The West Coast premiere of Pulitzer- and Tony-winning musical A Strange Loop starts at American Conservatory Theater April 18, where it will run in the San Francisco company's Toni Rembe Theater through May 12. The production is co-presented with Center Theatre Group, which will host the production for a Los Angeles run at the Ahmanson Theatre June 5–30. Stephen Brackett is back at the helm after staging the musical's Off-Broadway, Broadway, and London bows, with choreography by Raja Feather Kelly.
The cast is led by Malachi McCaskill as Usher with Jordan Barbour as Thought 5, J. Cameron Barnett as Thought 2, Avionce Hoyles as Thought 3, Tarra Conner Jones as Thought 1, Jamari Johnson Williams as Thought 6, and Tony nominee John-Andrew Morrison as Thought 4. Morrison is reprising his Tony-nominated performance from the musical's Off-Broadway and Broadway run.
Alvis Green Jr. is the Usher Alternate, and understudies include Dave J. Abrams, Angela Alise, Carlis Shane Clark, and Albert Hodge.
A Strange Loop, which features a book, music, and lyrics by Michael R. Jackson, follows Usher, a Black, queer writer writing a musical about a Black, queer writer writing a musical about a Black, queer writer. Usher wrestles with the thoughts in his head, brought to life by a straight-shooting ensemble.
“I began writing what would become A Strange Loop in a small room of a bungalow-style apartment in the middle of nowhere Queens when I was 23-years-old,” said Jackson in an earlier statement. “I had never been so scared or uncertain of my place in the world. Working on the show was my life raft, and I never in a million years imagined the miles it would travel. I am so excited to share A Strange Loop with even more audiences and so grateful to A.C.T. and CTG for making this West Coast premiere possible. What a strange loop!”
Members of the Broadway creative team also reprise their work on the West Coast, including scenic designer Arnulfo Maldonado, costume designer Montana Levi Blanco, sound designer Drew Levy, lighting designer Jen Schreiver, wig, hair, and makeup designer Cookie Jordan, and intimacy director Chelsea Pace, with casting by The Telsey Office's Destiny Lilly. Sean Kana is music directing.
Edmond O'Neal is the production stage manager, and Julia Formanek and Camella Coopilton are the assistant stage managers.
A Strange Loop made its world premiere at Playwrights Horizons in May 2019. In December 2021, the show had a critically acclaimed run at Washington, D.C.’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company prior to coming to Broadway in spring 2022.
A Strange Loop won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical.
For tickets visit ACT-SF.org and CTGLA.org.
