Neil Patrick Harris Talks Trading in Barney Stinson's Rack of Suits for Hedwig's Shelf of Wigs

If Neil Patrick Harris signing on to star in the upcoming Broadway production of John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask's Hedwig and the Angry Inch proves anything, it's his versatility.

The DOOGIE HOWSER turned Broadway turned How I Met Your Mother star recently spoke with USA Weekend about taking on the role of Hedwig on the Great White Way in the Spring of 2014, and what it means for him, as well as his career.

"HEDWIG is an Iggy Pop/David Bowie-ish rock monologue about a transgendered East German who is telling her story of how she came to be, through incredible songs," Harris explained to the publication. "Hedwig is a woman, so I've got to learn to walk in heels. The 'angry inch' refers to a botched surgery that left her of an indeterminate sex."

Trading in the signature suit of HIMYM's Barney Stinson for Hedwig's shelf of wigs isn't a bad thing, Harris assures, proud of the variety of roles he's taken on over his career.

"Frat boys think I'm one person," he said. "Theater geeks think I'm another. Internet bloggers think I'm a third. I'm very happy with how many different demographics I've been able to hold onto."

For USA Today's full interview with Harris, click here.

HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH will be produced on Broadway by David Binder and Jayne Baron Sherman. 101 Productions, Ltd are the executive producers. Michael Mayer will direct the upcoming production, set to open in the spring.

The cult musical comedy about a fictional rock and roll band fronted by a transgender singer played by Neil Patrick Harris, began off off Broadway at Westbeth and then ran over two years at the Jane Street Theatre beginning in February 1998. The musical won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical and both John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask won Obies. Rolling Stone called it "the Best Rock Musical Ever" in 2001. It won a 1998 New York Magazine Award and Entertainment Weekly's "Soundtrack of the Year" Award. Time Magazine named HEDWIG the Top Musical of 1998.

The underground success of the stage show later led to a film adaptation of Hedwig and the Angry Inch directed by Mitchell, which won the Audience Award and Best Director Awards at Sundance. John Cameron Mitchell won the Best New Director from the National Board of Review, the Gotham Awards, and the LA Critics Society. Stage productions have played for many years in Japan and in 2008, Korea hosted a popular televised Reality Show about the search for a new star to play 'Hedwig.'

Photo by Walter McBride