Book Vs. Movie: Hedwig and the Angry Inch
The 1999 Off-Broadway Musical Vs. the 2001 Movie
“Musicals in March”
The Margos kick off “Musicals in March 2023” with one of the best rock musicals based on a gender-bending lead c character–Hedwig and the Angry Inch created by multi-hyphenates John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask. Created in the late 1990s Off-Broadway, is the tale of misfit Hedwig Robinson who began life as Hansel Schmidt in Germany and became a famous-ish rocker in middle America. On her way to stardom, she interacts with the audience, talking about her life and how she wound up with an “Angry Inch.”
The musical was a massive hit in 1998, starting with various music as its center and gradually becoming an original soundtrack–Hedwig was THE cool show to see on Jane Street in the late 90s.
Mitchell wrote and directed the film adaptation in 2001, and Hedwig remains a popular show with none other than Neil Patrick Harris filling her shoes on Broadway.
Between the original and the adaptation, which did we prefer? Have a listen to find out!
In this ep the Margos discuss:
- The backstory of Hedwig and her creators
- Musicals on Broadway in the late 1990s
- Director John Cameron Mitchell
- The cast: John Cameron Micthell (Hedwig,) Miriam Shor (Yitzhak,) Stephen Trask (Skszp,) Andrea Martin (Phillis Stein,) Michael Pitt (Tommy Speck) and Alberta Watson as Hedwig Schmidt.
Clips used:
- Hedwig introduces “Wicked Little Town.”
- Hedwig and the Angry Inch 2001 trailer
- “Wig in a Box’
- Neil Patrick Harris in 2014
- Tommy and Hedwig drive in NYC
- Music: Tear Me Down by Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Book Vs. Movie is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find more podcasts you will love Frolic.Media/podcasts
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