“The fact that part of the show’s journey was in the back of the porn studio and then part of its journey is on a Broadway stage - only speaks to the big, Black and queerness of it all,” Jackson said. In the two decades leading up to snagging 11 Tony nominations, the play was workshopped in a gay porn studio in Manhattan. Jackson, a New York University graduate, said he started writing “A Strange Loop” in his early 20s as a monologue. “I think the hopelessness and hopefulness of it all is really beautiful.” Journey to Broadway “A lot of my religious trauma came up so I was definitely crying a lot,” she said. The show’s discussions about religion and sexuality hit close to home for her. “It looked so good I was like, ‘I’m going to be in New York, I have to come to see it,’” said Esan, 20. Most of the plays that have queer characters are based in whiteness.”Īnother audience member, Reni Esan, a college student in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, came to see the show after viewing a clip of a performance on TikTok. “It’s important for us to see ourselves in artistic work. “When I heard it was Black and gay, that was the most important thing to me,” said White, who is in his mid-30s. Devonta White of Harlem, who attended a performance of the show in early June, said it was exciting to see some of his experiences as a Black LGBTQ person displayed in a play.