Opened: April 26, 2022

Book, Music & Lyrics by: Michael R. Jackson

Original Broadway Cast: Jaquel Spivey, Antwayn Hopper, James Jackson Jr., L Morgan Lee, John-Michael Lyles, John-Andrew Morrison, Jason Veasey, Edwin Bates, Kyle Ramar Freeman, Zachary A. Myers, Jon-Michael Reese & Mars Rucker

A Strange Loop is unapologetically black and queer, but it spends its time focusing on the most negative aspects of both.

Usher (Jaquel Spivey) is creating theater of his own while working as an usher at The Lion King on Broadway. His inner thoughts bring him down with their negativity about who he is as a person.

The show features brilliant commentary on what it’s like to be both black and gay in America – and how the combination makes you an extreme other. There are many encounters Usher has with his family or with potential sexual partners that haven’t been explored in this way onstage.

However, there’s intense negativity in this show that never gets resolved. And while that may be lifelike, it’s hard to be satisfied as the curtain closes.

Final say: A sad loop. ★★★☆☆