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HERE COMES... HEDWIG!


EUAN MORTON DEBUTS THE ANGRY INCH IN SAN DIEGO by lisa lipsey


With rehearsals now underway in San Francisco,


Tony and Oliver Award-nominee Euan Morton is preparing for his debut performance as Hedwig. Morton signed on to theHedwig and the Angry Inch national tour just a few weeks ago, with his debut taking place here in San Diego. The history ofHedwig is an interesting one. With


stories of mainstream rejection and a fierce desire to be heard, the show first ran in 1997 in a make- shift theatre in New York. In an era that had just begun to acceptRENT, it was cutting edge and far ahead of its time. Even so,Hedwig developed a fervent cult following and one that only grew with the 2001 film, starring the show’s coauthor, John Cameron Mitchell. Now, the famed winner of four 2014 Tony


Awards including Best Musical Revival,Hedwig and the Angry Inch has been dubbed brilliant, heartbreaking and mischievously funny.Be sure to check out the music, it has a heart-palpitating rock sound.San Diego’s production falls under the direction of Tony Award-winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening). Morton, who originated the role of Boy George


in the musicalTaboo in London and New York, is thrilled to play Hedwig, “I have been blessed in my career, but no blessing has been as exciting as the chance I’ve been given to take over the role of Hedwig. I can’t wait to slip into her golden boots and begin the transformation into this cultural icon! I’m ready for the ride of my life.”


Morton feels his acting history will be helpful in playing Hedwig, “Boy George, plays with gender and is gender fluid. Friends who saw me said, ‘You should be Hedwig!’ Then producers called and asked me to audition and I got the job! I am working on my German accent now and choreography, acting, singing. I feel horribly nervous.” “When they called me, I thought ‘Oh wonder-


ful’ and at the same time, ‘Oh no!’ You want the job, no question, but now that I have the job, I


was worried I wasn’t ready to take on this responsi- bility. Hedwig is a character of great magnitude and depth and I don’t want to let the show’s team or the audience down. I am the seventh to be cast and everybody has a favorite. May I be as good or better, just please not be worse,” said Morton sincerely, pleading with the theatre gods. In preparing for the role, Morton says,


“This is very emotional work, the show is wickedly funny and wickedly sad. Hedwig is a character that has such history—such an important place in modern history—es- pecially with transgender rights and gender queer identities. Hedwig is reflective of our shared humanity.” “Hedwig asks questions about


things that are deeply human and never go away and you are watching someone who may or may not explode the room. She asks the questions publicly and searches for the answers on stage. Her understanding of life, her way of communicating, is truly unique. She lets the audience go away with tools and tips for their own search.” Much like Hedwig, in his work and personal life, Morton is passionate about creating community, “It is very important for me and for all of us, as it is for Hedwig, that she finds her people and does this show. That all people have a community, a culture, be it transgender, gender queer or all LGBT people. If we don’t come together and love each other for who we are, we won’t survive the next few years. Build community love through theatre, art and shopping local. Look after your Muslim neighbors and create bridges. Playing Hedwig means I get to be in the middle, I get to straddle a bridge and a wall. Playing Hedwig is a way I can give back to the community.”


Hedwig and the Angry Inch runsTuesday, November 29 through Sunday, December 4at the San Diego Civic Theatre downtown. For tickets and more information, call 619.570.1100 or go tobroadwaysd.com.


Hedwig asks questions


about things that are deeply human and never go away. She asks the questions


publicly and searches for the answers on stage.”


52


RAGE monthly | NOVEMBER 2016


| NOVEMBER 2016


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