Michael R. Jackson, writer of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical A Strange Loop, earned his spot on the famed wall of caricatures at Sardi's Restaurant June 7.
A Strange Loop officially opened on Broadway April 26 at the Lyceum Theatre. The musical, which had its world premiere Off-Broadway in 2019 at Playwrights Horizons, features a book, music, and lyrics by Jackson, who makes his Broadway debut with the production.
A Strange Loop is currently nominated for Tony Awards for Best Musical, Leading Actor in a Musical (Jaquel Spivey), Featured Actress in a Musical (L Morgan Lee), Featured Actor in a Musical (John-Andrew Morrison), Book of a Musical (Jackson), Original Score (Jackson), Scenic Design of a Musical (Arnulfo Maldonado), Lighting Design of a Musical (Jen Schriever), Sound Design of a Musical (Drew Levy), Direction of a Musical (Stephen Brackett), and Orchestrations (Charlie Rosen).
NewcomerJaquel Spivey leads the cast as Usher, a young, Black, gay theatre writer grappling with his toxic inner thoughts while trying to write a musical about a young, Black, gay theatre writer grappling with his toxic inner thought while trying to write a musical about... and on and on.
Spivey is joined by Antwayn Hopper, James Jackson, Jr., L Morgan Lee, John-Michael Lyles, John-Andrew Morrison, and Jason Veasey, all reprising their performances from the Off-Broadway production.
Rounding out the company as understudies are Edwin Bates, Kyle Ramar Freeman, Jon-Michael Reese, and Mars Rucker.