BWW Preview: HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH at the Ordway

The Ordway Center for Performing Arts brings the Saint Paul and Minneapolis area the first look on stage of the acclaimed rock musical, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH in it's first national tour.

Called brilliantly innovative, heartbreaking and wickedly funny, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH is the landmark musical by John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask.

This genre- and gender-bending, fourth-wall-smashing musical sensation tells the story of one of the most unique characters to ever hit the stage. "Internationally ignored song stylist" Hedwig Robinson is out to set the record straight about her life, her loves and the botched operation that left her with that "angry inch."

The show stars Broadway and West End veteran Euan Morton as Hedwig. Morton originated the role of Boy George in the musical TABOO in London and New York, garnering Tony and Olivier Award nominations and receiving the Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut.

The concept of the show is the audience is watching Hedwig's musical act as she follows successful rockstar Tommy Gnosis's tour around the country. Occasionally Hedwig opens a door onstage to listen to Gnosis's concert, which is playing in an adjoining venue. An incident that brings Hedwig notoriety is giving her a chance to tell her life story. Hedwig breaks down as the story progresses.

The character of Hedwig was loosely inspired by a German female babysitter/prostitute who worked for Mitchell's family when he was a teenager in Junction City, Kansas. Mitchell has explained that Hedwig is not a trans woman, but a genderqueer character. To further blur gender lines, the actor who plays Hedwig's husband, Yitzhak, is a female -- Hannah Corneau.

Directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer (SPRING AWAKENING, AMERICAN IDIOT), HEDWIG is the winner of four 2014 Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival, and played to record-breaking, sell-out crowds on Broadway.

Rounding out the cast are the members of Hedwig's band, "The Angry Inch" (aka, "Tits of Clay"): music director Justin Craig (guitar and keyboards), Matt Duncan (bass), Tim Mislock (guitar) and Peter Yanowitz (drums), all of whom originated their roles on Broadway.

Playing through Sunday, Feb. 19, audiences have only eight performances to take in a show that Entertainment Weekly called, "groundbreaking and ahead of its time."

BroadwayWorld.com Raleigh's Jeffrey Kare did an interview with Morton recently, which you can listen to here.

Pre- and Post-Show Events:

• ORDWAY EXTRA: Defining Who You Are -- Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 6:30 p.m.
• Post-show Talk-Back with company members -- Feb. 15 after the 7:30 p.m. performance
• Hedwig After-Party -- Saturday, Feb. 18 between the 5 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. performances

For tickets and more information, visit www.ordway.org.

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