Ladies and Gentleman....Taye Diggs is your next Hedwig- Page 4

[timisimaginary]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 5:38pm

it's a little bit surprising he was announced so early into darren's run. i wonder if the rumors/leaks forced their hand?

[darquegk]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 6:24pm

They always announced the next big name shortly into the start of the first run.

And I find the choice interesting- having a black Hedwig changes some of the dynamic of the character's obsession with American pop culture. Part of the appeal of Luther to him is how distinctly American-Other he is when compared to the small, awkward, white girly-boy Hedwig. He's American. He's cool. He's confident in his sexual identity. He's big. He's black, which makes him rare and almost exotic on the other side of the Berlin wall.

Granted, I'm not saying it's a wrong choice, but I always thought that Luther was designed to be the anti-Hansel.

Posted: 5/18/15 at 7:06pm

East German boy in the 60's/70's glam = Taye Diggs

 

makes sense....

Updated On: 5/18/15 at 07:06 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 7:19pm

I've never seen Taye Diggs perform so I can't comment on the singing or acting aspect. It's hard for me to imagine though, a large black man as Hedwig, whom I only know as a slight, white young East German girly boy with low self esteem. Interesting...

Looking forward to hearing the reviews this summer. 

[rjm516]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 7:33pm

I cannot wait to see him! And I definitely will do everything I can to see him. I think he will be fantastic. That voice on those songs will be great, I think. Something different is always good!

[mariel9]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 8:28pm

Only NPH and JCM have really physically fit the "slip of a girly boy" part of the role. MCH and AR both had wide, masculine shoulders and muscular arms that looked especially beefy in the black slip costume. Taye is bigger than them, so I do wonder if it'll be too distracting. Maybe he can really commit to the role and lay off the weights for the next couple of months.

His race could be worked into the part well. Maybe part of Hansel's alienation and desperation to escape comes from being so Other in Berlin. Maybe his American GI father was black. Will be interesting to see if they change or add much because he's black. They could also go the color-blind casting route, which wouldn't bother me at all.

Updated On: 5/18/15 at 08:28 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 8:43pm

I'm thinking back - Michael Cerveris was not  tall nor beefy was pretty similar in size as JCM. Kevin Cahoon - average height but pretty thin. Matt McGrath- also average height and weight, not particularly muscular. Asa was probably the largest back then. Donovan Leitch - the few times he was Hedwig, he was very very pretty.

Never mind Ally Sheedy!

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 8:49pm

Taye Diggs is only 5 foot 10 inches (shorter than all the others except Darren), and he isn't bigger than AR.  It will be wonderful to see some diversity in the role, even if it is "a large black man" (eye rolling so hard at that dumb ass statement)

 

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 9:39pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KPplYp7K7M

HAHAHAHA

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 9:44pm

"His race could be worked into the part well. Maybe part of Hansel's alienation and desperation to escape comes from being so Other in Berlin. Maybe his American GI father was black. Will be interesting to see if they change or add much because he's black. They could also go the color-blind casting route, which wouldn't bother me at all."

I was wondering about this. His American father being black would make the most sense. Rob Pilatus comes to mind.

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 9:46pm

'Taye Diggs is only 5 foot 10 inches (shorter than all the others except Darren)'

Incorrect, idiot

rollin, rollin, rollin'  Yah, Rawhide!

Updated On: 5/18/15 at 09:46 PM

[luvcaroline]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 10:09pm

I am very excited about this and now thinking I need another trip in late summer to see this (we already have our trip set for June).  I agree with marie19:  working his race into the story would be fascinating. 

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 10:11pm

Seriously, what does it matter what color his skin is?

Isn't JCM's "little slip of a girly boy" just a metaphor for everyone's otherness? 

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 10:17pm

"Seriously, what does it matter what color his skin is?"

don't know, Joey.

"Isn't JCM's "little slip of a girly boy" just a metaphor for everyone's otherness?"

up to interpretation, Joey. To me, no.

 

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 10:22pm

"And I find the choice interesting- having a black Hedwig changes some of the dynamic of the character's obsession with American pop culture. Part of the appeal of Luther to him is how distinctly American-Other he is when compared to the small, awkward, white girly-boy Hedwig. He's American. He's cool. He's confident in his sexual identity. He's big. He's black, which makes him rare and almost exotic on the other side of the Berlin wall.

Granted, I'm not saying it's a wrong choice, but I always thought that Luther was designed to be the anti-Hansel."

This is what I was thinking.

[timisimaginary]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 11:01pm

i see this casting, and any effect it has at challenging people's ideas about who or what hedwig can or can't be, as a positive. hedwig should be all about challenging preconceptions. it's such an inclusive story and inclusive role that it feels odd to me to try to restrict it to a specific sex, race, age, body type, sexual orientation, or other category. i have full confidence in the production to be able to adapt the story to whoever is cast in the part, provided they have the talent to pull it off.

Updated On: 5/18/15 at 11:01 PM

[dfrillsnedit]

Posted: 5/19/15 at 10:06am

I think this is going to bring some incredible new energy into the production. Taye has a very specific voice, that I think will fit Hedwig's score perfectly. As other's have said, I'm really interested to see if any script changes are made, manly to see if they make an acknowledgement of him being in the Hurt Locker Musical.

 

Also, the other thing I am really excited to see is if he gets a new set of wigs. As we've seen with Rebecca, Yitzhak's hair style has been changed. I'd love to see some Diana Ross Mahogany styled hair-do's on Taye, he'd pull it off like a boss. 

[mariel9]

Posted: 5/19/15 at 10:24am

Hmm, Antoinette9000 on instagram (who I think is Yitzhak's dresser?) posted a pic of Yitzhak with a brown/black wig. There was another picture on social media in the past few weeks with some black/brown wigs on a shelf in the background, but I'll never find it again.

https://instagram.com/p/2XKo1oKoh0/

[dfrillsnedit]

Posted: 5/19/15 at 10:36am

Oh snap, maybe one of those is for Taye during "Wig in a Box". But that also could be just one of the wigs from the big frame prop during that number. I'll hope for the first choice

[Brick]

Posted: 5/19/15 at 11:16am

Amazing news. Talented guy, great producers. I'm happy their idea of what Hedwig has been and can be allows for interpretation.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/19/15 at 12:38pm

well, so much for that possible 6-8 week gap that needed to be filled. Diggs' 12 weeks ends Oct. 11 & he's keeping the same schedule that Criss currently has.

[JPeterman]

Posted: 5/19/15 at 1:30pm

I was hoping for a return to the weekend evening 8 and 10 pm show format. I loved the 10 pm shows. I hope some future Hedwig wants to bring that back.

[rjm516]

Posted: 5/19/15 at 4:27pm

timisimaginary that's exactly what I think too. I think it's great that a show that challenges viewers should be challenging all the boundaries it can, including casting. It's gonna be awesome. 

[Alex M]

Posted: 5/20/15 at 9:34pm

Will Taye Diggs improve ticket sales? I never thought he was that famous.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/20/15 at 9:37pm

He won't hurt.