Hedwig and the Angry Inch rocks the Pantages

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After taking San Francisco by storm Hedwig and the Angry Inch has arrived in Los Angeles and was received with overwhelmingly cheerful anticipation by a wildly enthusiastic audience. Leading up to the opening night was a star studded “pink” carpet setting the tone of the evening. Then it was curtain time; but rather than the expected lights down and music up it was the Angry Inch band that launched the show with unabashed enthusiasm.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a rather complex and somewhat other worldly tale of Hedwig Robinson who playwright John Cameron Mitchell describes as not trans woman but rather “She’s more than a woman or a man, she’s a gender of one and that is accidentally so beautiful.” Hedwig is played by Grammy nominated Darren Criss who also played Hedwig on Broadway. Hedwig is in an atypical relationship with Yitzhak, a Jewish drag queen and Hedwig’s husband played by Tony award winner Lena Hall.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch is essentially the life story of Hedwig starting with her early life in East Berlin and unfolding over the years until … well you will just have to see for yourself. The music is largely influenced by the glam rock style of the 1970s with a touch of early punk. It is delivered by the Angry Inch band with inescapable and utterly enjoyable gusto.

The show also engages in an abundance of direct audience involvement accelerating the energy even more. The stage craft was as good as it gets with genuinely amazing visuals perhaps most notably being the projections displayed during the lullaby scene. Each and every performer was pure joy to watch but with Darren Criss just plain killing it.

You will laugh and you may cry but you will absolutely totally enjoy Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Just one caution, it really isn’t suitable for children and the theatre recommends those who attend be at least 13 years old. That said, this is a show you will just flat out never forget.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch is currently playing at the Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90028 now through November 27th. Performances are Tuesday through Friday evenings at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

You should also note that Lena Hall will appear as Hedwig and Shannon Conley will appear as Yitzhak on November 6^th, 13^th and 20^th at 6:30 p.m. and on November 25^th at 8:00 p.m. For reservations and ticketing please call: 800-982-2787 anytime 24 hours a day.

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Production Credits:
Michael Mayer (Direction), Spencer Liff (Musical Staging), Julian Crouch (Scenic Design), Arianne Phillips (Costume Design), Kevin Adams (Lighting Design), Timothy O’Heir (Sound Design), Ethan Popp (Music Supervision)
John Cameron Mitchell
Lena Hall
Other Credits:
Lyrics by: Stephen Trask
Music by: Stephen Trask
Book by John Cameron Mitchell

Photos by Joan Marcus

Ron Irwin

Ron Irwin was born in Chicago, Illinois a long time ago. He served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam, became a trial lawyer, TV and radio host, CEO of a public company and once held an Emmy. He never won an Emmy he just held one. Ron has written and published twelve books. His most important book to date is “Live, Die, Live Again” in which Ron tells of his early life and his unexpected and very temporary death in 2012. That experience dramatically refocused his life and within the pages of that book Ron reveals how he achieved a much healthier life, ridding himself of Diabetes, Cancer and Heart Failure. Now Ron enjoys writing about many things including health topics, travel [he has circled the globe several times], adventure, culinary experiences and the world of performing art. Ron’s motto is “Live better, live longer and live stronger because it feels great and annoys others.” Contact the author.