Hedwig and the Angry Inch: Neil Patrick Harris to star
Neil Patrick Harris ("How I Met Your Mother") will star in the Broadway premiere of John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask's musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch in the Spring of 2014.
The musical will be directed by Tony Award-winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening). The remaining creative team members, additional casting, and the theatre will be confirmed at a later date.
John Cameron Mitchell who wrote the book and starred in the original stage and film productions of Hedwig and the Angry Inch said,
"Who better to pass the wig to but the finest entertainer of his generation?"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.'
Harris said,
"I am simultaneously ecstatic and terrified to be stepping into Hedwig's heels. It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime role and I can't wait to begin the journey."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.
Bio:
Neil Patrick Harris (Hedwig) has starred on Broadway as 'Lee Harvey Oswald' in 'Assassins''Hal' in 'Proof,' 'Master of Ceremonies' of 'Cabaret.'
He currently stars as "Barney Stinson" in the CBS television series, "How I Met Your Mother," a role which has garnered him multiple Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominations. Harris is a three-time Emmy Award winner for his guest-starring role on "Glee" and as host of the 63rd and 65th Annual Tony Awards. He also served as host and producer of the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards, as well as the 66th and 67th Annual Tony Awards. Harris will next host and produce the upcoming 65th Primetime Emmy Awards.
Harris made his film debut opposite Whoopi Goldberg in "Clara's Heart." Notable films include "Doogie Howser, M.D.," and the "Harold & Kumar" and "The Smurfs" franchise films. He is currently in production on the upcoming feature film, "A Million Ways to Die in the West," with Seth Macfarlane, Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, and Amanda Seyfried.
Neil Patrick HarrisOriginally published on