A couple of days ago, a clip surfaced on comedian and talk show host Trevor Noah’s YouTube channel titled ‘A Big, Black and Queer-Ass American Broadway Show’ featuring Michael R. Jackson, and there could not have been a more apt title to describe his play A Strange Loop.
This also comes very close to describing who Michael is. He is an American Black Gay man who is one of the forces responsible for changing the face of Broadway. An adept composer, playwright, and lyricist, there can be no doubts raised about Michael’s creative prowess.
Michael is responsible for co-writing the book as well as the lyrics for Only Children with Rachel Peters. He also penned down the lyrics for the musical adaptation of the 2007 released indie film Teeth. In 2019, The New York Times Magazine published his song cycle The Kid on the lawn in their cultural issue, whose theme was ‘America 2024, an insight into America in the year 2024.
His tour de force musical won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for drama and a Tony Award in the Best Musical Category in 2020. The play, which made its debut in New York City’s Playwrights Horizon in 2019, opened on Broadway in 2022.
What was Michael R. Jackson’s early life like?
Jackson was born on 26th January 1981 in Detroit, Michigan, United States. He completed his schooling at Cass Technical High School. He attended the prestigious New York University from where he earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Fine Arts. This also opened the doors for him to pursue his illustrious career as a playwright. Jackson is an openly gay man and a strong representative of the LGBTQ+ community globally given the power of his art that has reached millions.
What are the achievements and accolades of this lyrical genius?
Jackson is no stranger to awards and recognitions. He received the Jonathan Larson Grant from the American Theatre Wing in 2019. He was a Sundance Theater Institute Composer Fellow. In 2018, The New York Times listed him as one of the best ‘Black Male Writers for our Time’. He received the Whiting Award (drama) as well as a Helen Merrill Award (playwriting) in 2019. He became the first black musical theater writer to win a Pulitzer Prize for Drama with his work A Strange Loop. He is also a recipient of the Lambda Literary Award for drama and the Fred Ebb Award for musical theatre songwriter.
In addition to the aforementioned accolades, he is also a recipient of 2 Drama Desk Awards, 2 Outer Critics Circle Award Honors, 2 Obie Awards, and an Anthony Award in the Best Book category for A Strange Loop. A Strange Loop was nominated for as many as 11 Awards at the 75th Tony Award Ceremony eventually winning the big prizes in the Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical category.
As a prominent face of the LGBTQ+ community, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the LGBTQ pride parade in 2020, he was named by Queerty as one of the 50 heroes that is leading the nation towards equality, acceptance, and dignity for all.
He was awarded the Windham-Campbell Literature Prize in the drama category in 2021.
What are the effects of Michael R. Jackson’s prolific portfolio on his earnings?
It is natural that someone as prolific as Michael R. Jackson would make a large sum of money for his involvement in projects, especially since the Pulitzer and Tony Awards have only increased his professional value. However, the exact estimation of the playwright and lyricist’s wealth remains undisclosed, but it is safe to assume that with a work portfolio as elaborate as his including musicals and writing books, it can be assumed to be a substantial amount.