Cast Announced for Theo Ubique's HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH

Cast, director and designers have been announced for HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, the thoughtfully funny and hard-rocking musical by Stephen Trask and John Cameron Mitchell that will close out Theo Ubique's first season in its new home on Howard Street in Evanston. Artistic Director Fred Anzevino said today the leading role of Hedwig Schmidt, a genderqueer glam punk rock artist, will be taken by Will Lidke. Lidke won praise for his leading role of Seymour in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS last fall at Drury Lane Theatre, where he most recently played Snoopy in YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN.

HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH will be directed by Toma Tavares Langston, who received a 2018 Jeff Award nomination for his direction of THE LIGHT, which was named Best New Play in that year's Jeff Awards and went to enjoy an off-Broadway production in New York City. Langston, who earned a fellowship in Victory Gardens' 2015 Directors Inclusion Initiative, returns to Theo Ubique, where he worked on THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, EVITA, CABARET and BELLE BARTH: IF I EMBARRASS YOU, TELL YOUR FRIENDS.

HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH will preview Friday, June 14 through Sunday, June 17, and open to the press on Monday, June 17. It will play Thursdays through Sundays through July 28, 2019, at the Howard Street Theatre, 721 Howard St., Evanston.

HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH ran for over two years in its initial off-Broadway engagement, and later won four Tony Awards®, including Best Musical Revival, when it was produced on Broadway in 2014. It concerns Hedwig Schmidt, a trans rock 'n' roll goddess from East Germany whose botched sex-change operation from male to female intended to please a male lover left her with an "angry inch" of flesh where her female genitalia should be. One of the first musicals to explore issues of gender identity, its varied score includes hard rock songs like "Sugar Daddy," the drag anthem "Wig in a Box" and the tender "Origin of Love." HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH is presented as a rock concert in which Hedwig tells her story, with the other players assisting in the dramatization of her life events.

Langston says,"Glam Punk Rock & Roll gives an artist a vehicle to challenge societal norms surrounding gender identity; it gives the freedom to blur the gender binary rules." He adds, "I have always wanted to direct a rock & roll concert!"

Brittney Brown, who last appeared with Theo Ubique in SWEENEY TODD, will be the production's Yitzhak. Brown's credits also include HOT PINK, OR READY TO BLOW with New American Folk Theatre and BONNIE AND CLYDE with Kokandy Productions. The cast will also include Adriana Tronco as Background Singer East, Mom, and Yitzhak understudy; and Jacob Gilchrist as Background Singer West, Tommy, Luther and Hedwig understudy. Tronco was most recently seen in Drury Lane Oakbrook's A CHRISTMAS CAROL.Gilchrist, also known as the drag artist Mikki Miraj, has appeared in RENT at Metropolis Arts Center and APPLAUSE by Porchlight Revisits. Appearing as Hedwig's band, "The Angry Inch," will be music director Jeremy Ramey (Keyboards, conductor), Perry Cowdery (guitar), Joseph Drezmiecki (bass), Carlos Mendoza (drums), and Cesar Romero (guitar, vocals).

Langston's design and production team will include Colt Frank (scenic design), Bob Kuhn (costume design), James Kolditz (lighting design), Robert Hornbostel (sound design), Matt Chase (associate sound designer), Matthew Zalinski (properties design) and Keith Ryan (wig designer). Courtney Crouse is Production Manager and Hai Alvarez-Millard is Stage Manager.

All performances will be staged in Theo Ubique's new home, the Howard Street Theatre, 721 Howard Street, Evanston. Single tickets for HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH are on sale now at www.theo-u.org or by phone (weekdays, 10:30 am - 5 pm) at 773-347-1109.

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