HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH Returns To Harrisburg

Located in the heart of Harrisburg's historic Old Midtown district, The House of Music, Arts & Culture (H·MAC) is a 34,000 sq. ft. multi-venue arts and entertainment complex. Listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings, HMAC presents live music, karaoke, open mic, theatrical productions and more year-round. This weekend at 8pm May 24th, 25th, & 26th HMAC presents the stage musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch, at their Stage On Herr venue with a live rock band on stage. Having produced the show here back in 2014 before its Broadway premiere, HMAC is glad to bring back its stars Chad-Alan Carr and Lindsay Bretz-Morgan, along with band members Nicholas Werner, Michael Giblin, Tommy Kristich, and Ken Geist, for this return production this week. $20 tickets are available in advance online or at the door. HMAC's kitchen and full bars will be open during the performances. www.harrisburgarts.com 1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, PA 17102. 717-412-4342.

Hedwig And The Angry Inch is about a fictional rock and roll band fronted by a transgender East German singer, who survives a botched sex change operation to aid in her escape from Communist East Berlin to become an American citizen. The leading character Hedwig Schmidt, after a divorce from the American Sergeant who marries her to escape to America, subsequently develops a relationship with a younger man, Tommy, becoming his mentor and musical collaborator, only to have Tommy steal her music and move on to become famous without her. The film follows Hedwig and her backing band, the Angry Inch, as they shadow Tommy's tour, while exploring Hedwig's past and complex gender identity. The text is by John Cameron Mitchell, and the music and lyrics are by Stephen Trask. The story draws on Mitchell's life as the son of a U.S. Army Major General who once commanded the U.S. sector of occupied West Berlin. The character of Hedwig was inspired by a German divorced U.S. Army wife who was a Mitchell family babysitter and moonlighted as a prostitute at her Junction City, Kansas, trailer park home. The music is steeped in the androgynous 1970s glam rock style of David Bowie (who co-produced the Los Angeles production of the show), as well as the work of John Lennon and early punk performers Lou Reed and Iggy Pop. Having workshopped through parties, drag shows, and open mic nights, the musical opened Off-Broadway in 1998 starring the text writer, John Cameron Mitchell, and won the Obie Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical. The production ran for two years, and was remounted with various casts by the original creative team in other US cities. In 2000, the musical had a London West End production, and it has been produced throughout the world in hundreds of stage productions. In 2001, the film won the Best Director and Audience Awards at the Sundance Film Festival. In 2014, the show saw its first Broadway incarnation, opening that April at the Belasco Theatre starring Neil Patrick Harris and winning the year's Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.

Chad-Alan Carr is thrilled to reprise the title role again with so many talented friends here at HMAC in Hedwig And The Angry Inch. Other favorite roles include Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, Stacee Jaxx in Rock Of Ages, Zach in A Chorus Line, and the Leading Player in Pippin. Originally from Texas, Chad is the Founding Executive/Artistic Director for Gettysburg Community Theatre located in the heart of historic downtown Lincoln Square in Gettysburg, PA. Chad received his formal training as a scholarship student of the Bachelor of Fine Arts Musical Theatre Program at Sam Houston State University where he was also later awarded a Distinguished Theatre Alumni Award for Achievement In Professional Theatre. With well over 200 productions (as director/choreographer or performer) to his name, Chad has been involved in professional and community theatres across the country for the past 30 years including the 50th Anniversary Broadway National Tour of Singin' In The Rain, which toured 46 states in the U.S., plus Canada. Chad is excited to help bring hundreds of theatre artists from across the country to visit Gettysburg with the American Association Of Community Theatres National Festival in June 2019. www.GettysburgCommunityTheatre.org

Lindsay Bretz-Morgan plays the role of Yitzhak and she is honored to bring this show back to life at HMAC with this crazy talented cast. Lindsay has produced and performed in many shows here at HMAC including Cabaret (Sally Bowles), Tommy (Mrs Walker), and The Rocky Horror Show (Janet). She has toured nationally and internationally and performed locally with Allenberry Playhouse, Theatre Harrisburg, Carlisle Theatre, Hershey Playhouse, Prima, Oystermill Playhouse and Barebones Theatre Company. Lindsay holds a BA in musical theatre from Point Park University and after teaching voice at Lebanon Valley College for eight years, she now just teaches privately. She also manages and serves at The Belvedere Inn in Lancaster. This beautiful show holds a special place in her heart and she hopes you enjoy its beauty as well. Thank you to HMAC, John, Gary and everyone who supports this place and the arts in general.

Photo: Chad-Alan Carr as Hedwig and Lindsay Bretz-Morgan as Yitzhak perform in the rock musical Hedwig And The Angry Inch May 24-26, 2018 at HMAC in Harrisburg.

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