Deaf theater companies co-produce fresh staging of ‘A Strange Loop’

Visionaries of the Creative Arts (VOCA) and Deaf Austin Theatre (DAT)’s historic collaboration and co-production of A Strange Loop, the Tony Award-winning musical by Michael R. Jackson, will open in Washington, DC this month. A Strange Loop runs July 23 – August 10, 2025 at the Sprenger Theatre at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. Tickets start at $29.25 and are on sale now at vocarts.org/2025-strange-loop.

This innovative co-production marks the first time two Deaf theater companies in the United States have joined forces to stage a performance, bringing a fresh perspective to Jackson’s critically acclaimed work. A Strange Loop will be performed by a company of Deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing artists in ASL and spoken/sung English.

Directed and choreographed by Alexandria Wailes with Stanley Bahorek as Associate Director and Music Supervisor, A Strange Loop will be co-produced by VOCA and DAT with productions to be mounted in both Washington, DC and Austin, TX this summer.

“I’m thrilled to bring A Strange Loop back to the DC theater scene — this time through a powerful Deaf BIPOC lens,” said VOCA Artistic Director Michelle Banks. “This reimagined production will celebrate our culture and community by presenting the show in a fully bilingual format, blending Spoken English and American Sign Language (ASL). It’s more than a performance; it’s a communal experience that centers Deaf artistry, intersectional identity, and the brilliance of Black and queer expression.”

Casting includes Gabriel Silva as Usher; Tyler “T” Lang as Voice of Usher; Mervin Primeaux O’Bryant as Thought 1; ELLISON K. as Thought 2; Malik Paris as Thought 3; Damien DeShaun Smith as Thought 4; Wade Green as Thought 5; Jeremy Rashad Brown as Thought 6; and deaf swing Elbert Joseph and hearing swing Terrence Berry.

Additional production team for A Strange Loop features director of artistic sign language (DASL) by Kailyn Aaron-Lozano, music direction by Walter “Bobby” McCoy, set design by Jessica Trementozzi, costumes by Isabelle Fields, lighting design by Helen Garcia-Alton, projection design by Julian Kelley, sound design by Kevin Alexander, caption design by Andres Poch, and intimacy direction by Emily Sucher.

Originally produced Off-Broadway in 2019, A Strange Loop premiered on Broadway in April 2022, winning Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical at the 75th Tony Awards. A Strange Loop follows Usher, a Black queer man writing a musical about a Black queer man writing a musical. 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. The Pulitzer Prize-winning musical is renowned for its raw, incisive humor and its deep dive into identity, self-perception, and artistic struggle.

“This collaborative partnership is a significant opportunity for us to elevate the representation and raise awareness of the talents of Black Deaf individuals in musical theater,” agreed Banks and DAT Artistic Director Dr. Brian Cheslik.

A Strange Loop, presented by Visionaries of the Creative Arts and Deaf Austin Theatre, runs July 23-August 10, 2025 in the Sprenger Theatre at Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St NE, Washington, DC. Tickets range from $29.25-$45.25 (fees included) and are on sale now at vocarts.org/2025-strange-loop.

About the Directing Team

Alexandria Wailes: Direction and Choreography: A Not So Quiet Nocturne, Once on This Island, Spring Awakening (co-dir.), Deaf Spotlight’s 2023 Short Play Festival. Acting: Broadway: for colored girls, Spring Awakening, Big River. Off-Broadway/Regional: for colored girls, I Was Most Alive with You, Oedipus, Our Town. TV: CW’s The Flash, Little America, High Maintenance. DASL: Broadway: King Lear, Children of a Lesser God. Regional: Private Jones. www.alexandriawailes.com

Stanley Bahorek: Producing: co-founder MindsEyeProducing.com; Charles Mee’s soot and spit; Sheila and Redemption Story by The Associates, and the film Sign. Acting: Broadway’s Spelling Bee, Amazing Grace, Company. Off-Broadway: See Rock City, Queen of the Mist, February House, etc. TV: Master of None. Teaching: Princeton, AMDA. Currently: Community Engagement and Development, Georgetown University. Education: BFA University of Michigan, MA Baruch College.

About Deaf Austin Theatre (DAT)
Deaf Austin Theatre (DAT) is dedicated to creating compelling and inclusive theatrical experiences that celebrate Deaf culture and the Deaf community. Under the artistic direction of Dr. Brian Cheslik, DAT has become a leading force in expanding the representation of Deaf artists on stage. For more information visit deafaustintheatre.org.

About Visionaries of the Creative Arts (VOCA)
Visionaries of the Creative Arts (VOCA) is a renowned theater company committed to innovative storytelling and creative exploration. Artistic Director Michelle Banks has led VOCA in producing transformative performances that push boundaries and engage diverse audiences. For more information visit vocarts.org.