TORONTO USHERS IN A BROADWAY WINNER - A STRANGE LOOP
Ushering in the Perfect Thought Even Before It Starts
It doesn’t happen often to me. In fact, this might be the first time I=ve been invited to and accepted a backstage sneak peek of an all-Black rehearsal. A Strange Loop, an award-winning Broadway musical, is what Toronto has been eagerly awaiting, and it is making its Canadian premiere later this month.
I was one of a half-dozen journalists to enter the expansive Distillery District’s Young Centre for the Performing Arts, taking folding chairs just a few feet from the cast in a rehearsal space earlier this week. What a trip! What an experience to get an early look at A Strange Loop, the Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical that is a collaboration among The Musical Stage Company, Soulpepper Theatre, Crow’s Theatre, and TO Live
“This is a musical that speaks to the Black community,” explains director Ray Hogg, a Toronto director with strong Jamaican roots. “Not just in the messaging but in the beauty of the music, dance, and the script by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Michael R. Jackson (not that one).”
Strange Loop follows a Black gay writer living in New York, grappling with his identity, self-worth, and desire to escape his personal struggles. As he navigates the complexities of his life, he faces a loop of self-referential thought, questioning his purpose and his place in the world. And man, can the musical’s Malachi McCaskill sing!
Sitting in front of the cast, I was bowled over by McCaskill’s presence. Easily over 6 feet tall and probably tipping the scales near 300 pounds, he towered over the six other singing cast members, which include Stratford veterans Marcus Nance and Amaka Umeh.
All the actors portray Usher, a Black, queer writer navigating his identity, creativity, and self-perception, but McCaskill is the standout. They all appear as “Thoughts,” aspects of the biggest Usher of them all. Even in rehearsal McCaskill owns the city with his voice and his movements.
The show is literally a “strange loop”—it’s about a guy writing a musical about a guy writing a musical. It is self-aware, loops back on itself, and breaks away from a straightforward story structure.
There are 18 songs in the original play, and American McCaskill, who performed as Usher in California in 2024, has an angelic yet powerful voice that brought tears to the rehearsal room.
All of the songs, from "Inner White Girl" to "Memories" (which we saw in rehearsal), come from a queer perspective, without apology or dilution.
Also present at the rehearsal was choreographer Rodney Diverlus. The Haitian-Canadian was pleased with the cast as they ran through two numbers.
“I’m getting near the finish line,” he told me. “This all started for me a year ago when I sat down with director Ray. The dancers are ready now, they own it. While we have both big and small numbers, I ask the audience to look closely at the smaller bits. This is a breathtaking musical at all levels. Don’t miss out—grab your tickets before they’re gone!”
A Strange Loop runs from April 22 to June 1 at Soulpepper Theatre. Presented by TO Live, The Musical Stage Company, Soulpepper Theatre, and Crow’s Theatre.
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