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
- Book
- Michael R. Jackson
- Music
- Michael R. Jackson
- Lyrics
- Michael R. Jackson
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Mature Audiences (M)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 2019
- Genres
- Dark Comedy, Drama
- Settings
- Contemporary
- Time & Place
- New York City, Present Day
- Cast Size
- small
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Nick Hern Book
- Ideal For
- Diverse Cast, Ensemble Cast, Professional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult Characters, Small Cast
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
to read the context for A Strange Loop and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
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,
to read the plot for A Strange Loop and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Non-binary |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Non-binary |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Non-binary |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Non-binary |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Non-binary |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Non-binary |
Baritone |
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.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
The accepted generic term for the LGBTQ+ theatre movement.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Mychele Lebrun
Canadian music theatre artist currently based in London, England.