Regional NewsMichael R. Jackson's A Strange Loop Extends Woolly Mammoth RunStephen Brackett directs the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical at the D.C. venue.
By
Andrew Gans
December 08, 2021
James Jackson, Jr., L Morgan Lee, Antwayn Hopper, John-Andrew Morrison, Jaquel Spivey, Jason Veasey, and John-Michael Lyles in A Strange LoopMarc J. Franklin
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company's production of Michael R. Jackson's A Strange Loop, which officially opened December 3 following previews that began November 22, has extended its engagement at the Washington, D.C. venue. The production, which had been scheduled to run through January 2, 2022, will now play an additional week through January 9.
The staging, produced in association with Playwrights Horizons (where the musical premiered) and Page 73, features original cast members Antwayn Hopper as Thought 6, L Morgan Lee as Thought 1, John-Michael Lyles as Thought 3, James Jackson, Jr. as Thought 2, John-Andrew Morrison as Thought 4, and Jason Veasey as Thought 5. Jaquel Spivey joins the cast as Usher, the part created Off-Broadway by Larry Owens. Christopher Michael Richardson also joins the cast as an understudy for the central role.
The musical, featuring a score and a book by Jackson, follows a young artist at war with a host of demons—not least of which are the punishing thoughts in his own head—in an attempt to capture and understand his own strange loop.
The Off-Broadway production was helmed by Stephen Brackett and featured choreography by Raja Feather Kelly and music direction by Rona Siddiqui. All three return to stage the D.C. production. The show also features set design by Arnulfo Maldonado, costumes by Montana Levi Blanco, lighting by Jennifer Schriever, sound design by Drew Levy, hair, wig, and makeup design by Cookie Jordan, and orchestrations by Charlie Rosen.
The creative team also includes copyist Adam Wiggins, assistant director Nemuna Ceesay, associate scenic designer Corey Umlauf, assistant music director Jacinth Greywoode, associate lighting designer Aaron Tacy, assistant sound designer Crescent Haynes, associate costume designer Azalea Fairley, associate choreographer Candace Taylor, associate hair, wig, and makeup designer Joya Giambrone, intimacy choreographer Chelsea Pace, associate orchestrator Bryan Carter, production manager Ross Leonard, music contractor Walter Bobby McCoy, production stage manager Erin Gioia Albrecht, assistant stage manager Victoria Whooper, and production assistants Narissa Agustin and Andie Burns..
A Strange Loop made its world premiere in 2019 at Playwrights Horizons and went on to win five Drama Desk Awards, two Lucille Lortel Awards, six Outer Critics Circle honors, two Obies, one Off-Broadway Alliance Award, and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical. Jackson was awarded the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Originally scheduled to play Woolly Mammoth in September 2020, the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical was postponed to summer 2021, and then the fall, due to the pandemic.
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Take a 1st Look at Michael R. Jackson’s A Strange Loop at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre
Take a 1st Look at Michael R. Jackson’s A Strange Loop at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre
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Jason Veasey, John-Michael Lyles, Jaquel Spivey, John-Andrew Morrison, James Jackson, Jr., and Antwayn Hopper in A Strange Loop
Antwayn Hopper, L Morgan Lee, Jason Veasey, Jaquel Spivey, James Jackson, Jr., John-Michael Lyles, and John-Andrew Morrison in A Strange Loop
Teresa Castracane
James Jackson, Jr., L Morgan Lee, Antwayn Hopper, Jaquel Spivey, John-Andrew Morrison, and Jason Veasey in A Strange Loop
Teresa Castracane
Jaquel Spivey in A Strange Loop
L Morgan Lee, John-Michael Lyles, John-Andrew Morrison, Jaquel Spivey, Jason Veasey, Antwayn Hopper, James Jackson, Jr. in A Strange Loop
The Fred Ebb Award recognizes excellence in musical theatre songwriting, by a songwriter or songwriting team that has not yet achieved significant commercial success.
