“Passing Strange,” which runs April 6-May 15 at Salt Lake Acting Company, tells the story of a Black artist named Youth and his journey of self-discovery. Its songs move from rock to gospel to punk, stretching the notions of what a stage musical can be.
“Passing Strange,” a genre-defying production that has some roots in Utah, debuts at Salt Lake Acting Company.
The story tells of a Black artist named Youth, and his journey of self-discovery. Its songs move from rock to gospel to punk, stretching the notions of what a stage musical can be. Seeing the show, full of powerful Black women yelling and breaking things, “literally gave me the permission to exist in this world as myself without being apologetic for the kinds of things that I like as just a human being and as a Black woman.”
It’s an “unfortunate” experience a lot of BIPOC artists in the community go through, Cameron said: “Being shut down before they’re even heard.” Bluford said he feels like after a long journey, he’s just now “coming into fruition of trying to figure out where I am, who I am, and where I sit — especially in Utah.”
“It feels like a piece that should be heard and seen,” he said, “and I felt like I could lend some type of artistry to the storytelling on the show.” After the “be here” breathing exercise, Underwood talks to the actors — addressing each as “my friend.” One actor has suffered a slight injury, and Underwood takes the time to address this, asking what he’s comfortable doing in that day’s rehearsal. Underwood, the rest of the cast and the actor adjust accordingly.
Palmer, who’s originally from just outside Chicago, said it’s the third all-Black production in which he’s ever been involved. Underwood said it’s his second, and it’s a first for both Cameron and Bluford. Youth longs to escape from the stifling church community in which his mother has him involved. For Underwood, who grew up in the Baptist church, that resonates.
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