From the WHYY in Philadelphia, I'm Terry Gross with Fresh Air Weekend.

The musical is Strange Loop when this year's Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Book

for a Musical.

Today, we talk with Michael R. Jackson, who wrote the book and the songs.

He's a Black, Gay, Musical Theatre writer who started writing a Strange Loop while working

as an usher for the Broadway show The Lion King.

His musical is about a Black, Gay, Musical Theatre writer who works as an usher and is

writing a musical about an usher.

Also we talk with the head writer of the Marvel TV series, Ms. Marvel, Bishikai Ali.

Ms. Marvel is the first Muslim superhero in the Marvel Universe to star in a comic

and in a TV series.

And Marine Cargain recommends a new novel about class, competition, and the magic of art.

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The show that won this year's Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Book for a Musical

was written and composed by my guest Michael R. Jackson.

One of the cast members became the first trans person to be nominated for a Tony.

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