A STRANGE LOOP @ Young Centre for the Performing Arts

• Details

  CANADIAN PREMIERE

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  Tony Award-winning international sensation A STRANGE LOOP is coming to Toronto!
  
  Meet Usher, a Black gay man who’s writing a musical about a Black gay man…who’s also writing a musical about a Black gay man.
  
  Usher dreams of one day having a full-time career as a successful playwright. The problem? He’s working front-of-house at Broadway’s The Lion King while grappling with his own artistic aspirations and self-doubt.

  Joined by a hilarious chorus who personify Usher’s larger-than-life 'Thoughts', such as ‘Daily Self-Loathing’,  ‘Sexual Ambivalence’, and caricatured depictions of his parents, A STRANGE LOOP is bursting with unforgettable music and theatrical storytelling. This musical promises to leave audiences entertained and spellbound by its poignant exploration of identity, self-expression, and the power of art to transcend barriers.
  
  A STRANGE LOOP is the winner of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, two Tony Awards including Best New Musical, five Drama Desk Awards, two Obie Awards, and was nominated for seven Lucille Lortel Awards.
  
  “A one-of-a-kind masterpiece”
  Vogue Magazine
  
  “A raw and unflinching interrogation of identity and the most furiously entertaining show.”
  Variety

  “This is the musical we’ve been waiting for.”
  TimeOut New York

  “Searing and soft-hearted, uproarious, and disquieting.”
  The New York Times

   

  

  

  

   

  CONTENT ADVISORY: A STRANGE LOOP is a musical dramedy by Michael R. Jackson, told from the perspective of Usher, a Black gay writer as he writes a musical about his own life experiences. This highly-acclaimed show is well-loved by audiences around the world for its biting honesty and portrayal of the life of this Black gay man.

  The nature of this story means that it is not a family show (recommended for audiences ages 16+). It deals with sensitive and mature themes and includes a character's vivid perceptions of racism, homophobia, HIV stigmatisation, self-hatred, and depression. It also contains suggestive nudity and explicit language (inclusive of racial slang that may be offensive to some audience members). It may not be suitable for all audiences, especially those who are triggered or uncomfortable with discussions of mental health, identity struggles, and marginalization.

  PERFORMANCE NOTES

  OFF-SITE: A STRANGE LOOP will be performed at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane in the Distillery Historic District. Single tickets can be purchased at Soulpepper Theatre.

   
• The Team

  CAST

  • Malachi McCaskill - Usher
  • Charlie Clark - Usher Alternate, Understudy Thought 3
  • Sierra Holder - Thought 1
  • Nathanael Judah - Thought 5
  • David Lopez - Swing
  • Marcus Nance - Thought 6
  • Matt Nethersole - Thought 3, Understudy Thought 2
  • David Andrew Reid - Thought 4
  • Amaka Umeh - Thought 2, Understudy Thought 1

  CREATIVE

  • Michael R. Jackson - Book, Music, and Lyrics
  • Ray Hogg - Director
  • Chris Tsujiuchi - Music Director
  • Rodney Diverlus - Choreographer
  • Brian Dudkiewicz - Scenic Designer
  • Ming Wong - Costume Designer
  • Michelle Ramsay - Lighting Designer
  • Brian Kenny - Sound Designer
  • Lisa Karen Cox - Intimacy Director
  • Sarah Miller - Stage Manager
  • Farnoosh Talebpour - Assistant Stage Manager
  • Evan Reid - Apprentice Stage Manager
  • Peter Fernandes - Assistant Director
  • Jonah Nung - Assistant to the Music Director
  • Ludmylla Reis - Apprentice Director
  • Chris Tsujiuchi - Piano-Conductor
  • Mike Henley-Dunbar - Keys, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
  • Joseph Martel - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
  • Duncan Stan - Electric Bass
  • Aubrey Dayle - Drums, SPD Pads
  • Conrad Gluch - Flute, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Tenor Sax