“Historically, representations of Black queer people have been rare to nonexistent,” Johnson, who is also the author of “Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South,” wrote in an email. Patrick Johnson, the dean of the Northwestern University School of Communication. But “A Strange Loop” remains a standout because it’s one of the few works that humanize the experiences of the Black LGBTQ community, said E. The play's fervor comes at a time when Black queer characters are still unrepresented on U.S. The show, affectionately described as unapologetically Black and queer, has exploded in popularity since its arrival on Broadway in April. as Thought 2, Jaquel Spivey as Usher, L Morgan Lee as Thought 1 and Antwayn Hopper as Thought 6 in 'A Strange Loop.' Marc J. Jason Veasey as Thought 5, James Jackson Jr. The musical explores sexuality, religion, coming out and the stigma against people living with HIV/AIDS. Usher - whose actual job is ushering for 'The Lion King' - is also grappling with an inner dialogue that is narrated by six characters known as Thoughts.
The story follows Usher (played by Tony-nominated lead actor Jaquel Spivey), who is a Black queer man writing a play about a Black queer man. The critically acclaimed musical has been nominated for 11 Tonys. “Taking your time to make something good is worth it, and I feel that we’re seeing the fruits of our labor, my team and I,” he said.
