ballads are often slow and emotional, allowing characters to reveal deep feelings or reflect on personal journeys. They can be used to highlight romance, longing, or moments of dramatic intensity.
A powerful, resonant singing technique used in musical theatre to project high notes with chest voice.
An “I Want Song” is a number, usually placed early in a musical, where a main character expresses their deepest desire or ambition. This song sets the character’s journey in motion and gives the audience a clear emotional stake in the story. It has become one of the most recognizable and enduring conventions of musical theatre structure.
A prestigious U.S. award for achievements in journalism, literature, and drama. Many modern plays that reflect social and political themes have received this honor.
A genre that centers LGBTQ+ characters and themes, challenging heteronormative narratives and celebrating diverse identities in performance.
A genre of popular music that has influenced musical theatre, especially in shows highlighting African-American culture.
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Quizzes
Guide Written By:
Mychele Lebrun
Canadian music theatre artist currently based in London, England.