
The Chicago premiere of
A STRANGE LOOP
a co-production with Raven Theatre
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Michael R. Jackson
Directed by Mikael Burke
October 8 – November 8, 2026
All performances will take place on the Johnson Stage at Raven Theatre, 6157 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660
Showtimes: Thurs, Fri, Sat @ 7:30pm, and Sun @ 3:00pm.
About The Show
Usher is a Black, queer playwright who spends his days working as an usher on Broadway. He spends his nights struggling to write an original musical about a Black, queer playwright who spends his days working as an usher on Broadway. Lines blur, thoughts intrude, and soon he finds himself wrestling to break free from a very strange creative loop.This blistering, groundbreaking, Pulitzer Prize winning musical explores identity, race and sexuality through the lens of a young artist at war with a chorus of his own demons and inner voices on a journey towards understanding and self love.
MICHAEL R. JACKSON
Book, Music and Lyrics
MIKAEL BURKE
Director
Tickets
Location
Johnson Stage at Raven Theatre
6157 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60660
Show Events
CHICAGO LIVE! COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
September 18th, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Guided backstage tour of the set targeting students and creatives who want to learn more about production. Includes a Q&A with Audrey Kleine, Christopher Pazdernik, and Sydney Lynne. A reception with light refreshments will follow in the lobby.
MUSICAL THEATRE TRIVIA
September 30th @ 7PM
Nobody’s Darling is allowing us to host a trivia night, co-hosted by The Mad Liberation Show! Winners will receive a pair of tickets to our play, and many other goodies.
THE CLARE
Sunday, October 18th and November 1st
More information to come!
TGNC MEET CUTE + MASKS REQUIRED PERFORMANCE
Friday, October 30th at 6:00pm for 7:30 show
Come hang out with us for a cute pre-show TGNC gathering, co-hosted with Catherine Miller and Gender Fucked Productions! We'll have some good conversation, tasty snacks, and the chance to meet someone new. A limited number of 15$ tickets will be available with the code TGNC15. Please note, this performance will be masks required.
CLOSED CAPTIONS + PANEL
Sunday, November 1st @ 3pm
We will have Closed-Caption screens available for this performance. (screens limited, advance reservations required by contacting the box office.)
Captions are designed for any patron who may benefit from reading the dialogue in sync with the performance. Several small (7"-10") screens on tripods will be set up Row 1 House-Right. These screens will be off-stage, completely facing the audience; this means the actors will not need to adjust their performance in any way and will not be able to see the text. The FOH team will set up the screens after Saturday night’s performance. For any work in the space on Sunday morning, please be mindful of the screens and cables as you move around the audience seating.
Please let Lisa or Amy know if you have any questions!
The Art of Making Art: New Musicals
Dramaturg Christopher Pazdernik will facilitate a panel discussion with a pair of Chicago artists currently working on new musicals, reflecting on the journey of both the development process of A Strange Loop and the character of Usher as dramatist:
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- Dr. Masi Asare is a Tony-nominated songwriter, dramatist, and performance scholar. She is associate professor of theatre and performance studies at Northwestern University, where she directs the American Music Theatre Project.
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- Satya Chávez is an award-winning multi-hyphenate artist including work as a singer/songwriter, sound designer and storyteller, with three new musicals currently in development.
FAT THEATRE PROJECT AFFINITY NIGHT + TALKBACK
Friday, November 6th @ 7:30pm
Come enjoy the show with members of Fat Theatre Project and stay for a conversation afterwards with dramaturg Christopher Pazdernik! Fat Theatre Project seeks to tell stories by/about/for/with fat artists.
A limited number of 15$ tickets will be available with the code FTP15
PFLAG + TALKBACK
Sunday, November 8th @ 3pm
Chicago’s PFLAG chapter is bringing a group of their members. Afterwards, About Face’s Education Director Dionne Addai will host a discussion about the themes of the show.
SPECIAL PERFORMANCES
Fri, Oct. 16th @ 7:30pm: Student Night & Talkback, 6:30PM pre-show discussion
Fri, Oct. 23rd @ 7:30pm: Blackout Night, A limited number of 15$ tickets will be available with the code BLACKOUT15
Sun, Oct. 25th @ 3:00pm: Touch Tour + Audio Description, The Touch Tour starts at 1:30pm for the 3:00pm performance.
This event is free for same-day ticketholders, advance reservations required by contacting the box office.
Mon, Oct. 26th @ 7:30pm: Industry Night
Fri, Oct. 30th @ 7:30pm: Masks Required Performance
Sun, Nov 1st @ 7:30pm: Closed Caption Performance (screens limited, advance reservations required by contacting the box office.)
Artists
Cast

USHER Eddie Weaver*
THOUGHT 1 Micah Mixon
THOUGHT 2 Matheus Barbee
THOUGHT 3 Christopher Wayland
THOUGHT 4 Michael Turrentine
THOUGHT 5 John-Payne
THOUGHT 6 Naphtali Curry

USHER U/S Jordan Harris
THOUGHT 1 U/S Simmery Branch
THOUGHT 2 U/S Aiden McCoy
THOUGHT 3 U/S Michael Davis Arnold
THOUGHT 4 U/S Shawn Smith
THOUGHT 5 U/S Reginald Hemphill
THOUGHT 6 U/S Gabriel Levi
Crew
DIRECTOR - Mikael Burke+ (sdc)
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - Terry Guest
CHOREOGRAPHER - Breon Arzell (sdc)
MUSIC DIRECTOR - Kyu Park
DRAMATURG - Christopher Richard Pazdernik
STAGE MANAGER - Christine D. Freeburg*
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER - Rachel Simmons
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER - Charlotte Horton
SCENIC DESIGNER - Sydney Lynne
PROPS DESIGNER - Mariah Bennett
COSTUME DESIGNER - Janelle Smith
LIGHTING DESIGNER - Brendan Marble
SOUND DESIGNER - Hannah Kwak
ASSOCIATE SOUND DESIGNER - Matt Reich
A1 - Mia Howard
VIOLENCE AND INTIMACY DESIGNER - Chels Morgan
MASTER ELECTRICIAN - Ruby Lowe
CASTING DIRECTOR - Catherine Miller+
AFT PRODUCTION MANAGER - Audrey Kleine
RAVEN PRODUCTION MANAGER - Lucy Whipp
* Denotes members of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers
(sdc) Denotes member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, the union of professional stage directors and choreographers
+ About Face Theatre Artistic Associate
