SAN FRANCISCO (March 25, 2024)—American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) and Center Theatre Group (CTG) announced that Gilead Sciences, Inc. has been named the Lead Production Sponsor of the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award–winning acclaimed musical, A Strange Loop, making its West Coast premiere at A.C.T.’s Toni Rembe Theater (415 Geary St., San Francisco) from Thursday, April 18 through Sunday, May 12, 2024 and then moving to Center Theatre Group’s Ahmanson Theatre (135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles) from Wednesday, June 5 through Sunday, June 30, 2024. Single tickets for the San Francisco engagement are on sale now by visiting act-sf.org/strangeloop. Single tickets for the Los Angeles engagement are on sale now by visiting ctgla.org/a-strange-loop.
“We are incredibly grateful to have the vital support of Gilead,” said Jennifer Bielstein, Executive Director at American Conservatory Theater. “Their contribution enables A.C.T. and CTG to elevate voices and celebrate the transformative synergy of art and science.”
“As a not-for-profit theatre organization, we share in Gilead’s belief in the power of art to help spread awareness and create change,” said Meghan Pressman, Center Theatre Group’s Managing Director/CEO. “We are thrilled they have joined CTG and A.C.T. with their support of A Strange Loop, a musical that’s timeliness is matched only by its artistic excellence.”
“At Gilead, we realize that it takes more than medicine to improve well-being for people,” said Alex Kalomparis, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at Gilead. “We are honored to partner with American Conservatory Theater and Center Theatre Group to leverage the power of storytelling to help break down stigma, discrimination, and other societal barriers affecting the well-being of our communities. Through our partnership we look to use the power of storytelling for education, changing hearts and attitudes, and in celebrating the Black LGBTQ+ community.”
Meet Usher: a Black, queer writer writing a musical about a Black, queer writer writing a musical about a Black, queer writer. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical, Michael R. Jackson’s Pulitzer Prize–winning, blisteringly funny masterwork exposes the heart and soul of a young artist grappling with desires, identity, and instincts he both loves and loathes. Hell-bent on breaking free of his own self-perception, Usher wrestles with the thoughts in his head, brought to life on stage by a hilarious, straight-shooting ensemble. Direct from Broadway and the West End to San Francisco, A Strange Loop is the big, Black, and queer-ass Great American Musical for all!
The cast of A Strange Loop includes (in alphabetical order): Dave J. Abrams (Understudy, Thought 2 & 3), Angela Alise (Understudy, Thought 1), Jordan Barbour (Thought 5), J. Cameron Barnett (Thought 2), Carlis Shane Clark (Understudy, Thought 5 & 6), Alvis Green Jr. (Usher Alternate), Albert Hodge (Understudy, Thought 4), Avionce Hoyles (Thought 3), Tarra Conner Jones (Thought 1), Malachi McCaskill (Usher), Jamari Johnson Williams (Thought 6), and Tony Award nominee John-Andrew Morrison (Thought 4).
A Strange Loop features book, music, and lyrics by Michael R. Jackson. Members of the show’s Broadway creative team will join the West Coast engagements. They include Tony Award nominee Stephen Brackett (Director), Raja Feather Kelly (Choreography), Tony award nominee Arnulfo Maldonado (Scenic Design), Montana Levi Blanco (Costume Design), Tony Award nominee Drew Levy (Sound Design), Tony Award nominee Jen Schreiver (Lighting Design), Aaron Tacy (Associate Lighting Design), Candace Taylor (Associate Choreography), Cookie Jordan (Hair, Wig, and Makeup Design), Chelsea Pace (Intimacy), and The Telsey Office / Destiny Lilly, CSA (Casting).
Rounding out the creative team are Nailah Harper-Malveaux (Associate Director), Sean Kana (Music Director), David Möschler (Associate Music Director), Randy Cohen (Keyboard Programmer), Edmond O’Neal (Production Stage Manager), Julia Formanek (Assistant Stage Manager), and Camella Coopilton (Assistant Stage Manager).
A Strange Loop made its world premiere at Playwrights Horizons in May 2019. In December 2021, the show had a critically acclaimed run at Washington D.C.’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company prior to coming to Broadway in spring 2022. A Strange Loop won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and was the recipient of 11 Tony Award nominations, the most of any show in 2022. The production took home the Tony Award for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical. A Strange Loop was also named Best Musical by New York Drama Critics’ Circle, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, and Off-Broadway Alliance. A Strange Loop recently played a limited 12-week engagement at London’s Barbican Theatre.
Lead Production Sponsor: Gilead Sciences, Inc.
A special thank you to A.C.T.’s A Strange Loop Production Sponsors: Paul Asente and Ron Jenks; Jesse Lee Eller, Studio 5 – Learning and Development, Inc.; John L. Garfinkle; Kirke and Nancy Sawyer Hasson; Linda and Frank Kurtz; Donald J. and Toni Ratner Miller; Michelle Shonk; and one Anonymous supporter.
A.C.T. gratefully acknowledges its Season Presenters Barbara Bass Bakar; Stephen Davis and Jill Cowan; Jerome L. and Thao N. Dodson; Kathleen Donohue and David Sze; Priscilla and Keith Geeslin; Arjay R. and Frances F. Miller Foundation; Barbara Ravizza** and John S. Osterweis; Toni Rembe and Arthur Rock; Robina Riccitiello; Mary and Steven Swig; and one Anonymous supporter; and Company Sponsors Lily Chu and Daniel Sturman; Ray and Dagmar Dolby Fund; Linda Jo Fitz; Jo S. Hurley; Fred M. Levin in honor of Nancy Livingston Levin, The Shenson Foundation; John Little and Heather Stallings Little; The Marymor Family Fund; Deedee McMurtry; Donald J. and Toni Ratner Miller; Patti and Rusty Rueff; Kay Yun and Andre Neumann-Loreck; and one Anonymous supporter.
**in memoriam
Additional support provided by San Francisco Grants for the Arts and The Shubert Foundation.
Official Hotel Partner: Westin St. Francis
