Michael R. Jackson

It isn’t every day that a man builds a dream big enough to not only fill his own cup, but also pour into thousands of others. But with Broadway's A Strange Loop, a musical within a musical about a Black gay man trying to write a musical about a Black gay man, this Pulitzer Prize-winner has done just that. In 2022, the playwright, composer and lyricist won a coveted Tony Award for Best Musical for his eclectic masterpiece. But lest you think Jackson is an overnight sensation, let us remind you that it took him 20 years to achieve the kind of recognition he's now receiving for his passion project. Like any true visionary, Jackson trusted his gut and his talent to see him through, and in the process has inspired so many of us to do the same.