Michael C. Hall is to be Broadway's next Hedwig!

The Producers of the Tony Award-winning musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch have now announced the next actor in line to play the show's leading lady. Taking over from Tony nominee Andrew Rannells will be Golden Globe winner Michael C. Hall. Mr Rannells plays his last performance as Hedwig on 12 October 2014, with Mr Hall debuting on 16 October and playing a limited engagement through to 4 January 2015.

The production was booking through to 23 November and so has extended its booking period once again, with the addition of Mr Hall to the cast.

Michael C. Hall is perhaps best known for his television career, in particular for his role as Dexter Morgan in the long-running drama series 'Dexter', as well as the role of David Fisher in 'Six Feet Under'. His film credits include 'Paycheck' (2003), 'Gamer' (2009), 'Kill Your Darlings' (2013) and 'Cold In July' (2014). Mr Hall was last seen on the Broadway stage this year as John Jones in 'The Realistic Joneses'. He has also played the role of Emcee in 'Cabaret' in 1999, as well as Billy Flynn in 'Chicago' in 2002.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch originally 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 this year's Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical and has seen increased demand for tickets since the telecast, which saw Neil Patrick Harris take home his first Tony Award for his portrayal of transgender Hedwig. Lena Hall also took home the award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.

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.

- by Tom Millward