2022 Tony nominees Michael R. Jackson, Jaquel Spivey, and Stephen Brackett stopped by CBS Sunday Morning June 5 to talk about A Strange Loop, the season's most Tony-nominated production starring Spivey, directed by Brackett, and written by Jackson. Along with highlights from the production, the segment discusses the work's 15-year journey to Broadway, its surprising universality, and more.
"Michael has shifted the lens to a character that we never thought would lead a Broadway musical before," shares Brackett. "Everybody knows what it feels like to feel imperfect, and to see a character so bravely and vulnerably going through that, one can't help but put their own story on top."
With a book, music, and lyrics by Jackson, A Strange Loop is currently nominated for Tony Awards for Best Musical, Leading Actor in a Musical (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 (Brackett), and Orchestrations (Charlie Rosen).
The work centers on 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.
Also on the musical's creative team are costume designer Montana Levi Blanco, music director Rona Siddiqui, and casting director Destiny Lilly of The Telsey Office.