‘A Strange Loop’ @ Circle Theatre
Photos by TayStan Photography
—Rickey Wax
What happens when a Black queer writer attempts to write a musical about a Black queer writer who is writing a musical about a Black queer writer? You get A Strange Loop—a dizzying, blisteringly funny, soul-scraping spiral of identity, doubt, and gospel-funk existentialism, currently onstage at Circle Theatre in Fort Worth. And yes, it’s exactly as chaotic, clever, and cathartic as it sounds.
This is the second offering in the “Black Broadway Summer” initiative—a triad of productions from DFW companies spotlighting the genius of Black voices. Circle Theatre, never one to shy away from the bold, hosts the regional premiere of this Pulitzer Prize–winning work by Michael R. Jackson with enough flair to make your inner saboteur feel seen, judged, hugged, and choreographed. Director vickie washington steers the chaos with grace.
At the center of the maelstrom is Usher (played with emotional agility by Kiba Walker), an usher at a Broadway theater who is, in his spare time, attempting to write a musical about himself. All the while, he is bombarded by six personified “Thoughts” who embody everything from his sexual insecurities to his gospel-loving, Tyler Perry–obsessed mother. It’s part therapy session, part fever dream, and part roast—of himself, of society, of anyone who has ever said “just write something more marketable.”
Kiba Walker’s performance is an emotional excavation. Whether sheepishly dodging the Thought chorus or belting his own inner monologue, he anchors the chaos with real pathos. His emo bang, “Save the Dolls” graphic tee, skinny jeans, and plaid shirt suggest someone who’s self-aware but also quietly unraveling. It’s costume as character study, and it works.
The ensemble of Thoughts—Kris Black Jasper, Darius-Anthony Robison, Landon Blanton, J. Dontray Davis, Quintin Jones Jr., and Logan Rhys—function like a hilarious Greek chorus fed on TikTok and trauma. Dressed in flowy, monochromatic creams and earth tones by costume designer Kiera Powers, they morph into lovers, haters, parents, and trolls, with such precision you’d think Circle had summoned six separate casts from six separate dimensions.
Scenic designer Brian Pacelli transforms the thrust stage into a surreal, pastel-toned jungle gym of sliding cubes and platforms that feel as if they were borrowed from a very gay, very introspective version of Tetris. The blocks are rearranged constantly, mirroring Usher’s attempts to structure his messy reality into a clean narrative. Spoiler: it never stays clean for long.
Aaron Johansen’s lighting design pulses with anxiety and ecstasy in equal measures, while Kiandra Brooks’ choreography utilizes space with moves that alternate between Broadway bravado and a gospel choir. One minute the Thoughts are voguing through trauma, the next they’re frozen mid-judgment, side-eyeing Usher (and, by extension, us) with unsettling accuracy.
Jackson’s score punches through traditional Broadway polish. Songs like “Exile in Gayville” and “We Wanna Know” manage to be hilarious and devastating at once. You’ll laugh, but then immediately question whether you were supposed to. That’s the loop. It’s not just strange—it’s strategic.
A Strange Loop is what happens when a musical stops trying to please and instead tells the truth, raw and uncensored. Circle Theatre delivers it with brains, guts, and a wicked sense of humor. It’s loud, layered, unapologetically Black, defiantly queer, and hilariously uncomfortable in all the right places. If you’ve ever battled your own inner critics—or better yet, turned them into art—this one’s for you.
And if not? Well, welcome to someone else’s loop. The least you can do is listen.
WHEN: June 19--July 12, 2025
WHERE: Circle Theatre, 230 W 4th Street, Fort Worth
WEB: www.circletheatre.com
