Hedwig and the Angry Inch to close on 13 Sep 2015
Broadway's Tony Award-winning rock musical comedy Hedwig and the Angry Inch has posted a closing notice and will play its final performance at the Belasco Theatre on 13 September 2015.
The show currently stars Broadway fave Taye Diggs as Hedwig and Rebecca Naomi Jones as Yitzhak.
Producer David Binder released the following statement:
"When we announced our limited 16-week Broadway engagement of Hedwig, never in my wildest dreams did I think it would run for a year and a half. Hedwig heralded a historic year of acceptance and celebration across America. It has been a privilege to work with our extraordinary leading men Neil, Andrew, Michael, John, Darren and Taye; Lena Hall, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Shannon Conley, and our kick ass band Tits of Clay. I am so happy that Michael Mayer's groundbreaking production has introduced Hedwig to a new generation of fans and brought John and Stephen's downtown show into the mainstream. The vision of these artists was truly ahead of its time. I couldn't be prouder of the entire team and am thrilled that audiences across the US will soon be able to experience our show when it begins its national tour."Upon closing Hedwig and the Angry Inch will have played a total of 22 previews and 506 regular performances.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch opened at the Belasco Theatre on 22 April 2014, following previews from 29 March. It is directed by Tony Award-winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening), with choreography by Spencer Liff ("So You Think You Can Dance").
The production took home last year's Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical and has starred Neil Patrick Harris, who took home his first Tony Award for his portrayal of transgender Hedwig, along with Andrew Rannells, Michael C. Hall, John Cameron Mitchell, Darren Criss and Taye Diggs.
The show opened to excellent reviews, with critics praising the show, party due to Patrick Harris' central performance: "Shamelessly enjoyable show. ... one of the few unqualified pleasures of this Broadway spring" (NYTimes); "Frisky, unapologetically raunchy fable of love, loss, fury and freedom" (NY Daily News).
Hedwig and the Angry Inch tells the story of an "internationally ignored' rock singer, Hedwig (Harris), and her search for stardom and love. Born a boy named Hansel whose life's dream is to find his other half, Hedwig reluctantly submits to a sex change operation in order to marry an American G.I. and get over the Berlin Wall to freedom. The operation is botched, leaving her with the aforementioned 'angry inch.'"
The musical comedy began off-off-Broadway at Westbeth and then ran over two years at the Jane Street Theatre beginning in Feb 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 and the Angry Inch the Top Musical of 1998.
The film of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, directed by John Cameron Mitchell, 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.
Taye Diggs made his Broadway debut in the 1994 Tony Award-winning revival of 'Carousel,' and went on to find fame after being cast as Benny in 'RENT,' (who he also portrayed in the 2005 film adaptation). Other New York Stage credits include 'A Soldier's Play,' 'Chicago,' 'Wicked,' and 'The Wild Party.' He is also widely known for his TV role as Dr. Sam Bennett in six seasons of 'Private Practice.'
Taye Diggs as HedwigOriginally published on