Tony-award winning “Passing Strange” is a rock musical that explores the journey of Youth, the main character, as he runs from his upbringing in a Black, middle-class family in Los Angeles to Europe in search of his true self, delving into the tension between conservative Black middle-class values and the desire for authenticity and self-expression, highlighting the ridicule and struggle faced by those who don’t conform.
In this article, the play’s director, Thomas W. Jones II, explains his thoughts on the play’s themes, and the role of music as a source of revelation and salvation, providing a connection to one’s truth.
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