Larry Owens (center) in A Strange Loop
Michael R. Jackson’s musical A Strange Loop was honored this morning by the New York Drama Critics’ Circle as best musical of the 2019-20 season. The critic’s circle also awarded a special citation to David Byrne’s staged concert version of his 2018 album American Utopia. The awards, which include a $2,500 cash prize, will be presented in a virtual ceremony on April 28.
For the record, A Strange Loop was presented Off-Broadway June 17 to July 28, 2019, at Playwrights Horizons. The creative team included Michael R. Jackson (book, lyrics, music), Stephen Brackett (director), Raja Feather Kelly (choreographer), Arnulfo Maldonado (sets), Montana Levi Blanco (costumes), Jen Schriever (lights), Alex Hawthorn (sound), Cookie Jordan (hair), and Rona Siddiqui (music direction). The cast was Larry Owens (Usher), L Morgan Lee (Thought 1), James Jackson Jr. (Thought 2), John-Michael Lyles (Thought 3), John-Andrew Morrison (Thought 4), Jason Veasey (Thought 5), and Antwayn Hopper (Thought 6).
David Byrne (center) in American Utopia
American Utopia was presented on Broadway Oct. 20, 2019, to Feb. 16, 2020, at the Hudson Theatre. It is scheduled to reopen this September. The creative team included David Byrne and Brian Eno (lyrics and music), Daniel Lopatin (addl. lyrics and music), Annie-B Parson (musical staging, choreography), Rob Sinclair (lights), Pete Keppler (sound), and Karl Mansfield and Mauro Refosco (musical direction). The cast was David Byrne (guitar), Jacquelene Acevedo (percussion), Gustavo Di Dalva (percussion), Daniel Freedman (percussion), Chris Giarmo (vocals), Tim Keiper (percussion), Tendayi Kuumba (vocals), Karl Mansfield (keyboard), Mauro Refosco (percussion), Stéphane San Juan (percussion), Angie Swan (guitar), and Bobby Wooten III (bass).