A STRANGE LOOP
SpeakEasy Stage Company
Choreography - Taavon Gamble
CAST
Kai Clifton as Usher
Grant Evan as Thought 1
De'Lon Grant as Thought 5
Jonathan Melo as Thought 3
Zion Middleton as Thought 6
Davron S. Monroe as Thought 2
Aaron Michael Ray as Thought 4
CREATIVE
DIrector - Maurice Emmanuel Parent
Scenic Design by John Savage
Costume Design by Becca Jewett
Lighting Design by Brian J. Lilienthal
Sound Design by David Remedios
Music Direction by David Freeman Coleman
Intimacy Direction by Greg Geffard
Props Design by Emme Shaw
Production Stage Manager - Elizabeth Yvette Ramirez
Stage Manager - Lauren J. Burke.
HARVARD CRIMSON - "The choreography by Taavon Gamble is also particularly delightful. Mimicking the internal spiral of Usher himself, the Thoughts dance in cycles of individualized dance moves, the movement loops defining the individual idiosyncrasies of each Thought while still preserving the sense that the Thoughts move as a singular overwhelming force.
Gamble’s choreography also flawlessly embraces the various styles of Jackson’s many songs. For example, when Usher sings about creating a “big, black and queer-ass American Broadway show,” the cast echoes his sentiment with dance moves that evoke traditional Golden-Age theatrical dance. Then, in “Exile in Gayville,” the Thoughts humorously mimic explicit sexual acts with the performative gusto imagined by a sexually frustrated Usher."
BROADWAYWORLD - "And while Disney and “The Lion King” get a good comedic poking, Tyler Perry is given a much rougher ride. Jackson’s edgier, more frank style is contrasted with Tyler’s patented gospel plays in a clever skewering – “Tyler Perry Writes Real Life” and “Writing a Gospel Play,” both cleverly choreographed by Taavon Gamble."
