Taye Diggs & Stephen Trask Talk HEDWIG; Possible Star-Launching Revival In the Future

In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Broadway's newest HEDWIG, Taye Diggs, and the show's composer, Stephen Trask reflect on the Tony-winning musical as well as what's ahead for its future.

"I was the slowest of all the Hedwigs to memorize everything," reveals Diggs. "But I feel like something magical and spiritual happened, which is why I know I was supposed to do this at this time in my life."

He continues, "Before this role, I hated whenever actors talked about "the craft," and the character like it wasn't themselves: "Hedwig was crazy tonight!" It used to get on my nerves! But for the first time, I get it because I get onstage in the wardrobe, those heels, the accent, the movement, and - I can't believe I'm saying this shit - I'm like a vessel, only because I don't understand it, and I won't claim it. I learned how to surrender. I'm usually very practical and logical; if you want to appear more male, you stiffen your hips and shoulders. But I didn't do any of that, it just came - and it's fun! I feel like I'm watching myself - whoever this is, is working it out tonight!"

Speaking on the casting of Diggs as the first black Hedwig, Trask shares, "I like to see how the book changes from actor to actor, and I was actually concerned in this case because I didn't want anything overwritten to deal with the fact that our Hedwig was black. It didn't seem any need to make a big deal out of it from a textual perspective: "Your father was a black G.I.?" No, your father's an American G.I., whatever."

Diggs says that it is Hedwig's fearlessness that he admires most about the character. "How she throws herself at Luther, when she puts Tommy's hand between her legs, blowing the producer to get on a stage, for an audience she's never been in front of, and just kicking ass," he explains, adding "And then losing it and making that transformation - doing that in therapy is one thing, but she does that in front of everybody!

Asked what lessons he has learned from the revival, Trask offers, "Artistically, be yourself - I mean, go out and write my next thing as my authentic self. ... Sometimes I'll work on a musical, and people will say, "I want this and that number," and you start thinking, "I guess I should look at the rules." No, f- the rules. Just write as yourself. At the very least, it'll be true to you. And then, just do your best."

Looking to the future of 'Hedwig,' Trask believes it may be time for the next Hedwig to be someone people are not necessarily familiar with. He explains, "Not like casting someone out of nowhere, but theatergoers knew Alan Cumming was for Shakespeare and getting rave reviews, but then he did Cabaret. ... I don't think theater has produced a male celebrity of that level since, who came out as a well-respected actor who's suddenly in film and TV and had a fragrance, right? I think this show could do that for somebody, for the right person."

Read the interview in full here

Photo credit: Joan Marcus