The bar was exceptionally high for Neil Patrick Harris as the titular Hedwig in the new Broadway production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch , our favorite musical of all time. Really.
We saw the show 10 times in the '90s and early 2000s in various incarnations. We even had Donovan Leitch perform AS Hedwig at our birthday party a few years back.
We saw John Cameron Mitchell do the part 6 times. He didn't just originate the role and write the book for the musical. John WAS Hedwig. And he was excellence on stage. Every night!
So, like we said, the bar was EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH for Neil Patrick Harris. Especially for us.
And, we weren't convinced at first.
It wasn't until The Origin Of Love that something clicked within us.
This is not just a new production. This is a new show. This is a BROADWAY show with big production values and a big star that delivers a big performance!
Neil Patrick Harris will win the Tony for his interpretation of Hedwig! Not just because he was so much good will in the theater community and has gracefully and flawlessly hosted the Tony Awards for several years. Neil will win the Tony Award because he DESERVES TO WIN the Tony Award for this performance.
As the show goes on and you forget who is playing the part you get lost in Hedwig's story. Hedwig's gripping story! Hedwig's inspiring story of love and redemption that we can all relate to!
Neil COMMANDS the stage of the Belasco theater!
This is Neil Patrick Harris unlike you've ever seen him before!
This is a fearless performance! A sexy performance! A vulnerable performance! Strong, confident, and it's wickedly fun too!
And he sounds SO GOOD!
Props to NPH's voice coach Liz Caplan!
And huge huge HUGE props to everyone who turned this production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch into a new show!
This is soooooo different from what played at the Jane Street Theater many moons ago.
The book has been updated by Cameron Mitchell. Wonderfully so.
The arrangements have been updated by composer Stephen Trask.
The costumes! Oh, have the costumes been updated by Madonna's stylist, Arianne Phillips. We went in thinking there would be just two outfits in the show. Boy were we wrong! So many looks and reveals and quick changes! EPIC costuming!
And there are probably just as many wigs, all done beautifully by Mike Potter.
Michael Mayer gave the show so much razzle dazzle, and it all worked and made sense!
And seeing that show again reminded us what a truly flawless score it is. EVERY song is so good! And the book is JUST AS GOOD!
That's what makes Hedwig and the Angry Inch so great!
We sat there in awe!
Neil Patrick Harris gives his all!
His performance is more physical than John's was. And boy does he work that stage!
Kudos to Spencer Liff for the choreography and "musical staging"!
And we are still just so happy and thrilled that mainstream audiences are getting exposed to this very important and brilliant work!
Hedwig and the Angry Inch is an inspiring story of how difficult life can be, but when we channel that pain and longing into something positive - we can create beauty.
This production is beautiful. And Neil Patrick Harris is beautiful in it!
You will likely see us in the audience over and over again!
Get your tickets NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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