The Knockturnal
  • Home
  • Entertainment
    • Events Film The Kontenders Theater TV All
      Events

      On the Scene: “Emily the Criminal”

      August 16, 2022

      Entertainment

      “Never Have I Ever” Hosts Intimate Fan Event Prior To Celebrate The New…

      August 15, 2022

      Events

      Hamptons Magic with Cyndi Lauper at Northwell Health’s Annual Summer Fundraiser

      August 15, 2022

      Entertainment

      Celebrating the Premiere of HBO Max’s “Jesus Sepulveda: Mr. Tough Life” at the…

      August 14, 2022

      Film

      Idris Elba And ‘Beast’ Cast Talk New Film Worth Sinking Your Teeth Into…

      August 17, 2022

      Film

      On the Scene: “Emily the Criminal”

      August 16, 2022

      Film

      Netflix’s “Day Shift” Movie Interview, Featuring Actress Meagan Good

      August 15, 2022

      Film

      Film Review: ‘Anything’s Possible’

      August 14, 2022

      The Kontenders

      Exclusive: Interviews At The 37th Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards [video]

      March 15, 2022

      The Kontenders

      Knockturnalist: Top 20 Favorite Films of 2021

      January 9, 2022

      The Kontenders

      The Kontenders: Stepping behind the curtain of “Nightmare Alley”

      December 17, 2021

      The Kontenders

      The Kontendors: The Humanity behind the Refugee Crisis in “Flee”

      December 13, 2021

      Theater

      A Juicy Chat with Marcel Spears About Fat Ham

      July 27, 2022

      Theater

      ‘The Kite Runner’ Review: Broadways Newest Stage Adaptation Soars To New Heights!

      July 27, 2022

      Theater

      Exclusive: Sharone Sayegh Talks Tony & Olivier Award-Winning Broadway Musical ‘Come From Away’…

      July 25, 2022

      Theater

      Theater Review: ‘Disney’s Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation’

      July 18, 2022

      TV

      “Never Have I Ever” Hosts Intimate Fan Event Prior To Celebrate The New…

      August 15, 2022

      TV

      Exclusive: Cast of Vh1’s Love & Hip Hop Atlanta Talk Season Premiere

      August 14, 2022

      TV

      Exclusive: Kausar Mohammed talks The Flash and Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous

      August 11, 2022

      TV

      On the scene: The Power Book III: Raising Kanan Party in New York…

      August 11, 2022

      Entertainment

      Idris Elba And ‘Beast’ Cast Talk New Film Worth Sinking Your Teeth Into…

      August 17, 2022

      Entertainment

      On the Scene: “Emily the Criminal”

      August 16, 2022

      Entertainment

      Netflix’s “Day Shift” Movie Interview, Featuring Actress Meagan Good

      August 15, 2022

      Entertainment

      “Never Have I Ever” Hosts Intimate Fan Event Prior To Celebrate The New…

      August 15, 2022

  • Music
    • Koncerts News All
      Koncerts

      Faye Webster Captivates An Intimate Crowd in Burlington, Vermont

      August 15, 2022

      Entertainment

      India Shawn Delivers An Honestly Raw, But Soothing R&B Set at BMI’s Lollapalooza…

      August 10, 2022

      Koncerts

      On The Scene: Rolling Loud Miami 2022 (Day 2)

      August 10, 2022

      Entertainment

      Buffalo Nichols Brings His Life Journey To The BMI Lollapalooza Stage With A…

      August 4, 2022

      News

      Netflix’s “Day Shift” Movie Interview, Featuring Actress Meagan Good

      August 15, 2022

      News

      New Music Roundup: Releases You May Have Missed

      July 29, 2022

      News

      Exclusive: Demi Dabady Talks New Music & Creating 1WorldFestGlobal’s Theme Song

      July 19, 2022

      News

      New Music Roundup: Releases You May Have Missed

      July 15, 2022

      Music

      Netflix’s “Day Shift” Movie Interview, Featuring Actress Meagan Good

      August 15, 2022

      Music

      Faye Webster Captivates An Intimate Crowd in Burlington, Vermont

      August 15, 2022

      Music

      On The Scene: Singer-Songwriter Ben Abraham’s Sold Out Show Joe’s Pub

      August 14, 2022

      Music

      On The Scene: Kid Laroi Debuts on his “End of the World” Tour

      August 14, 2022

  • Lifestyle
    • Art Events Fashion & Beauty Sports All
      Art

      In The City: ST~GERMAIN Liqueur Debuts Fleuriste ST~GERMAIN with Multi-Hyphenate Artist Jameel Mohammed…

      August 12, 2022

      Art

      Is Longhouse Reserve the Most Exciting Outdoor Space in America Right Now?

      July 26, 2022

      Art

      Issa Rae and HBO Max’s ‘Rap Sh!t’ is a Game Changer

      July 21, 2022

      Art

      ON THE SCENE: NFT NYC COCKTAIL PARTY HOSTED BY SWOPES + SUNRISE ART…

      June 23, 2022

      Events

      In The Hamptons: Diabetes Research Institute Foundation Hamptons Garden Gala

      August 16, 2022

      Events

      Make Your Mark with Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia of Monse

      August 16, 2022

      Events

      Nordstrom celebrates Black Business Month

      August 16, 2022

      Events

      PATRÓN Tequila Dives Into The Metaverse With The “Summer Made Sensational: A PATRÓN…

      August 13, 2022

      Fashion & Beauty

      Make Your Mark with Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia of Monse

      August 16, 2022

      Fashion & Beauty

      Nordstrom celebrates Black Business Month

      August 16, 2022

      Fashion & Beauty

      In The City: ST~GERMAIN Liqueur Debuts Fleuriste ST~GERMAIN with Multi-Hyphenate Artist Jameel Mohammed…

      August 12, 2022

      Fashion & Beauty

      Hamptons Fashion Week: The Inside Scoop

      August 9, 2022

      Sports

      Sipsmith presents Wimbledon’s The Hill in New York

      July 14, 2022

      Sports

      Carriage Driving 60th Anniversary Festivities – Join us for a day in the…

      June 16, 2022

      Sports

      Exclusive Interview With Jahfari Harvey

      May 26, 2022

      Sports

      NINJA Undergoes Full Rebrand by Creative Studio EAT

      April 20, 2022

      Lifestyle

      In The Hamptons: Diabetes Research Institute Foundation Hamptons Garden Gala

      August 16, 2022

      Lifestyle

      Make Your Mark with Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia of Monse

      August 16, 2022

      Lifestyle

      Nordstrom celebrates Black Business Month

      August 16, 2022

      Lifestyle

      PATRÓN Tequila Dives Into The Metaverse With The “Summer Made Sensational: A PATRÓN…

      August 13, 2022

  • News
  • Videos
  • Covers
  • Merch
Tag:

Michael R Jackson

EntertainmentThe LatestTheater

Theater Review: Jaquel Spivey Makes Broadway Debut In “A Strange Loop”

by Staff May 2, 2022
written by Staff

“It’s about a Black gay man writing a musical about a Black gay man who’s writing a musical about a Black gay man who’s writing a musical about a Black gay man, etc.,” or in short, it’s about life. That’s what 25-year-old Usher (Jaquel Spivey), the main character of Strange Loop says. 

Photo credit: Marc J. Franklin, 2022

The “big, Black, and queer-ass American Broadway show” by Michael R. Jackson (writer, music, lyrics) opened on April 26 at the Lyceum Theatre and it just might be the most self-reflective piece currently on Broadway. Behind the raw and self-deprecating comedy, Strange Loop still manages to address serious issues of identity, racism, religion, and the politics of being fat, Black, and queer, but somehow the delivery is more entertaining than offensive. 

Well, don’t fall asleep but it’s a cognitive-science term that was coined by this guy named Douglas Hofstadter. And it’s basically about how your sense of self is just a set of meaningless symbols in your brain pushing up or down through one level of abstraction to another but always winding up right back where they started. It’s the idea that your ability to conceive of yourself as an “I” is kind of an illusion. But the fact that you can recognize the illusion kind of proves that it exists.

We watch Usher, who is himself a Broadway usher and musical theater writer, get in his own way of writing musicals with his self-doubt and unresolved trauma of growing up big, Black, and queer. Those struggles provide the meat for the production, but the core is truly Usher’s inner thoughts, which gives the show its movement.

It is hard to imagine Jaquel Spivey’s portrayal of Usher being his Broadway debut. As Usher, Spivey is powerful, smart, transparent, comical, and familiar as he confronts the audience with queer conversations and a visual representation of trauma through musical numbers and monologue. 

Photo credit: Marc J. Franklin, 2022

Technically, Usher is the only character in the show, but he’s far from lonely as six “Thoughts” (portrayed by James Jackson Jr., John-Michael Lyles, L Morgan Lee, John-Andrew Morrison, Jason Veasey, and Antwayn Hopper) surround his every move from the start of the show until the end. These “Thoughts” also come in as Usher’s mom, dad, doctor, dating app prospects, ancestors, self-loathing, financial struggle, sexual ambivalence, etc., and they never leave the stage (at least not completely). And with the pressure from his mom, Usher is writing a Tyler Perry-like gospel play (per her request) which becomes a huge parody scene of its own, revealing stereotypes and downright abuse both in Usher’s family and religious community.

By this end, everything falls apart, both the play we’re watching from the audience and the play Usher is writing (and the one he’s not). It all falls apart or it all comes together in one large number, “AIDs is God’s Punishment.” By this time, the question is finally raised: “So that’s it? That’s really how the show ends? He just turns his back?”

You’ll have to decide whom the aforementioned question refers to once you see the show. And as far as the question of whether he’ll heal, change or be utterly overcome by his own sabotaging thoughts, whether he’ll succeed as a writer or continue to shy away from writing his dark truth, well, these things are all outside the bounds of a very, very strange loop because inside that loop, it seems as if change is just an illusion. And if change is an illusion, what does that make of Usher’s thoughts? What does that make of Usher?

Photo credit: Marc J. Franklin, 2022

Starring ANTWAYN HOPPER, L MORGAN LEE, JOHN-MICHAEL LYLES, JAMES JACKSON, JR., JOHN-ANDREW MORRISON, JASON VEASEY, and introducing JAQUEL SPIVEY

 Book, Music, & Lyrics by MICHAEL R. JACKSON

Choreographed by RAJA FEATHER KELLY

Directed by STEPHEN BRACKETT

For tickets, click here.

 

 

May 2, 2022 0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Digital Cover No. 15

The Knockturnal Merch

Follow Us On The Gram

Follow on Instagram

About The Site

We are a collective of creative tastemakers made up of fashion, music and entertainment industry insiders. It’s all about access. You want it. We have it.

Terms Of Use

Privacy Policy

Meet The Team

CONTACT US

For general inquiries and more info on The Knockturnal, please contact our staff at:
info@theknockturnal.com
fashion@theknockturnal.com
advertising@theknockturnal.com
editorial@theknockturnal.com
beauty@theknockturnal.com

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube

© Copyright - The Knockturnal | Developed by CI Design + Media

The Knockturnal
  • Home
  • Entertainment
    • Events Film The Kontenders Theater TV All
      Events

      On the Scene: “Emily the Criminal”

      August 16, 2022

      Entertainment

      “Never Have I Ever” Hosts Intimate Fan Event Prior To Celebrate The New…

      August 15, 2022

      Events

      Hamptons Magic with Cyndi Lauper at Northwell Health’s Annual Summer Fundraiser

      August 15, 2022

      Entertainment

      Celebrating the Premiere of HBO Max’s “Jesus Sepulveda: Mr. Tough Life” at the…

      August 14, 2022

      Film

      Idris Elba And ‘Beast’ Cast Talk New Film Worth Sinking Your Teeth Into…

      August 17, 2022

      Film

      On the Scene: “Emily the Criminal”

      August 16, 2022

      Film

      Netflix’s “Day Shift” Movie Interview, Featuring Actress Meagan Good

      August 15, 2022

      Film

      Film Review: ‘Anything’s Possible’

      August 14, 2022

      The Kontenders

      Exclusive: Interviews At The 37th Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards [video]

      March 15, 2022

      The Kontenders

      Knockturnalist: Top 20 Favorite Films of 2021

      January 9, 2022

      The Kontenders

      The Kontenders: Stepping behind the curtain of “Nightmare Alley”

      December 17, 2021

      The Kontenders

      The Kontendors: The Humanity behind the Refugee Crisis in “Flee”

      December 13, 2021

      Theater

      A Juicy Chat with Marcel Spears About Fat Ham

      July 27, 2022

      Theater

      ‘The Kite Runner’ Review: Broadways Newest Stage Adaptation Soars To New Heights!

      July 27, 2022

      Theater

      Exclusive: Sharone Sayegh Talks Tony & Olivier Award-Winning Broadway Musical ‘Come From Away’…

      July 25, 2022

      Theater

      Theater Review: ‘Disney’s Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation’

      July 18, 2022

      TV

      “Never Have I Ever” Hosts Intimate Fan Event Prior To Celebrate The New…

      August 15, 2022

      TV

      Exclusive: Cast of Vh1’s Love & Hip Hop Atlanta Talk Season Premiere

      August 14, 2022

      TV

      Exclusive: Kausar Mohammed talks The Flash and Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous

      August 11, 2022

      TV

      On the scene: The Power Book III: Raising Kanan Party in New York…

      August 11, 2022

      Entertainment

      Idris Elba And ‘Beast’ Cast Talk New Film Worth Sinking Your Teeth Into…

      August 17, 2022

      Entertainment

      On the Scene: “Emily the Criminal”

      August 16, 2022

      Entertainment

      Netflix’s “Day Shift” Movie Interview, Featuring Actress Meagan Good

      August 15, 2022

      Entertainment

      “Never Have I Ever” Hosts Intimate Fan Event Prior To Celebrate The New…

      August 15, 2022

  • Music
    • Koncerts News All
      Koncerts

      Faye Webster Captivates An Intimate Crowd in Burlington, Vermont

      August 15, 2022

      Entertainment

      India Shawn Delivers An Honestly Raw, But Soothing R&B Set at BMI’s Lollapalooza…

      August 10, 2022

      Koncerts

      On The Scene: Rolling Loud Miami 2022 (Day 2)

      August 10, 2022

      Entertainment

      Buffalo Nichols Brings His Life Journey To The BMI Lollapalooza Stage With A…

      August 4, 2022

      News

      Netflix’s “Day Shift” Movie Interview, Featuring Actress Meagan Good

      August 15, 2022

      News

      New Music Roundup: Releases You May Have Missed

      July 29, 2022

      News

      Exclusive: Demi Dabady Talks New Music & Creating 1WorldFestGlobal’s Theme Song

      July 19, 2022

      News

      New Music Roundup: Releases You May Have Missed

      July 15, 2022

      Music

      Netflix’s “Day Shift” Movie Interview, Featuring Actress Meagan Good

      August 15, 2022

      Music

      Faye Webster Captivates An Intimate Crowd in Burlington, Vermont

      August 15, 2022

      Music

      On The Scene: Singer-Songwriter Ben Abraham’s Sold Out Show Joe’s Pub

      August 14, 2022

      Music

      On The Scene: Kid Laroi Debuts on his “End of the World” Tour

      August 14, 2022

  • Lifestyle
    • Art Events Fashion & Beauty Sports All
      Art

      In The City: ST~GERMAIN Liqueur Debuts Fleuriste ST~GERMAIN with Multi-Hyphenate Artist Jameel Mohammed…

      August 12, 2022

      Art

      Is Longhouse Reserve the Most Exciting Outdoor Space in America Right Now?

      July 26, 2022

      Art

      Issa Rae and HBO Max’s ‘Rap Sh!t’ is a Game Changer

      July 21, 2022

      Art

      ON THE SCENE: NFT NYC COCKTAIL PARTY HOSTED BY SWOPES + SUNRISE ART…

      June 23, 2022

      Events

      In The Hamptons: Diabetes Research Institute Foundation Hamptons Garden Gala

      August 16, 2022

      Events

      Make Your Mark with Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia of Monse

      August 16, 2022

      Events

      Nordstrom celebrates Black Business Month

      August 16, 2022

      Events

      PATRÓN Tequila Dives Into The Metaverse With The “Summer Made Sensational: A PATRÓN…

      August 13, 2022

      Fashion & Beauty

      Make Your Mark with Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia of Monse

      August 16, 2022

      Fashion & Beauty

      Nordstrom celebrates Black Business Month

      August 16, 2022

      Fashion & Beauty

      In The City: ST~GERMAIN Liqueur Debuts Fleuriste ST~GERMAIN with Multi-Hyphenate Artist Jameel Mohammed…

      August 12, 2022

      Fashion & Beauty

      Hamptons Fashion Week: The Inside Scoop

      August 9, 2022

      Sports

      Sipsmith presents Wimbledon’s The Hill in New York

      July 14, 2022

      Sports

      Carriage Driving 60th Anniversary Festivities – Join us for a day in the…

      June 16, 2022

      Sports

      Exclusive Interview With Jahfari Harvey

      May 26, 2022

      Sports

      NINJA Undergoes Full Rebrand by Creative Studio EAT

      April 20, 2022

      Lifestyle

      In The Hamptons: Diabetes Research Institute Foundation Hamptons Garden Gala

      August 16, 2022

      Lifestyle

      Make Your Mark with Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia of Monse

      August 16, 2022

      Lifestyle

      Nordstrom celebrates Black Business Month

      August 16, 2022

      Lifestyle

      PATRÓN Tequila Dives Into The Metaverse With The “Summer Made Sensational: A PATRÓN…

      August 13, 2022

  • News
  • Videos
  • Covers
  • Merch