A Strange Loop (2025)
Produced by
Crow’s Theatre and Soulpepper Theatre Company and The Musical Stage Company and TO Live
Music: Michael R. Jackson
Lyrics: Michael R. Jackson
Book: Michael R. Jackson
Director: Ray Hogg
Venue
The Marilyn and Charles Baillie Theatre
Run
April 22nd, 2025 – June 8th, 2025
Synopsis
Meet Usher. He’s dreaming of one day having a full-time career as a successful playwright, but currently he’s working front-of-house at Broadway’s The Lion King while grappling with his own artistic aspirations and personal identity. As he navigates the challenges of society’s expectations, internalized racism, body image issues, self-doubt, and the complexities of his own desires, Usher confronts the “strange loop” of his existence all the while trying to write the very musical the audience is watching.
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 melodies and metatheatrical storytelling. This musical promises to leave audiences thoroughly entertained and equally spellbound by its poignant, subversive, and unflinching exploration of identity, sexuality, self-expression, and the power of art to transcend barriers. (soulpepper.ca)
Cast
| Malachi McCaskill | Usher |
| Charlie Clark | Usher Alternate / Understudy Thought 3 |
| Sierra Holder | Thought 1 |
| Amaka Umeh | Thought 2 / Understudy Thought 1 |
| Matt Nethersole | Thought 3 / Understudy Thought 2 |
| David Andrew Reid | Thought 4 |
| Nathanael Judah | Thought 5 |
| Marcus Nance | Thought 6 |
| David Lopez | Swing |
Creative Team
| Michael R. Jackson | Music |
| Michael R. Jackson | Lyrics |
| Michael R. Jackson | Book |
| Ray Hogg | Director |
| Rodney Diverlus | Choreographer |
| Chris Tsujiuchi | Music Director |
| Brian Dudkiewicz | Set Designer |
| Ming Wong | Costume Designer |
| Michelle Ramsay | Lighting Designer |
| Brian Kenny | Sound Designer |
| Za Hughes | Associate Lighting Designer |
| Peter Fernandes | Associate Director |
| Ludmylla Reis | Apprentice Director |
Music
| Chris Tsujiuchi | Piano |
| Chris Tsujiuchi | Conductor |
| Mike Henley-Dunbar | Keys / Electric Guitar / Acoustic Guitar |
| Joseph Martel | Acoustic Guitar / Electric Guitar |
| Duncan Stan | Bass |
| Aubrey Dayle | Drums / SPD Pads |
| Conrad Gluch | Flute / Clarinet / Bass Clarinet / Tenor Sax |
Production
| David Andrew Reid | Dance Captain |
| David Andrew Reid | Intimacy Captain |
| Jonah Nung | Assistant to the Music Director |
| Sarah Miller | Stage Manager |
| Farnoosh Talebpour | Assistant Stage Manager |
| Evan Reid | Apprentice Stage Manager |
| Lisa Karen Cox | Intimacy Director |
| Andy DeVries | Head Carpenter |
| Bill Stahl | 1st Carpenter |
| Paul Boddum | Head Scenic Artist |
| Hilda Chu | Scenic Painter |
| Morgan Evans | Scenic Painter |
| Annie Viggers | Scenic Painter |
| Lisa Nighswander | Head of Properties |
| Greg Chambers | Props Buyer |
| Greg Chambers | 1st Props Builder |
| Ellie Koffman | Head of Wardrobe |
| Claudia Matas | Assistant Head of Wardrobe |
| Erin Halls | Stitcher |
| Jacqueline Robertson-Cull | Head of Wigs |
| Gunes Agduk | Lighting Operator |
| Everett Dalingwater | Audio Mixer |
| Dalton Villeneuve-Marini | Deck Hand |
| Matthew Condotta | Deck Audio |
| Irene Ly | Dresser |
Staff
| Emma Westray | Associate Producer |
| Kate Chubbs | Production Coordinator |
| Jonathan Heppner | Executive Producer |
| Robyn Hoja | Producer |
| Julia Carrano | Associate Producer |
| Jasmine Knox | Senior Production Manager |
| Patricia Vinluan | Production Manager |
| Leslie Hernandez | Technical Director |
| Nicholas Beardsley | Assistant Technical Director |
| Rhett Costin | Assistant Technical Director |
| Heather Landon | Senior Producer |
| Beth Wong | Producer |
| Cyrus Shewell | Associate Producer |
