From concert to musical and now film, "Passing Strange" is like no other performance. The highly acclaimed, semi-autobiographical Broadway rock musical is about a young Black musician who rebels against his middle-class upbringing in search of his personal and artistic identity. In the hands of über-director Spike Lee, the project is now a movie with an independent beat. The musical's singer-songwriter Stew breaks down the making of the film, what it was like working with Spike Lee, and how he hopes to inspire. 

ESSENCE.COM: When did you develop the idea for "Passing Strange?"
STEW: It started off as a concert show in its complete embryonic form where I was talking about my travels. Then, I was commissioned by The Public Theater to turn it into a musical. My collaborator Heidi Rodewald, the director Annie Dorsen and myself went to various workshops to develop it, including the Sundance Institute. After that we performed at the Berkeley Repertory Theater and the Public Theater in New York, then it transferred to Broadway.

ESSENCE.COM: How did Spike get involved?
STEW: He saw it at the Public Theater. I think he discovered it before it was closing and just came a whole bunch of times and brought his friends. He sent us gigantic bottles of champagne and would come backstage. But there was never a "Hey, I'll have your people call my people." And, I'm glad there wasn't because I hate when people just talk and don't do anything. He was a lot cooler; he waited until there was an opportunity. When there were talks about a film, he was the obvious person. We didn't have a second or third choice. We knew the only thing to stop him was if he had a serious time conflict because we were confident that he was in our corner artistically.

ESSENCE.COM: In making this project happen, would you say there was an instant connection with Spike?
STEW: We share a lot of similarities: we're Black men of a similar age, we grew up with the exact same cultural references, we dealt with the pressures of growing up in the Black middle class where sometimes people will try to put you in a box. I mean, folks thought he was crazy when he wanted to be a filmmaker and the same with me when I wanted to be a musician. I grew up with my strong Black female teachers who thought I had to become a lawyer or doctor or else I was doing MLK wrong.

ESSENCE.COM: Did you ever feel territorial when making the film?
STEW: He was very respectful and we respected his vision as an artist. It was a perfect marriage. I would've trusted him if he wanted to make changes. And really, the changes he asked for were incredibly small things but they made a big impact. I felt totally confident to say this is his movie, his vision. I‘m proud that we have this hybrid and it was all love and there were no egos. We laugh about this, but in this world, how often do two brothers from different worlds get to freak it this way? I always tell him that he made a Spike Lee joint of my play and that doesn't take anything away from me.

ESSENCE.COM: With so much excitement on stage with the music and interaction of actors, did the cameras ever bother you?
STEW: Let me put it this way: when you know you're looking good and someone pulls out a camera, does that bother you? No, right? (Laughs). You're like where are the other cameras, bring out all 15 and get me from all angles. We knew our show. We were family and no one was trying to overshadow anybody. We were doing our show and it was getting documented. It was wonderful.

ESSENCE.COM: What do you hope that a young kid in Brooklyn or Compton takes away from this film?
STEW: This story is universal, but at the same time it's important for all people of color to know that they have alternatives. Sometimes we get so locked in our own world because we feel that the outer world doesn't want to deal with us but we forget that our world also presents certain limitations. We need to get out there and check out what's happening, read different things. I want people to watch [this movie] and be able to dream. That is where it starts.

"Passing Strange" opens on Friday, August 21, at New York's IFC Center and  nationwide on, Wednesday, August 26.