![\"\"](\"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/PASSING-STRANGE_Britton-Smith-Ty-Taylor-and-Tanerelle_Photo-by-Jeff-Lorch-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a>(L-R) Britton Smith, Ty Taylor, and Tanerelle. Photo by Jeff Lorch, as is the one above.<\/p><\/div>\n
That being said, it was a little yin-and-yang for me, even though I\u2019m a hip-hop chick from way back. Of course, I recognize that it is a really excellent production, but thanks to the embarrassment of riches that the Pasadena Playhouse offers us, their recent production of Mexodus<\/em> has sort-of ruined all other rock musicals for me. I couldn\u2019t help but keep comparing the two, and since, as I wrote in my review of Mexodus<\/em>, it\u2019s \u201cquite possibly the best show I\u2019ve ever seen!,\u201d Passing Strange<\/em> pales a smidge \u00a0in comparison for me. However, since Passing Strange<\/em> came first, it was the trailblazer for all the rest of the modern musicals, including Hamilton<\/em>, so kudos to them for that unique accomplishment. (Nygel D. Robinson from Mexodus<\/em> even did a heartfelt social media promo for this<\/em> show, which you can see right here: www.facebook.com\/reel\/2016673582356859<\/a>.)<\/p>\n Taken on its own virtues, (if you\u2019ve never seen the other one, or are not prone to comparisons, as I<\/em> am,) Passing Strange<\/em> is non-stop high quality. And I thank the Playhouse for introducing me to both<\/em> musicals. (My friend Ketty loved<\/em> it! More on her thoughts in a minute. Much<\/em> more.)<\/p>\n I\u2019m impressed with the tons of work that went into Passing Strange<\/em>\u2014the concept to begin with; the writing of it, (which won the Tony for Best Book of a Musical); all the music; then producing it all; and finding top-notch singers who are also touching and<\/em> funny actors because there is lots of humor in the work. And now the Pasadena Playhouse team is doing it all again two decades later here in LA. On top of all that, the show is so hip that it looks like it was just written in the past couple of years!<\/p>\n And any presentation that is so admired by my fellow Brooklynite, Spike Lee, is good enough for me. He loved the musical sooo much that when he saw it on Broadway in 2008, he then filmed it as is and released it as a movie! Before the Pasadena Playhouse presentation on Opening Night, its young director, Zhailon Levingston, (who won a Tony in June for Cats: The Jellicle Ball<\/em>,) was introduced from the audience by the theatre\u2019s Producing Artistic Director, Danny Feldman, who told us that Zhailon had seen this film as a youngster, and it positively affected his view of what a musical can be. And now here he is, directing the first-ever LA production of the show! I love that!<\/p>\n Britton Smith. Photo by Jeff Lorch.<\/p><\/div>\n Passing Strange<\/em> is the semi-autobiographical tale of a real-life musician named Stew, (who is now a *Professor of the Practice of Musical Theater Writing at Harvard University! Very impressive.) It takes us from his teenage years in South Central Los Angeles through his time in Europe and then his emotional trip back home. There\u2019s the young Stew, (who is labeled \u201cYouth,\u201d) his mom, four other actors playing multiple roles, and the all-important Narrator who is actually the grown-up \u201cStew,\u201d looking back on that time in his life. And there are two musicians on each side of the stage. It\u2019s all so well-done. Not a weakness or hole in any of it! (On Opening Night, the mother even tripped getting off the back of the stage in her final scene, and, because we all heard the thump, the actress called-out, \u201cI\u2019m okay, everybody,\u201d to the audience\u2019s delight.) *[Note: The last credit on his Harvard introduction page is: \u201cStew is the composer of Gary Come<\/em> Home <\/em>of Sponge-Bob Squarepants<\/em> fame, which, honestly, is all anyone cares about anyway.\u201d Hilarious! You know I had to go listen to the song right away.]<\/p>\n Stew\u2019s journey actually made me envision my own<\/em> life as a musical, (as I\u2019m sure it does for many<\/em> audience members,) from growing-up in Brooklyn, to driving cross country as a teen to I didn\u2019t know where, to joining the circus, (my poor mother!,) to getting two degrees from my fourth college in Rhode Island, and back to LA. (But never really leaving Brooklyn in my heart.) And of course, I always went home to see my little mother through it all. (As opposed to Stew\u2019s, though, my<\/em> journey was all accidental. Don\u2019t ask.) But my music would have to be the very first piano book because I have zero musical talent; that\u2019s part of why musicians are absolute magic to me!<\/p>\n This Passing Strange<\/em> features such an accomplished cast. Everyone on that stage is incredibly talented. However, once again, Devere Rogers was the stand-out for me, just as he was when I reviewed The Peterson Show<\/em> about a month ago. And let me tell you\u2014that guy is not shy about getting almost naked on stage!!! I think I recognized his half-bare body<\/em> before I recognized his face<\/em>!<\/p>\n (L-R) Brittany Campbell, Devere Rogers, Britton Smith, Saycon Sengbloh, Tanerelle, and Johnny Laveie. Photo by Jeff Lorch.<\/p><\/div>\n And Ty Taylor, as the Narrator, has enough energy to light-up the whole city! I can see why he has a zillion credits to his name. I also admired the beautiful voice of Saycon Sengbloh, who plays the mother.<\/p>\n One important message that I took from Passing Strange<\/em> is: Be good to your mother! I could feel the real Stew\u2019s regret in that situation come through his writing loud and clear, without any dialogue to that effect. This made me appreciate that I went home all the time, especially when my mother was alone those last dozen years. I feel the whole show is a lesson to young \u2019uns. As someone who also ventured out on my own as a teenager, I totally understand a lot of what he went through in life. (Except for the drugs and indiscriminate sex, of course.) And because I was so in tune with my<\/em> mom, I really understand his<\/em> mother\u2019s point of view, as well.<\/p>\n Saycon Sengbloh. Photo by Jeff Lorch.<\/p><\/div>\n My pal Ketty felt that the show \u201cmoved, touched, and inspired the audience\u201d because it \u201cdeals with subject matters that society faces today.\u201d She added that the narrative gives us \u201call the different little insights and raw truths of the characters, and lessons they learned along the journey of life, such as being free to be authentic,\u201d while still trying to figure-out \u201cwho you really are.\u201d (Yeah, what she<\/em> said.)<\/p>\n As far as the actual music<\/em> goes, hearing such fabulous live music is always a pleasure. And this is superior. It\u2019s so good, in fact, that for once, I was not the only audience member who was bopping to it. The young-ish artist in front of me was rocking-out so hard that I thought he was going to have a heart attack!<\/p>\n But one thing I found, well, strange<\/em>, (and not in passing<\/em>,) is that, with all the accolades for this musical in the two decades of being around, I don\u2019t think any of the songs have become famous or popular. I could be wrong, but I\u2019ve never heard them before. I feel that the music is actually secondary to the story.<\/p>\n And, at over two and a half hours, it is waaaay too long, although it seemed like some of the audience wanted it to never end. It looks like a few songs were cut from the Broadway offering, so that\u2019s good. But the rousing song, It\u2019s All Right<\/em>, should really be the one to end Act I. Everyone in the audience I was with was up and dancing and happy at that point\u2014it was hard to sit back down and listen to a couple of slow songs, just so they can wrap-up the guy\u2019s time in one city before moving on to another location to open the second half. Just sayin\u2019.<\/p>\n On the flip side to the music, the writers of Passing Strange<\/em> came up with some brilliant lines. One is, \u201cIf it were any more real, it would be fiction,\u201d which is repeated throughout the show. Another is, \u201cI can\u2019t get too comfortable or I\u2019ll forget all the shit I have to complain about!\u201d What a great quote. And one that made the entire audience laugh knowingly, is, \u201cIt\u2019s not love if somebody has to change.\u201d I\u2019m sure that one will always be fodder for some big discussions when couples get home. And there\u2019s the sadly prophetic, \u201cLA is just death row with palm trees.\u201d That was written sometime between 2004 and 2008, and incredibly shamefully, that is sort-of the case here now for immigrants. (Don\u2019t get me started. Grrrr.)<\/p>\n Photo by Jeff Lorch.<\/p><\/div>\n One line that particularly resonated with me is, \u201cYour entire adult life is based on a decision you make as a teenager.\u201d The Narrator said that in one late sentence. I think he meant it as a negative, but for me, it\u2019s all positive. If I hadn\u2019t come out to LA as a teenager, my life would have been totally different. I\u2019m so grateful for that one crazy decision. I\u2019m sure we can all reflect on exactly that premise for ourselves, good or bad. It\u2019s sort-of the same message as the one in Robert Frost\u2019s The Road Not Taken<\/em>. Thank goodness that in my case, it worked out perfectly. It looks like it did for Stew, as well. I hope that all of you<\/em> can say the same thing for yourselves.<\/p>\n Passing Strange<\/em> running through November 29, 2026<\/strong> PASSING STRANGE The Opening Night audience of Passing Strange at the Pasadena Playhouse went absolutely nuts over this twenty-year-old Broadway musical! It was the most raucous, excited, appreciative audience ever, which was perfect for this super-high-energy show! The \u201cNarrator\u201d riles the crowd up before the curtain, which is soooo much fun, so do not be<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>
\nPasadena Playhouse 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena<\/strong>
\n626-356-7529 www.pasadenaplayhouse.org<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"