"She's Lured Me Back": John Cameron Mitchell, Creator and Original Off-Broadway Hedwig, Will Star on Broadway

John Cameron Mitchell, the writer and original star of the Off-Broadway production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, will return to the New York stage for the first time since 1998 to perform in the Broadway production of that Tony-winning musical beginning Jan. 21, 2015.





The musical currently stars Michael C. Hall ("Dexter," Cabaret) as the "internationally ignored" East German transgender singer fronting a fictional rock-n-roll band. Hall is scheduled to stay with the production through Jan 18.

Mitchell starred in the original Off-Broadway production of Hedwig at the Jane Street Theatre, earning an Obie Award and an Outer Critics Circle nomination. He also starred as Hedwig in a 2001 film version he directed. His acting credits also include The Secret Garden, Six Degrees of Separation and "Girls," and he has directed "Rabbit Hole" and "Shortbus." Read Playbill.com's interview with Mitchell here.

"I am in equal parts thrilled and terrified to be returning to Hedwig," Mitchell said in a statement. "15 years ago she kicked my butt so hard that I quit acting. But like an expertly face-lifted ex-wife, she's lured me back. The killer new work by Neil Patrick Harris, Andrew Rannells, and Michael C. Hall have left much larger pumps to fill. Here's hoping I don't need a walker by the end of the run."

"I'm beyond thrilled to work with my dear friend John Cameron Mitchell in recreating his iconic role in our new production," director Michael Mayer added. "I think his Hedwig has had a date with Broadway for a long time and I can't wait to be there for it."

Mitchell is scheduled for an eight-week limited engagement. The Broadway premiere of the cult rock musical began previews March 29 at the Belasco, prior to an official opening April 22 with Neil Patrick Harris in the title role. Tony nominee Andrew Rannells succeeded Harris.

View our exclusive PHOTO SPECIAL: Next in Line: 11 Stars Who Could Replace Andrew Rannells in Hedwig… or Not!

Hedwig features a book by John Cameron Mitchell and music and lyrics by Stephen Trask. Lena Hall, who recently starred as Nicola in Broadway's Tony-winning musical Kinky Boots and is also the lead singer of rock band The Deafening, plays Yitzhak.

Both Harris and Hall won the Tony Awards for Best Lead Actor in a Musical and Best Featured Actress in a musical, respectively. Kevin Adams also won the Tony for Best Lighting Design. The production won Best Revival of a Musical.

Hedwig is directed by Tony Award winner Mayer (Spring Awakening, American Idiot) with musical staging by Emmy Award nominee Spencer Liff (The Wedding Singer, Cry-Baby). Justin Craig is musical director.

The Hedwig creative team includes scenic designer Julian Crouch, costume designer Arianne Phillips, lighting designer Kevin Adams, hair and makeup designer Mike Potter, sound designer Timothy O'Heir, musical supervisor Ethan Popp, projection designer Benjamin Pearcy and vocal supervisor Liz Caplan. Casting is by James Calleri.

Adams and Potter were both part of the original 1998 Off-Broadway creative team of Hedwig. Sound designer O'Heir worked on the 2001 film adaptation.

Members of the Angry Inch include musical director Craig (guitar and keyboards), Matt Duncan (bass), Tim Mislock (guitar) and Peter Yanowitz (drums).

The dramatic musical comedy began Off Off-Broadway at Westbeth and then ran over two years at the Jane Street Theatre beginning in February 1998. Hedwig and the Angry Inch won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical, and both John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask won Obies. Hedwig and the Angry Inch won a 1998 New York Magazine Award and Entertainment Weekly's "Soundtrack of the Year" Award.

Binder, who first produced Hedwig in 1997, is producing the musical on Broadway with Jayne Baron Sherman, Barbara Whitman, Latitude Link, Patrick Catullo, Raise The Roof, Paula Marie Black, Colin Callender, Ruth Hendel, Sharon Karmazin, Martian Entertainment, Eric Schnall and The Shubert Organization. 101 Productions, Ltd are the executive producers.

The Belasco Theatre Box Office is located at 111 West 44th Street. Tickets are also available by calling (212) 239-6200 or visiting Telecharge.com.

For more information, visit HedwigBroadway.com.