Michael R. Jackson’s “A Strange Loop” received more Tony nominations than any other show in Broadway’s 2021-22 season, but Tony voters are a fickle lot. Recall what happened to Jeremy O. Harris’ “Slave Play” last year. Nominated for 12 awards, a record for a drama, the production went home empty-handed.
That didn’t happen at Sunday’s Tony Awards, but it seemed a case of deja vu until late in the show when Jackson won for book of a musical. True redemption, however, came at the very end when “A Strange Loop” took home the evening’s biggest prize, best musical.
This victory is significant not only because this unapologetically Black, queer musical (winner of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for drama) is a stunning artistic achievement. The show represents a breakthrough for what kind of stories can be successfully presented on Broadway stages.
