HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (Part 1): Gender, Glam, and the Birth of a Cult Classic

Broadway Breakdown kicks off its latest deep dive with Hedwig and the Angry Inch—the downtown rock musical that redefined what Broadway could be. Host Matt Koplik and guest Preston Max Allen unpack how John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask’s creation blurred the lines between concert, confession, and theater, tracing its journey from gritty queer clubs to Tony-winning phenomenon. Together, they explore why Hedwig still resonates as a story of gender, artistry, and transformation.

Guest IntroductionPreston Max Allen is a writer and composer whose work includes the musical We Are the Tigers and the new play Caroline (MCC Theater). Their sharp insight into queer storytelling and character-driven songwriting makes them the perfect guest to dissect Hedwig—a show that’s as emotionally raw as it is musically electric.

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Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction and why Hedwig still matters03:30 – The East Village scene and queer club origins

07:45 – Building Hedwig’s persona: camp, pain, and performance

12:00 – Stephen Trask’s music and the sound of identity

18:00 – Off-Broadway breakthrough at the Jane Street Theatre

28:30 – Rock opera vs. traditional musical theater

39:00 – Hedwig’s influence on shows like Rent, Spring Awakening, and Six

44:15 – The film adaptation: intimacy through the lens

48:00 – Teasing Part 2: Broadway, Neil Patrick Harris, and beyond

Key People Mentioned

Creators: John Cameron Mitchell (book, original Hedwig), Stephen Trask (music & lyrics)

Original Cast: John Cameron Mitchell, Miriam Shor (Yitzhak)

Broadway Cast: Neil Patrick Harris, Lena Hall, Michael C. Hall, Darren Criss, Taye Diggs

Resources & Links

🎥 Whether You Like It or Not: The Story of Hedwig (Documentary)

🎭 Off-Broadway Production (Jane Street Theatre)

🎤 Broadway Production – John Cameron Mitchell

🎤 Broadway Production – Neil Patrick Harris

📘 Hedwig Wikipedia Page

📰 Criterion Collection Essay: “She Sings the Body Electric”

🗞️ Rolling Stone Oral History: “Gender Bender: The Story of Hedwig”

🗞️ New York Times 1998 Review (Off-Broadway)

🗞️ New York Times 2014 Review (Broadway Revival)

🎬 New York Times 2001 Film Review

Listener Discussion Questions

How does Hedwig challenge traditional ideas of gender, identity, and storytelling in musical theater?

What makes Hedwig timeless, even as queer narratives evolve?

Which version of Hedwig—downtown club, Broadway revival, or film—feels most authentic to you?

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