Michael R. Jackson, The Creator Of ‘A Strange Loop,’ Has Been Awarded The ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award.

The ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award was presented to playwright, composer, and lyricist Michael R. Jackson, creator of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical A Strange Loop.

Mary Rodgers and the Rodgers Family Foundation support the annual award, which is awarded to promote promising new ASCAP composers of musical theatre. Lin-Manuel Miranda, Pasek & Paul, and David Hein & Irene Sankoff are among the previous awardees (Come From Away).

In a statement, Williams said, “Michael R. Jackson is a brave storyteller whose exceptional work is a gift to viewers and the creative community.” “We are delighted to have him as a member of our ASCAP family and are delighted for him to receive this well-deserved honour.”

“It has been a cruel, lonely time to believe in making work for the sake of doing art in a cultural milieu where so many have mistaken activism and/or being a clever businessperson with artistry,” Jackson said in a statement. “However, doing art for the purpose of making art has been the one life raft I’ve had since 23-year-old me first put pen to paper to start composing A Strange Loop.” “Receiving the ASCAP Richard Rodgers Award is very meaningful to me and provides me with a much-needed second wind to keep paddling the treacherous high seas,” Jackson stated.

A Strange Loop got 11 Tony nominations and two wins, including best musical and best book of a musical for Jackson.

Jackson will be a part of The ASCAP Experience for “The Making of a Groundbreaking Black Queer Musical” in 2020. The interview with Kobalt Music’s Sue Drew on the making of A Strange Loop is now accessible on @ASCAP YouTube.

The ASCAP Foundation, founded in 1975, is a philanthropic organisation dedicated to supporting and fostering the development of American music producers through music education, talent development, and humanitarian projects.

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