BWW Interviews: Hannah Corneau of HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH at Winspear Opera House

Last week, before the Hedwig and the Angry Inch tour opens at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, I caught up with the production's Yitzhak: Hannah Corneau. It was lovely chatting with her about how she came to Hedwig, and how this truly unique show has been received across the country!

Sam Weber: Thanks for talking with me today, I just have a few questions kind of about your background and what it's like being on the tour - so the basic question for everything theatre kid out there, how did you get into performing?

Hannah Corneau: Well, I started at a very young age. I was encouraged to do community theatre in my small, upstate New York town. And luckily there was a really prominent community theatre scene there, and so I started when I was like 7, and luckily my sister and my dad also participated in the shows - so it was kind of like a family affair - only for a short amount of time but that definitely got me started off on the right foot.

Sam: Most of us got our start that way I guess doing community theatre, and doing it with your family is always a lot of fun. You said Upstate, so where is home for you?

Hannah: I moved when I was about 10 to around the Albany area, but I've been in Upstate New York my entire life.

Sam: So you're with Hedwig now, but what were you up to before you joined the tour?

Hannah: Well I live in New York, but my previous project before Hedwig was Evita at the Marriot Lincolnshire Theatre outside of Chicago, and that was an unbelievable experience - such a great show, and such a fantastic role. So that's where I was before Hedwig auditions started and the whole saga.

Sam: You just mentioned Hedwig auditions - Lena Hall (the original Yitzhak in the Broadway production of Hedwig) is rather known for talking about how she had a weird but honestly really cool audition experience when this production was just getting started. What was this audition experience like for you?

Hannah: Yeah [the audition] was actually quite similar - I had to go in full drag. And not just in full drag but go in as the character. And that was, you know, really interesting and also inspiring because it ultimately put me in the mindset. And you know, when you audition for things you're so vulnerable because when you walk into the room you are yourself - so this was a unique experience because I just got to go in as Yitzhak and I was able to adopt his own vulnerabilities and his own insecurities and basically conduct the audition as him; and I think it really benefitted - I benefitted from it, it was a good thing to do. So it was a similar experience to Lena's and I'm happy it was.

Sam: That's so cool, so when you say that - you walk in the room, you are no longer Hannah, there is no slate, you are him?

Hannah: Yup, just walk in and picked the stage if you will - because they actually had auditions on a sound stage, so it wasn't, you know, your typical acting studio.

Sam: That's the only time I've heard of an audition process like this, for this show in particular. I think it's so cool! How long have you been with the tour?

Hannah: I've been with the tour since the end of October. The tour started out in San Francisco, and has residency in both San Francisco and L.A. And those were both month-long engagements - so Lena Hall and Darren Criss did those. But I joined the company the last weekend in San Francisco to start rehearsing. And then we moved to L.A. and I was basically underneath - like the show was going on above and Euan [Morton] and I were rehearsing in the basement of the Pantages while Darren and Lena were doing the show - so that was a fun overlap. So I joined at the end of October and rehearsed for about 5 weeks.

Sam: So you started on the west coast, and you guys are in North Carolina now, what has been a favorite stop or a favorite city - or what is an interesting experience you've had as you've literally crossed the country?

Hannah: My favorite city would have to be Seattle, but every city has something to offer and the demographic at each location is so interesting and that's what's been so valuable about this tour experience because Hedwig is such an important show and has a lot to say. So as a human and as an actor within this really important piece, it's been very interesting to see what hits home in certain cities and what is responded to - how it's responded to.

Sam: Totally, Hedwig really is one of the few truly punk-rock shows out there, but as you said, it's really vulnerable, it's really human and has a lot to say. How have you seen audiences connecting to it in different ways or has anything surprised you about how audiences have connected with it?

Hannah: Yeah! I mean, there are always surprises because like I said there are always different reactions to different points in the show dependent on where we are. But you know, in Seattle there was a guy who almost came up on stage. Myself and Hedwig utilize the stairway up and down the stage, because there's audience interaction. And in Seattle there was this man who was living his dream and rocking out and almost got on stage and he was like up the stairs basically rocking out - so that was amazing. But yeah, it's always such a fantastic thing to witness because you have these elderly women in the front row lifting their hands at the end of the show, and you meet this thirteen-year-old boy at the stage door and he is crying and shaking your hand and explaining how much the show means to him. It's such a range of ages and mindsets, and a range of spirits that are touched by the show and that is so great to witness as an actor and a part of it.

Sam: This certainly is a show that has a lot to say and is so special in how it says it. One of my favorite parts the show is the song "Sugar Daddy," do you have a favorite part of the show to either watch or be a part of?

Hannah: I would have to say "midnight Radio," and it's my favorite because - well for so many reasons. I think the message is incredible, I think it's a very cathartic moment for all of the characters as well, and melodically it's just so, so effective. It just reaches your soul, and you're so ready for that thought. It's just such an appropriate melody, the tonality, and lyrically it's just so appropriate for that moment. I think that goes for all of Hedwig, I think the score is so purposefully done - impactfully done. So "Midnight Radio" I would have to say is my favorite, but I love that "Sugar Daddy" is yours, that is certainly a fun one!

Sam: Steven Trask definitely did a stunning job with the music in the show!

Hannah: Yes, yes he did!

Sam: So how long are you with the show, do you have an idea of what's next for Hannah?

Hannah: No idea what's next for me! But I kind of like that, I try not to worry too much about the future. I'm certainly trying to live in the moment with Hedwig, it has been such an amazing chapter in my life thus far. But yeah, the tour runs until July and we end in Washington D.C. so that will be great. But I'm just trying to live in the moment right now and appreciate this gift I was given.

Sam: I'm sure that being on a tour like this it's just fun to be where you are - wherever that may be! We're very excited to have you guys with us here next week in Dallas, is there anything else you want to throw out or add?

Hannah: We can't wait to come to Dallas - I've never been before - it's going to be an amazing time and we're so very excited and grateful for you guys welcoming us!

Hedwig and the Angry Inch runs February 7-12 at the Winspear Opera House. Tickets are available at online or at 214.880.0202.

 

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