Taye Diggs Steps Into HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH Tonight

Taye Diggs takes over the title role in Broadway's HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH starting tonight, July 22, making his return to the Great White Way after a decade-long hiatus. Diggs will star in the acclaimed musical for a limited 12-week engagement. He takes over from Darren Criss, who just finished his run on July 19 at the Belasco Theatre.

Hedwig will mark Diggs' first New York stage role since the 2005 revival of A SOLDIER'S PLAY. This summer, he has been in production for the second season of Steven Bochco's crime drama "Murder in the First," which premiered last month on TNT. Recently, Diggs completed production on the musical comedy ONE SHOT, alongside Topher Grace. The film is about a failed star turned stage manager (Grace) who must wrangle the eccentric cast and crew of a new production to save the show's opening night. Diggs will play the role of Malcolm.

He made his Broadway debut in 1994 in the Tony Award-winning revival of CAROUSEL. Soon after, he landed the role of Benny in in the landmark musical RENT, a role he recreated in the 2005 film version. Diggs other New York stage credits include CHICAGO, WICKED, and Andrew Lippa's THE WILD PARTY. His many film and television credits include HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK, GO, CHICAGO, THE BEST MAN, its follow-up THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY, and six seasons on ABC's hit drama "Private Practice." In 2009, he was honored for his role with the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series at the 40th Annual NAACP Image Awards. Diggs has created memorable characters in multiple guest appearances on hit television shows including "Ally McBeal" "Will & Grace," "Ed," "The West Wing," "New York Undercover," and "Law & Order."

In 2011, Diggs' first children's book entitled CHOCOLATE ME was published by Feiwell and Friends. The book, which tells the story of a relentlessly teased child who learns to appreciate what sets him apart from his neighbors, is illustrated by Diggs' longtime friend Shane Evans.

Born in New Jersey, Diggs grew up in Rochester, New York, attending High School of the Arts. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Syracuse University, where he studied theatre, and was discovered by an agent while performing in a showcase during his senior year in college. Diggs resides in New York with his son Walker.

HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, with book by John Cameron Mitchell and music and lyrics by Stephen Trask, directed by Michael Mayer, also stars Rebecca Naomi Jones as Yitzhak. The production has received rave reviews and is winner of four 2014 Tony Awards and won Best Musical Revival by the Tony Awards, the Drama Desk Awards, Drama League Awards, and Outer Critics Circle Awards. The Grammy nominated Original Broadway Cast album for Hedwig and the Angry Inch is available from Atlantic Records.

The creative team for Hedwig and the Angry Inch features Emmy Award nominee Spencer Liff (musical staging), Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk Award winner Julian Crouch (scenic design), Tony Award and two-time Oscar nominee Arianne Phillips(costume design), four-time Tony Award winner Kevin Adams (lighting design), Mike Potter (hair and makeup design), Tony Award nominee and platinum-selling record producer Tim O'Heir (sound design), Benjamin Pearcy for 59 Productions (projection design), John Bair/Phosphene (animation), James Calleri (casting), Tony and Grammy Award nominee Ethan Popp (music supervisor & music coordinator), Justin Craig (music director), Liz Caplan (vocal supervision), Stephen Gabis (dialect coach), andJohanna McKeon (associate director).

"Internationally ignored song stylist" Hedwig Robinson (Taye Diggs) brings her fourth-wall-smashing rock and roll saga to New York to set the record straight about her life, her loves, and the botched operation that left her with that "angry inch."