DETROIT – Playwright, composer, lyricist and Detroit native Michael R. Jackson will be speaking at this year’s Arthur L. Johnson Urban Perspectives Series at Wayne State University on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 5:00pm. The event will be held in the new Hilberry Gateway, located on the northwest corner of Cass Ave. and Forest Ave. in Midtown Detroit.

Best known for his musical A Strange Loop, which won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2022 Tony Award for Best Musical, Jackson returns to his hometown to discuss his life and work in the arts, and his time growing up in Detroit and attending Cass Technical High School.

Jackson will be interviewed John Corvino, Dean of the Irvin D. Reid Honors College and professor of Philosophy at Wayne State University. The annual series is co-sponsored by the Irvin D. Reid Honors College and the Wayne State University Alumni Association.

“We are very excited to be bringing Michael R. Jackson to Wayne State,” said Corvino, “and especially excited to host him in our new Hilberry Gateway space. His work is groundbreaking, challenging, and inspiring—and I’m sure our conversation will be as well.”

This year’s Arthur L. Johnson Urban Perspectives Series is on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 5pm at the Hilberry Gateway, 4715 Cass Ave, Detroit, MI 48202. The event is free and open to the public. A reception will immediately follow the program.

Seating is limited. Those interested in attending the event are asked to RSVP at https://rsvp.wayne.edu/aljup-jackson-2023 or call 313-577-2300.

About the series: The Arthur L. Johnson Urban Perspectives Series began in 1992 and was named in honor of the civil rights leader and former WSU administrator upon his retirement. The series features distinguished corporate and civic leaders who speak on a wide range of important issues, from politics and business to law and the arts.