Chorus Member Joined: 9/27/21
I saw this off-Broadway. I'm excited to see what they've done with it. It was good, but had some issues :) I'm back in NY next month and I am buying a ticket for previews.
Also.... this advertising artwork is just temporary? I hope?
FYI, orchestra B 2-4 popped up for the first preview on 4/6, $79 seats.
Leading Actor Joined: 8/7/10
Tabby Lamb said: "Does anyone know of any discounts/offers for this? I'm coming over in May and desperate to see it but also broke ahahah x"
Discount code LOOPBOX
Mondays - Thursdays
$79 - $99 Orchestra & Mezzanine
$59 - $79 Balcony
Fridays - Sundays
$119 Orchestra & Mezzanine
$69 - $89 Balcony
Leading Actor Joined: 5/8/19
BoringBoredBoard40 said: "Can anyone explain to me why a show that is big black and queer as it says and is SO MUCH about the internal black experience is again being directed by a white person.....(I say again because Pass Over comes to mind)"
I can't explain it, but I can say I saw the very first preview in DC, had no idea who the director was (no programs were handed out), and came out thinking this is one of the extraordinary new musicals (score, book, performances, and yes, staging) I've seen in ages. Full disclosure, though: I 'm big white and queer, so...
Rush and lotto announced
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/A-STRANGE-LOOP-Announces-Digital-Lottery-and-Rush-Policy-20220404
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/27/19
BoringBoredBoard40 said: "Can anyone explain to me why a show that is big black and queer as it says and is SO MUCH about the internal black experience is again being directed by a white person.....(I say again because Pass Over comes to mind)"
https://thebroadwayblog.com/stephen-brackett-a-strange-loop/
"How did you become connected with the project?
I met Michael Jackson through a mutual collaborator, an amazing director named Emma Griffin. She was directing his thesis project for a production at NYU. That was my first exposure to his work. She thought we shared similar sensibilities and there was an artistic match. We really took to each other.
I directed a couple of concerts at Joe’s Pub and got to know Michael through disparate songs. I knew he was working on a project called A Strange Loop and there was a moment when he was looking for a director and brought the piece to me and said, “If you’re interested, I’m doing a really low-key reading at NYU.” The thing that drew me to Michael — his authenticity, his own singular voice, his lack of fear, and his intellect through humor — were all powerfully reflected in A Strange Loop. I signed on fairly immediately and started working with him, and that was in 2012.
After that, there were multiple years of development with Musical Theater Factory through several readings and a staging of an excerpt from the show. Through that relationship, we were introduced to Playwrights Horizons where it is now playing in association with Page 73."
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/12/14
BoringBoredBoard40 said: "Can anyone explain to me why a show that is big black and queer as it says and is SO MUCH about the internal black experience is again being directed by a white person.....(I say again because Pass Over comes to mind)"
I was at the Works & Process talk at the Guggenheim yesterday where they touched on this a bit. I'm paraphrasing but Michael R. Jackson essentially said he didn't want to put the show into a box of "here's how things should be done" and he had good conversations with Stephen Brackett early on, and it was actually Brackett that said the entire cast should be made of black queer performers. Brackett mentioned how despite not being black, there were still things in the show that he could relate to in the experience of someone who doesn't quite fit in, and MRJ agreed that they also wanted to make sure the show was opened up to a wider audience where other people could also identify with the themes.
If someone else was there too, feel free to correct me if I got anything wrong but there seemed to be a lot of mutual respect between the two (and also Raja Feather Kelly and Rona Siddiqui who were also in attendance).
I was not there Yesterday, but Brackett definitely seems to be Jackson's pick. I would say that if this was a revival or regional production where Jackson was not directly involved, a white man at the helm would be problematic. But I'm not going to disagree with the writer of the show on his own pick for director.
Was this a dress rehearsal?
No, it was posted last week on Instagram by one of the producers.
Looking forward to any rush / digital lottery reports (rush line reports/best time to go + seat locations!)
And whether window cards are already on sale for these first few performances.
For reference:
$47 rush daily at box office OR $43 digital lottery one day prior to each performance - https://strangeloopmusical.com/lotteryandrush/
Thanks!
I am seeing this on Friday night. Is it alright to go into this show not knowing much about it or should I know a little bit about it beforehand? Just curious.
Broadway Star Joined: 2/16/16
Just announced on their IG - select mezzanine and orchestra seats available for previews at $69 - only available in person at the Box Office.
Dylan Smith4 said: "I am seeing this on Friday night. Is it alright to go into this show not knowing much about it or should I know a little bit about it beforehand? Just curious."
I went in completely blind when I saw it at Playwrights Horizons a few years ago, and it completely floored me. I really don't think you need to know anything about it beforehand to enjoy it - and I think all of the lyrics are sung articulately so that you don't need to have had listened to the songs to be able to follow them clearly.
It's about an African American gay male so there's some bits about black history icons and current gay culture that may go over your head if you don't have the familiarity with those things but nothing that will detract you from enjoying the show. I personally love attending and learning a thing or two, sometimes running home to google to educate myself. But overall, you should be good to go!
I hope you love it!
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/23/17
Alexander Lamar said: "Just announced on their IG - select mezzanine and orchestra seats available for previews at $69 - only available in person at the Box Office."
"Regular" prices start at $79 -- so I wouldn't call that much of a bargain.
dshnookie said: "Dylan Smith4 said: "I am seeing this on Friday night. Is it alright to go into this show not knowing much about it or should I know a little bit about it beforehand? Just curious."
I went in completely blind when I saw it at Playwrights Horizons a few years ago, and it completely floored me. I really don't think you need to know anything about it beforehand to enjoy it - and I think all of the lyrics are sung articulately so that you don't need to have had listened to the songs to be able to follow them clearly.
It's about an African American gay male so there's some bits about black history icons and current gay culture that may go over your head if you don't have the familiarity with those things but nothing that will detract you from enjoying the show. I personally love attending and learning a thing or two, sometimes running home to google to educate myself. But overall, you should be good to go!
I hope you love it!"
Thanks! I did the same thing when I saw Hadestown at the last minute and was completely blown away by it! Hope I have the same experience with this show!
I just got an email from Telecharge that tomorrow’s first preview has been canceled.
Jordan Catalano said: "I just got an email from Telecharge that tomorrow’s first preview has been canceled."
Most likely a COVID outbreak. Dayum.
I have no clue about this show or its creator, but I was watching "Life & Beth" on Hulu and he's on it and I thought he was hilarious, but I had no clue who he was until I watched a preview vid of the Playwrights production, so now I'm stoked to hopefully see this soon.
(Side note about the director, I mean, Jesse Williams is currently playing a gay man in Take Me Out and he's straight, no? Yet there seems to be no discussion of that.)
RippedMan said: "I have no clue about this show or its creator, but I was watching "Life & Beth" on Hulu and he's on it and I thought he was hilarious, but I had no clue who he was until I watched a preview vid of the Playwrights production, so now I'm stoked to hopefully see this soon.
(Side note about the director, I mean, Jesse Williams is currently playing a gay man in Take Me Out and he's straight, no? Yet there seems to be no discussion of that.)"
You're talking about Larry Owens, who starred in the production at Playwrights Horizons, and is no longer with the show. Michael R. Jackson wrote the book, music, and lyrics.
Oh!! Thank you for the clarification. Well, I'm a Larry Owens fan.
But still excited for the show. Looks interesting and different.
Uh-oh. That's no good that Covid is running through the company.
Maybe they're hoping to have the necessary understudies ready for April 7?
Damn! This is cutting it REALLY close! I have tickets for Friday night's preview. Should I consider rescheduling?
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