Michael R. Jackson

Michael R. Jackson is an American playwright, composer, and lyricist. He is originally from Detroit, Michigan, and holds a BFA in Playwriting and an MFA in Musical Theatre Writing from NYU Tisch School of the Arts.[1]

Michael R. Jackson
OccupationPlaywright, composer, and lyricist
NationalityAmerican
EducationTisch School of the Arts
Notable worksOnly Children, A Strange Loop
Notable awardsWhiting Award, Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Lambda Literary Award for Drama, Drama Desk Award, Obie Award

Career

Jackson wrote the book and lyrics for Only Children with composer Rachel Peters, which was presented at NYU's Frederick Loewe Theatre.[2] He also wrote lyrics and co-wrote book, with Anna K. Jacobs, for the musical adaptation of the 2007 indie film Teeth.[3] In 2019, his song cycle, The Kids on the Lawn, was published in The New York Times Magazine's culture issue. The issue, organized around the theme "America 2024," imagines what America will be like five years into the future.[4] Jackson's musical, A Strange Loop, received its world premiere at Playwrights Horizons in New York City in 2019.[5]

Awards and recognition

In 2017, Jackson received a Jonathan Larson Grant from the American Theatre Wing[6] and was one of 11 winners of the 2017 Lincoln Center Emerging Artist Award.[7] He was also a Sundance Theatre Institute Composer Fellow and a 2016–2017 Dramatist Guild Fellow. [8]

Jackson was named one of the "Black Male Writers for our Time" by The New York Times in 2018.[9] In 2019, he received a Whiting Award for drama and a Helen Merrill Award for Playwriting.[10][11] In 2020, Jackson was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for A Strange Loop, becoming the first black musical theatre writer to win the award.[12] He was also the winner of the Lambda Literary Award for Drama[13] and a Fred Ebb Award for aspiring musical theatre songwriters.[14] Additionally, Jackson received two Drama Desk Awards, two Obie Awards, two Outer Critics Circle Award Honors, and an Antonyo Award for Best Book for A Strange Loop.[15]

In June 2020, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the first LGBTQ Pride parade, Queerty named him among the fifty heroes “leading the nation toward equality, acceptance, and dignity for all people”.[16][17]

Personal life

Jackson studied at Cass Technical High School.[18] He is openly gay.[19]

References
  1. "Jonathan Larson Grant 2017 Recipient: Michael R. Jackson". American Theatre Wing.
  2. "Reading of Only Children Musical, Inspired By Spring Awakening, Set for Jan. 9". Playbill. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  3. "Michael R. Jackson". Whiting Foundation. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  4. "America 2024". The New York Times Style Magazine. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  5. "A Strange Loop". Playwrights Horizons. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  6. Viagas, Robert. "017 Jonathan Larson Grant Recipients Announced". Playbill.com.
  7. AMERICAN THEATRE EDITORS. "Lincoln Center Announces 2017 Emerging Artists". American Theatre Magazine.
  8. "Recipient: Michael R. Jackson". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  9. Mathis, Ayana. "Black Male Writers for Our Time". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  10. Dwyer, Colin. "'The Future Of Literature': Whiting Awards Celebrate 10 Emerging Writers". NPR. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  11. Clement, Olivia. "Michael R. Jackson, Aleshea Harris, and More Named 2019 Helen Merrill Award Winners". Playbill.com. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  12. https://www.americantheatre.org/2020/05/04/michael-r-jackson-wins-2020-drama-pulitzer-prize-for-a-strange-loop/
  13. Erin Vanderhoof, "The Winners of the 32nd Annual Lambda Literary Awards". Vanity Fair, June 1, 2020.
  14. Gans, Andrew. "Michael R. Jackson, Ben Bonnema and Christopher Staskel Named Winners of 16th Annual Fred Ebb Award". PlayBill.com. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  15. McPhee, Ryan. "Here Are the Winners of Broadway Black's Inaugural Antonyo Awards". PlayBill.com. PlayBill. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  16. "Queerty Pride50 2020 Honorees". Queerty. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  17. Gremore, Graham (2020-07-21). "These queer writers are giving voice to our diversity one word at a time". Queerty. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  18. Hinds, Julie. "Detroit native, Cass Tech alum Michael R. Jackson wins Pulitzer for off-Broadway musical". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  19. Vincentelli, Elisabeth (2019-07-14). "What Makes Michael R. Jackson Tick, and What Ticks Him Off". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
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