HEDWIG will make its West End debut

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 2:09pm

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/09/theater/david-binder-bam.html?smid=url-share

Binder’s departure will follow the 2021 exit of the institution’s president, Katy Clark, and the 2020 death of its board chairman, Adam Max.

...

In the commercial arena, Binder is best known as the lead producer of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” which won the Tony Award for best musical revival in 2014. Binder said that he would soon announce that “Hedwig” was “finally coming to the West End in a big way.”

Beyond “Hedwig,” Binder is among a handful of commercial producers who have continued to focus on the production of plays, which tend to be riskier than musicals. He says he plans to resume work on his longtime effort to bring the German director Thomas Ostermeier’s production of “An Enemy of the People” to Broadway. (Last fall, Binder brought Ostermeier’s “Hamlet” to BAM; that production was in German, but “An Enemy of the People” would be presented in English.)

 

 

so who do we think is gonna do it? And how have the conversations surrounding gender changed who might be cast as Hedwig now?

Updated On: 1/9/23 at 02:09 PM

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 2:21pm

I think it was always clear that Hedwig was born a gay man who went through an extremely particular life change and now lives a genderqueer existence.

 

With that being said, anyone can and should be able to play Hedwig.

[Observation]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 2:31pm

Any chance there will be an NPH/Lenna Hall reunion? 

I saw Hall play Hedwig in LA and she was outstanding. I wouldn't mind her taking over, or a new pair totally. 

[Observation]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 2:33pm

Also adding, there are a lot of drag performers from the RuPaul's Drag Race franchise who are working quite a bit on the West End. Would be amazing to see one of them get the chance.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 2:38pm

Observation said: "Any chance there will be an NPH/Lenna Hall reunion?

I saw Hall play Hedwig in LA and she was outstanding. I wouldn't mind her taking over, or a new pair totally."

I don't know about NPH, but maybe that's why Lena is leaving Little Shop. 

[darquegk]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 2:48pm

I wouldn’t be entirely surprised to see Mason Alexander Park headlining, what with their success overseas in Sandman, and with becoming David Bowie’s semi-official successor.

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 4:55pm

Hedwig had its West End premiere in 2000 with Michael Cerveris at the Playhouse Theatre (currently Kit Kat Club), where it was a massive flop.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 4:59pm

Ugh I’d love to see Lena hall play Hedwig! Curious if it’ll be a new production all together. 

[Wick3]

Posted: 1/9/23 at 9:06pm

I miss the 2014 Broadway revival! I can’t believe it’ll be almost 9 years ago.

If it’s the same production I’d imagine they would make changes in terms of Hedwig’s audience interaction.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 1/10/23 at 8:43am

Wick3 said: "I miss the 2014 Broadway revival! I can’t believe it’ll be almost 9 years ago.

If it’s the same production I’d imagine they would make changes in terms of Hedwig’s audience interaction."

Aww. I didn't see the show but I did hear about those interactions...I hope they don't cut that! 

[Alex M]

Posted: 1/10/23 at 8:56am

I'd only imagine the only interactions they'd really need to change are Hedwig kissing someone in the front row and them spitting on people (on purpose at least). The rest of the audience interaction should be fine?

Updated On: 1/10/23 at 08:56 AM

[Huss417]

Posted: 1/10/23 at 9:09am

imeldasturn said: "Hedwig had its West End premiere in 2000 with Michael Cerveris at the Playhouse Theatre (currently Kit Kat Club), where it was a massive flop."

Thought I was losing my mind as I saw the production back in 2000.

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2000/sep/21/artsfeatures5

Updated On: 1/10/23 at 09:09 AM

[Owen22]

Posted: 1/10/23 at 10:07am

Now it makes sense why HOME in Manchester England's fantastic, 4 and 5 starred reviewed production starring an absolutely terrific Divina De Campo never transferred into the West End. Obviously this guy holds the London rights.  Sorta sad that no one will ever get to see this elegant and simple (much more aligned with the original production the NPH's).

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 1/11/23 at 4:22pm

imeldasturn said: "Hedwig had its West End premiere in 2000 with Michael Cerveris at the Playhouse Theatre (currently Kit Kat Club), where it was a massive flop."

Exactly! And West End regular Elizabeth Marsh played Yitzak.

The Los Angeles premiere production that starred Cerveris also flopped. I saw it in LA and it was one of the best nights I ever had in the theatre.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 1/12/23 at 10:56pm

darquegk said: "I wouldn’t be entirely surprised to see Mason Alexander Park headlining, what with their success overseas in Sandman, and with becoming David Bowie’s semi-official successor."

Park is currently starring in Quantum Leap on NBC, which was renewed for a second season. Not sure their time commitments would complement each other.