Ladies and Gentleman....Taye Diggs is your next Hedwig — Page 4

They always announced the next big name shortly into the start of the first run.

And I find the choice interesting- having a black Hedwig changes some of the dynamic of the character's obsession with American pop culture. Part of the appeal of Luther to him is how distinctly American-Other he is when compared to the small, awkward, white girly-boy Hedwig. He's American. He's cool. He's confident in his sexual identity. He's big. He's black, which makes him rare and almost exotic on the other side of the Berlin wall.

Granted, I'm not saying it's a wrong choice, but I always thought that Luther was designed to be the anti-Hansel.

I've never seen Taye Diggs perform so I can't comment on the singing or acting aspect. It's hard for me to imagine though, a large black man as Hedwig, whom I only know as a slight, white young East German girly boy with low self esteem. Interesting...

Looking forward to hearing the reviews this summer. 

Only NPH and JCM have really physically fit the "slip of a girly boy" part of the role. MCH and AR both had wide, masculine shoulders and muscular arms that looked especially beefy in the black slip costume. Taye is bigger than them, so I do wonder if it'll be too distracting. Maybe he can really commit to the role and lay off the weights for the next couple of months.

His race could be worked into the part well. Maybe part of Hansel's alienation and desperation to escape comes from being so Other in Berlin. Maybe his American GI father was black. Will be interesting to see if they change or add much because he's black. They could also go the color-blind casting route, which wouldn't bother me at all.

Updated On: 5/18/15 at 08:28 PM

Taye Diggs is only 5 foot 10 inches (shorter than all the others except Darren), and he isn't bigger than AR.  It will be wonderful to see some diversity in the role, even if it is "a large black man" (eye rolling so hard at that dumb ass statement)

"His race could be worked into the part well. Maybe part of Hansel's alienation and desperation to escape comes from being so Other in Berlin. Maybe his American GI father was black. Will be interesting to see if they change or add much because he's black. They could also go the color-blind casting route, which wouldn't bother me at all."

I was wondering about this. His American father being black would make the most sense. Rob Pilatus comes to mind.

I am very excited about this and now thinking I need another trip in late summer to see this (we already have our trip set for June).  I agree with marie19:  working his race into the story would be fascinating. 

"Seriously, what does it matter what color his skin is?"

don't know, Joey.

"Isn't JCM's "little slip of a girly boy" just a metaphor for everyone's otherness?"

up to interpretation, Joey. To me, no.

i see this casting, and any effect it has at challenging people's ideas about who or what hedwig can or can't be, as a positive. hedwig should be all about challenging preconceptions. it's such an inclusive story and inclusive role that it feels odd to me to try to restrict it to a specific sex, race, age, body type, sexual orientation, or other category. i have full confidence in the production to be able to adapt the story to whoever is cast in the part, provided they have the talent to pull it off.

Updated On: 5/18/15 at 11:01 PM

Hmm, Antoinette9000 on instagram (who I think is Yitzhak's dresser?) posted a pic of Yitzhak with a brown/black wig. There was another picture on social media in the past few weeks with some black/brown wigs on a shelf in the background, but I'll never find it again.

https://instagram.com/p/2XKo1oKoh0/

Amazing news. Talented guy, great producers. I'm happy their idea of what Hedwig has been and can be allows for interpretation.

Will Taye Diggs improve ticket sales? I never thought he was that famous.