Michael R Jackson’s A Strange Loop won two Tony Awards last night, including Best Musical, as Broadway toasted its return after two years of pandemic shutdown. A Strange Loop is already a Pulitzer winner, an acclaimed original production that Michael worked on for 20 years. As he said last night:

“I wrote it at a time when I didn’t know what I was going to do with my life. I didn’t know how I was going to move forward. I felt unseen. I felt unheard. I felt misunderstood, and I just wanted to create a little bit of a life raft for myself as a Black gay man.”

 

The title of A Strange Loop refers to its premise – the story follows Usher, a queer Black artist who is writing a musical about a queer Black artist who is writing a musical about a queer Black artist. It’s about struggle and self-doubt, identity and purpose, and prejudice and perseverance. This is high-concept, it took Michael a long time to figure it out and the final result is spectacular. He’s a multiple Tony Award winner now. And he showed up for this monumental career high in a glorious pink cloak, unmistakably seen and celebrated. 

A Strange Loop’s big win also made history for Jennifer Hudson, a co-producer of the show. She’s now added Tony to her Emmy, Grammy, and Oscar, which makes her officially an EGOT. 

 

JHud is now the youngest woman to EGOT. So here they are, Michael R Jackson and Jennifer Hudson side by side, on their triumphant night. 

Michael R. Jackson and Jennifer Hudson pose in the press room during the 75th Annual Tony Awards at 3 West Club on June 12, 2022 in New York City