Page 12 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, April 26, 2024 SpeakEasy Stage & Front Porch Arts Collective present the New England premiere of ‘A Strange Loop’ Local resident to perform in the Pulitzer Prize- & Tony-winning musical S peakEasy Stage, a nonprofit theatre company, and Front Porch Arts Collective (“the Porch”) present the New England premiere of Michael R. Jackson’s Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning musical, “A Strange Loop.” Jackson’s blisteringly funny show exposes the heart and soul of Usher, a young artist grappling with desires, identity and instincts he loves and loathes in equal measure. While tolerating a grinding job guiding families in and out of theater performances, the Black queer writer’s inner thoughts turn to an artistic endeavor: writing a musical about a Black, queer writer writing a musical about a Black, queer writer. Hobbled by negative self-talk and hell-bent on breaking free from it, Usher wrestles with his thoughts (portrayed by a cast of talented actors) in an attempt to move past this “strange loop.” Malden resident Davron Monroe performs alongside castmates Kai Clifton (who plays Symphony and Houston Ebony Opera Guild. He is a Professor of Voice at Berklee College of Music. Full cast bios can be found at https://speakeasystage.com/ shows/2024/04/a-strange-loop/ “A Strange Loop” is directed Malden resident Davron Monroe will perform in an award-winning musical. (Courtesy of SpeakEasy Stage) Usher), Grant Evan, De’Lon Grant, Jonathan Melo, Zion Middleton and Aaron Michael Ray. Davron Monroe returns to SpeakEasy having previously appeared in “Once on This Island,” “Songs for a New World” and “The View UpStairs.” Davron’s many other play appearances include “Breath & Imagination” (Elliot Norton Award winner). Davron has also appeared with the Boston Landmarks Orchestra, South Florida by award-winning actor, director and educator Maurice Emmanuel Parent, who is co-Producing Artistic Director for the Porch. Other members of the “A Strange Loop” creative team include music director/conductor David Freeman Coleman, choreographer Taavon Gamble, intimacy director Greg Geff rard and assistant intimacy director Phoebe Gonzalez. The design team is Jon Savage (scenic design), Brian J. Lilienthal (lighting), Becca Jewett (costumes), David Remedios (sound) and Emme Shaw (props). The production stage manager is Elizabeth Ramirez. When: April 26–May 25, 2024; Wednesday/Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 & 8 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m. A Strange Loop Additional performance: Thursday, May 23, at 2 p.m. The estimated run time is one hour, 40 minutes with no intermission. Where: Virginia Wimberly Theatre in the Stanford Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont St. (between Berkeley and Clarendon Streets in Boston's South End). Tickets start at $25, with discounts for students, seniors, veterans and people under 35. Tickets and more information are available online at BostonTheatreScene.com, by phone at 617-933-8600 or in person at the Calderwood Pavilion Box Offi ce at 527 Tremont St. in Boston. About the show’s creator: Michael R. Jackson (book, music & lyrics) was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2022. For his work on “A Strange Loop,” he won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2022 Tony Award for Best Musical. For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@ advocatenews.net
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