HEDWIG TOUR

[BroadwayMomma]

I was at her last SF performance, and she pulled them off and went topless towards the end of the song. The audience went nuts.  

[wally]

Is there any way to find out if the stand-bys will go on in LA? I do not want to see Darren Criss or Lena Hall.

[theoriginoflove]

You can message Mason on Instagram, he replied to me the other day, and I was so happy I had a nice chat with him. 

[ChairinMain]

there is, I would imagine, zero chance Mason would be going on except under emergency circumstances. I would guess that if there was any kind of conflict or planned absence on Darren's Part, or even just an illness with more than a few hour's notice, they would ask Lena to go on. You might have a better chance of seeing him once Euan Morton takes over. 

You would be able to see Shannon's Yitzahk when Lena is Hedwig, of course. She's excellent (they both are). 

[wally]

It's not that I am trying to specifically see Mason. I don't want to see Darren or Lena, and not sure I can make it down to San Diego, where I would be fine with Euan Morton.

Also, that kind of sucks for Mason if they wouldn't let him go on.

[Adair Haywind]

I saw Lena last night and agree with everything all the previous posters said. She is a force to be reckoned with. The producers made a HUGE mistake by not giving her the role full time. 

[darquegk]

Mason has a cabaret act that isn't exactly him in the role, but seems designed to be as close to getting to do the show as he is legally allowed to come. Lena Hall shows up for a cameo too, I believe.

[Wildcard]

I saw Lena as well and I can't say that I liked or disliked her more than Darren. Her characterization was just different, especially knowing that it was a woman playing the role. She excelled when she was speaking in Tommy Gnosis' voice. Many audience members around me were complaining before the show that they were duped by not having Darren on for the evening when it's been announced in numerous media outlets when Lena would be on.

[BroadwayMomma]

 For SF, there was a pop-up window that you had to click and acknowledge that informed the buyer that they knew they were choosing a performance where Lena would play Hedwig.  For LA, there is no such pop-up window, and it's just in small print up at the top of the Ticketmaster page once a date is chosen.  So, I can see how some people would miss that.

[lite2shine]

So which flopped shows Hedwig mentions in L.A.? I think one of them must be Ten Commandments. In SF, she mentioned Lestat and Mambo King, both of which I saw LOL. 

[Wildcard]

She refers to the Pantages as the previous home of the Academy Awards… mentions the stars that have walked the stage… licks the floor… tastes like Alice Cooper

[MarkBearSF]

Wildcard said: "She refers to the Pantages as the previous home of the Academy Awards… mentions the stars that have walked the stage… licks the floor… tastes like Alice Cooper"

On Lena's last performance, Alice was playing the Warfield, a few doors down. I was wondering if she'd make a reference. She didn't

 

 

[Popular]

Might try to get last minute tix to see Lena as YItzhak tonight... any discount codes or websites you can recommend before I head to the box office?

[conealpetterson]

Lena is on as Hedwig tonight.  We will be there.  Saw Darren as Hedwig on Friday night and got to meet both of them at the stage door.  They were both wonderful.  I haven't seen discount codes for tonight.  There are a lot of seats left, so you should be able to get something at the box office.  Good luck!

[Popular]

Thanks!! Got a seat =)

[conealpetterson]

Lena was fantastic, wasn't she!?  I felt devastated for her Hedwig by the end, whereas Darren was funnier but didn't have the same emotional impact.

[WestCoast331]

I was the "car wash" recipient tonight-- what a ridiculous experience. 

Lena's Hedwig is definitely more emotionally devastating than Darren's, and her vocals are absolutely exceptional. She earns the transition to Tommy Gnosis more than any other Hedwig I've seen. The humor improved as the night went along, but it is a different vibe seeing her vs any others. Felt more... experimental?

Regardless, the show is as wonderful as ever. And yes, as asked before, she went topless at the end.

[Popular]

Probably one of the most fearless performances I've seen. That role is a beast you could tell she was giving you 200% while making it look easy. It'll be a while before I can form the proper words. Catch her if you can!!!

[gleek4114]

Dear producers, casting directors, Stephen Trask, John Cameron Mitchell, or whoever this concerns,

 

PLEASE LET LENA PLAY HEDWIG DURING THE CHICAGO STOP!!

 

I'd love to see her in the role, and it seems like the best choice/city for her to make her mark on it full time.

[WestCoast331]

This is the best you'll ever hear this score, and the most aggressive.

[BroadwayConcierge]

It actually, really physically pains me that I won't be able to make it to the West Coast to see Lena's performance. She sounds utterly stupendous as Hedwig. Considering consulting my physician about this.

[haterobics]

BroadwayConcierge said: "It actually, really physically pains me that I won't be able to make it to the West Coast to see Lena's performance. She sounds utterly stupendous as Hedwig. Considering consulting my physician about this."

I think a psychiatrist would be more appropriate, no?

[emo_geek]

I want to thank the people on this site/thread who encouraged people to go see Lena. I ended up going back to see her last night and I am SO glad I did. Her performance was breathtaking. 

[PepperedShepherd]

I, too, saw Lena last night and can only add my voice to those singing her praises. I fell in love with her when I saw her Yitzhak (with NPH).  But, even so, I was unprepared for how completely awesome -- and emotionally devastating -- she would be as Hedwig. And, damn, can she sing!

It's funny that, when HATAI was at the Belasco, there was so much interest in who would take over the role from Neil... and from Andrew.... and from Michael...  When there was an amazing Hedwig on stage the whole time.  I wonder why they didn't take their cue from the show and pass the wig over to her?

[sm33]

Went to see Hedwig tonight in LA. I saw MCH in the role on Broadway, and had read some less than stellar reviews of Darren, so I wasn't planning on going to the LA tour stop at all. But I had tickets as part of the Pantages season package (which I bought to see Hamilton, obvs) and so I decided to go anyway. And I have to say, he was excellent! He was funny, had a good physicality, and his voice was inconsistently Hedwig but gorgeous all the same. I liked MCH more, for the rougher edges that he brought to the role and the songs, and I think he had better chemistry with Lena Hall. But Darren was impressive. 

After reading a couple pages of people praising Lena's performance, I am thinking about returning on Friday to see her, too. 

[hork]

I was there last night, too, and I thought Darren was great, much better than I expected. He's funny, he's sexy, and his energy is off the charts. And I loved when he bantered with the sign language interpreters.