Michael R. Jackson - A Strange Loop

Subversive, polymorphous genius Identity crisis is the engine that drives this dense, whirling gyre of code-switching satire and metatheatrical self-discovery to dazzling effect. DAVID COTE, OBSERVER One of the most original and exciting works of the past twenty years. ELYSA GARDNER, NEW YORK STAGE REVIEW Rich with clever comedy and eviscerating honesty Michael R. Jacksons heady metamusical starts strong and goes to lots of strong places By diving into the excruciatingly personal, he finds the broadly human. SARA HOLDREN, NEW YORK One hundred uninterrupted minutes of the rawest, funniest, most uncomfortably honest musical youre likely to see all year. ZACHARY STEWART, THEATERMANIA Exhilarating A Strange Loop is bolstered by vibrant songs and cutting lyrics The abundantly talented Jackson takes the otherwise tired trope of the young, poor, and sensitive artist trying to discover his true self and make it in New York, then adds layer upon layer of personal angst from a fresh and startling perspective.

Offers bracing insights into the endless strata of conflicts faced by those who are young, gifted, and Blackand so much more. FRANK RIZZO, VARIETY Genuinely breathtaking because it forces you to gasp before you break out laughing Jackson wrote the music, lyrics, and the book for A Strange Loop. Usually, that three-hat trick in the musical theater world is the mark of death. Jackson wears all hats with fabulous style. ROBERT HOFLER, WRAP While A Strange Loop is clever and funny, it is also very raw and not for the faint of heart. Jackson pulls no punches in his language or his exploration of [the character] Ushers experiences.

DONNA HERMAN, NEW YORK THEATRE GUIDE A clever, tuneful, and gloriously neurotic mix of self-exploration and social commentary, A Strange Loop features bouncy and energetic theater-pop melodies propelling lyrics infused with wittily expressed angst Sharp and funny. MICHAEL DALE, BROADWAY WORLD Michael R. Jacksons semi-autobiographical A Strange Loop transforms oversharing into high art A score thats fresh, unpredictable, and inextricably blended with the book and lyrics An intriguing odyssey with plenty of momentum, fresh melodies, and artful lyrics that explore essential elements of the human condition. CHARLES WRIGHT, CURTAINUP Jackson is an undisputedly talented and promising young artist Inventive touches and songs full of both spark and sensitivity. MATT WINDMAN, AMNY

BOOK, MUSIC, AND LYRICS BY Michael R. Jackson THEATRE COMMUNICATIONS GROUP / NEW YORK / 2020 A Strange Loop is copyright 2020 by Michael R.

Jackson A Strange Loop is published by Theatre Communications Group, Inc.,
520 Eighth Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10018-4156 All rights reserved. Except for brief passages quoted in newspaper, magazine, radio or television reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that this material, being fully protected under the Copyright Laws of the United States of America and all other countries of the Berne and Universal Copyright Conventions, is subject to a royalty. All rights, including but not limited to, professional, amateur, recording, motion picture, recitation, lecturing, public reading, radio and television broadcasting, and the rights of translation into foreign languages are expressly reserved. Particular emphasis is placed on the question of readings and all uses of this book by educational institutions, permission for which must be secured from the authors representative: Derek Zasky, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, 11 Madison Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10010, (212) 903-1396. Strange Loop, Words and Music by Liz Phair, copyright 1993 Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC and Civil War Days Music.

All Rights Administered by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, 424 Church Street, Suite 1200, Nashville, TN 37219. International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC. The publication of A Strange Loop by Michael R. Jackson, through TCGs Book Program, is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Special thanks to the board and staff of Playwrights Horizons for their generous support of this publication, in recognition of outgoing Artistic Director Tim Sanford. TCG books are exclusively distributed to the book trade by Consortium Book Sales and Distribution. Library of Congress Control Numbers: 2020035401 (print) / 2020035402 (ebook) ISBN 978-1-55936-993-0 (paperback) / ISBN 978-1-55936-994-7 (ebook) A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress. Book design and composition by Lisa Govan Cover design by Jeff Rogers First Edition, November 2020 A Strange Loop is dedicated to Darius Marcel Smith
and all those Black gay boys I knew
who chose to go on back to the Lord DARIUS MARCEL SMITH
(SEPTEMBER 13, 1982FEBRUARY 25, 2019]

A STRANGE LOOP A Strange Loop received its world premiere at Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director; Carol Fishman, General Manager) in New York, in association with Page 73 (Michael Walkup, Artistic Director; Amanda Feldman, Managing Director), on June 17, 2019. It was originally developed at Musical Theatre Factory (Shakina Nayfack, Founding Artistic Director). It was directed by Stephen Brackett.

It was choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly. The scenic design was by Arnulfo Maldonado, the costume design was by Montana Levi Blanco, the lighting design was by Jen Schriever, the sound design was by Alex Hawthorn, and the orchestrations were by Charlie Rosen; the musical director was Rona Siddiqui and the production stage manager was Erin Gioia Albrecht. The cast was:

USHER	Larry Owens
THOUGHT 1	L Morgan Lee
THOUGHT 2	James Jackson, Jr.
THOUGHT 3	John-Michael Lyles
THOUGHT 4	John-Andrew Morrison
THOUGHT 5	Jason Veasey
THOUGHT 6	Antwayn Hopper

A loop within a loop within a loop inside a perception of one mans reality. Usher: A fat American Black gay man of high intelligence, low self-image, and deep feelings. He writes stories and songs and wants desperately to be heard.

A musical theater writer and Broadway usher. Thoughts 16: A spectrum of bodies that are Ushers perceptions of reality inside and out. They come in many shapes and sizes. But they are all Black. And they are as individual in expression as they are a unit.

Intermission Song (Intro)	Thoughts
(Opening) Intermission Song	Usher, Thoughts
Today	Usher, Thoughts
We Wanna Know	Thoughts
Inner White Girl	Usher, Thoughts
Didnt Want Nothin	Thoughts
Exile in Gayville