Hedwig And The Angry Inch

This Obie-winning Off-Broadway musical tells the story of “internationally ignored song stylist” Hedwig Schmidt. Hedwig performs across the country relating her story of growing up as Hansel, an East German “slip of a girlyboy” who loves philosophy and rock music. He meets a U.S. soldier who falls in love with him and in Hansel’s desperation to escape Communist Germany, the two decide to marry. However, in order to be married, Hansel must become a woman. Hansel’s mother, Hedwig, gives her son her name, passport, and the name of a doctor to perform a sex change. The operation is botched, and Hansel – now Hedwig – is left with a one-inch mound of flesh between her legs . . . her angry inch.

Hedwig leaves East Berlin to live in Kansas with her American G.I. but on their first wedding anniversary, he deserts her. Hedwig, who has always found joy and comfort in music, recovers by forming a rock band, which she aptly names “The Angry Inch.” Soon, Hedwig meets and falls in love with Christian teenager Tommy Speck. The two write songs together and soon enough, Hedwig believes she has found her other half – what she has always been searching for. As a gift, Hedwig gives him the stage name “Tommy Gnosis”. In the midst of climbing the ladder of fame/fortune, Tommy leaves her and goes on to become a rock god performing the music they created together.

Text by John Cameron Mitchell
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Trask
Directed by Joshua Morgan

Hedwig – Chris French
Yitzhak – Aleque Reid
Lead Guitar – Luke Smith
Rhythm Guitar – Spencer Trinwith
Bass – Andrew Wells Ryder
Drums – Alex Aucoin