Hedwig and the Angry Inch started in 1998 as an Off-Broadway production. Written by John Cameron Mitchell, with music by Stephen Trask,tThe show consisted of title character Hedwig (Mitchell) along her backing band “The Angry Inch” (incl. Trask) It was performed in bars rather than theatres to capture the intimacy of a rock ‘n roll performance. The film followed in 2001 and was filmed in Toronto. It maintained a cult following for over a decade. Now, in a move that nobody expected, it’s become a Broadway production with Neil Patrick Harris taking on the lead role.

The plot of Hedwig is of an East German boy with a healthy appetite for glam rock. He marries to escape the Iron Curtain. He has to have a sex change (because he is marrying a man) and unfortunately the sex change is botched, leaving him with an “angry inch.” Once in the United States, she puts her musical knowledge to good use and mentors a young man named Tommy Gnosis. After Tommy runs off with Hedwig’s material (and heart) to start a very successful solo career, she decides to follow him every stop on the tour and play next door. Tommy is portrayed as a disembodied voice throughout the production.

The show itself is sleazy, angst-ridden yet beautiful and poignant. In between tales of illicit relationships (Sugar Daddy), mutilation (Angry Inch) and betrayal (Hedwig’s Lament) are songs of optimism and hope (Tear Me Down, Midnight Radio) Harris shines as Hedwig, opting for charming over Mitchell’s more bitter portrayal. Lena Hall plays Hedwig’s repressed lover Yitzhak. He’s a perfect foil to Hedwig’s flashy bravado, singing backing vocals and stomping up and down the stage picking up after her.

The soundtrack as a whole is a love letter to glam rock of yesteryear while capturing the essence of the outsiders’ perspective. David Bowie was considered unusual because he wore women’s clothing (fairly tame by today’s standards) Hedwig makes people uncomfortable because she has neither male nor female genitalia.

The show has been successful thus far, pulling in eight figures at the box office (so far). The Broadway show had a $6 million budget and made use of flashy backdrops. It will be interesting to see how Hedwig further evolves over time.