Stageworks Theatre is thrilled to bring this incredible story to our Garza Mainstage, running October 19-28, 2024. Tickets are now available*!
*Stageworks Off-Script production, not included in the standard season subscription.
Content Warning: This production contains strong, adult, and sexually explicit language as well as the portrayal of alcohol use on stage. It also contains potentially triggering content.
Discussions of sexual relationships with a minor, trauma, sexual abuse, physical and emotional abuse, heterosexism, sexual and gender slurs, drag, sexual innuendo, and body dysmorphia.
Story:
Hedwig and the Angry Inch centers on an East German transsexual who moves to America after a botched sex change operation.
As the show begins, Hedwig is performing in concert and recounting her life story: childhood abuse, a disastrous marriage to an American soldier and, after being plunked down alone in Kansas, a doomed romantic and songwriting partnership with a Christian teen who becomes a rock star.
Hedwig remains obsessed with this former love, Tommy Gnosis, and follows him on the road, accompanied by her loyal new husband, Yitzhak. By the end, our heroine embraces the fullness of her identity in one of the most electrifying scenes on Broadway. (Source: Broadway.com)
The musical elements are deeply influenced by the androgynous glam rock style of the 1970s, epitomized by David Bowie—who also co-produced the Los Angeles staging of the musical. The influences of John Lennon, as well as early punk icons Lou Reed and Iggy Pop, are also evident in the music.
Themes:
"Hedwig and the Angry Inch" addresses a variety of themes including:
identity
gender
love
loss
longing
self-acceptance/self-love
It explores the concept of the divided self and the search for wholeness, symbolized by the fall of the Berlin Wall and Hedwig's personal journey. The music and lyrics of the songs are integral to conveying these themes, weaving seamlessly with the narrative to present a cohesive and impactful piece of theater.
Music and Songs:
The music in "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" is a mix of rock, punk, and glam, reflecting the eclectic and individual nature of the protagonist. Some of the notable songs from the musical include:
"Wig in a Box"
"The Origin of Love"
"When Love Explodes"
"Wicked Little Town"
Meet Our Hedwig:
Matthew Brennan (he/him) is thrilled to be making his Stageworks debut in one of his favorite roles! National tours: A CHRISTMAS STORY
. Regional credits include: Marriott Lincolnshire, Drury Lane, The Goodman Theater, Bailiwick Rep, Rocky Mountain Rep, Derby Dinner Playhouse, Victoria/Human Race, Stage One, Circa ‘21, Candlelight, The Theater Building, and The Encore Musical Theatre Company. Favorite roles include: Bobby Child (CRAZY FOR YOU), The Balladeer/Lee Harvey Oswald (ASSASSINS), and The Baker (INTO THE WOODS). Matthew is also an award winning director and choreographer. Special thanks to Ryan and deep love and endless gratitude to my one and only Yitzhak, Nikki!
Awards:
The original production won a Village Voice Obie Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical.
The 2014 Broadway production received eight 2014 Tony Award nominations including:
Best Revival of a Musical
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Neil Patrick Harris)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Lena Hall)
Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Julian Crouch)
Best Costume Design of a Musical (Arianne Phillips)
Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Kevin Adams)
Best Sound Design of a Musical (Tim O'Heir)
Best Direction of a Musical
The production won four Tony Awards (tied with A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder for most awards in 2014):
Best Revival of a Musical
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Lena Hall
Best Actor in a Musical for Neil Patrick Harris
Impact & Legacy:
"Hedwig and the Angry Inch" has been lauded for its innovative storytelling, powerful music, and its nuanced and empathetic exploration of gender and identity. The show has cultivated a dedicated fan base and has had a significant impact on the representation of LGBTQ+ characters in musical theater. The 2014 Broadway revival, starring Neil Patrick Harris as Hedwig, garnered several Tony Awards, solidifying the musical's status as a modern classic in the world of musical theater.
The musical was also adapted into a film in 2001, directed by and starring John Cameron Mitchell, and it has continued to influence and inspire a new generation of theatergoers and creators.
Get Tickets Now!
Tickets are now on sale for Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Stageworks!
