Website About Face Theatre + Raven Theatre
Looking for AEA and Non-Equity actors for the Midwest Premiere of A Strange Loop by Michael R. Jackson, Directed by Mikael Burke, Co=Produced by About Face Theatre and Raven Theatre.
Usher is a Black, queer playwright who spends his days working as an usher on Broadway. He spends his nights struggling to write an original musical about a Black, queer playwright who spends his days working as an usher on Broadway. Lines blur, thoughts intrude, and soon he finds himself wrestling to break free from a very strange creative loop.
This blistering, groundbreaking, Pulitzer Prize winning musical explores identity, race and sexuality through the lens of a young artist at war with a chorus of his own demons and inner voices on a journey towards understanding and self love.
Material to Prepare:
Please read the side and sing the song associated with the role you are auditioning for.
Materials are here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1HF9vMq_UwnpBHJcv6BOy73K01gDq0kvk?usp=drive_link
Submit your audition tapes here: https://airtable.com/app36inJPZmyZsdYX/shr9IeUVBtZB6AzDx
Time Commitment:
First rehearsal: Week of August 31, 2026
Tech begins week of September 23, 2026
Previews begin October 8, 2026
Opening October 14, 2026
Closing November 8, 2026
Potential Extension through December 6, 2026, on a weekly basis.
Performances are currently scheduled as Monday OR Wednesday, and Thursday through Saturdays at 7:30p and Sundays at 3:00p.
Venues: Rehearsals will take place either at About Face Theatre or Raven Theatre, all performances will take place at Raven Theatre.
Character Type/Restrictions:
USHER: Black, 20-26. Vocal Range: High Tenor (Eb 3-D5) Usher: A fat American Black gay man of high intelligence, low self-image, and deep feelings. He writes stories and songs and desperately wants to be heard. A musical theater writer and Broadway usher. This role includes scenes of sexual trauma.
Thoughts 1–6: A spectrum of bodies that are Usher’s perceptions of reality inside and out. They come in many shapes and sizes. But they are all Black. And they are as individual in expression as they are a unit:
THOUGHT #1: Black. Any age. Vocal Range: Mezzo-Soprano (C3-G5). Doubles several characters including but not limited to a Theatre Patron and Usher’s brother’s baby mama.
THOUGHT #2: Black. Any age. Vocal Range: Tenor (C3-Db5). Doubles several characters including but not limited to Usher’s Doctor and the first incarnation of Usher’s mother.
THOUGHT #3: Black. Any age. Vocal Range: High Tenor (C3-D5). Doubles several characters including but not limited to Agent Fairweather and Todrick.
THOUGHT #4: Black. Any age. Vocal Range: Bari-Tenor (G2-A4). Doubles several characters including but not limited to the final incarnation of Usher’s mother.
THOUGHT #5: Black. Any age. Vocal Range: Bass (E2-E4). Doubles several characters including but not limited to Joshlet and Usher’s Dad.
THOUGHT #6: Black. Any age. Vocal Range: Bass (E2 -E4). Doubles several characters including but not limited to the first incarnation of Usher’s Dad and Inwood Daddy. This role includes scenes of sexual
trauma.
NOTE: In reference to the character descriptions above - most characters we encounter currently are in the binary and are written with he/him or she/her pronouns. But however limiting the descriptions are, our casting seeks to be as inclusive as possible and we invite gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender and non-binary actors to submit for the roles they most identify with. We will also list race/ethnicity when specific to the character but are otherwise seeking all races and ethnicities. In addition, we will list disabilities when specific to a character but are otherwise seeking actors with disabilities as well as non-disabled actors for all roles. (Source: Emily Tarquin, Kevin Kantor and Marilee Talkington)
ALL ROLES WILL BE UNDERSTUDIED.
To apply for this job please visit airtable.com.