HEDWIG AND
THE ANGRY INCH
Text by John Cameron Mitchell
Music & Lyrics Stephen Trask

August 8-25, 2007

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ABOUT THE PLAY

Ladies and Gentlemen...Whether You Like it or Not…Hedwig! Don't miss this signature encore production of  the glam-rock musical about the  rise of the rock star who survived a sex-change operation to become a legend in his/her own time.  Just weeks before the fall of the Berlin Wall, a young man named Hedwig Schmidt seeks a sex change operation and marriage to an American G.I. as a way to escape East Germany for a new life in America. After arriving in the US he's left stranded and penniless in a trailer park in Kansas. He then seeks retribution in the guise of musical fame and fortune with his punk rock band, the Angry Inch. Among the stops along the way is Charlotte where they play a gig while his former rocker friend, Tommy, is headlining at a concert in Bank of America Stadium.

Recommended for Mature Audiences

MEET THE PLAYWRIGHT

John Cameron Mitchell
John Cameron Mitchell’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch, written with Stephen Trask, made its debut on the stage of Squeezebox, a New York City rock and roll drag bar. The show then premiered Off-Broadway, receiving rave reviews. He was awarded an Obie Award, a New York Magazine Award, a Drama League Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical. John’s film adaptation of Hedwig and the Angry Inch received directing and acting awards at festivals such as Sundance (Audience Award, Best Director), Berlin, Deauville, Seattle International, San Francisco International and San Francisco’s Lesbian & Gay. The film was also honored by the National Board of Review, The LA Film Critics Association, Premiere Magazine and the Golden Globes (Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy). He has received a Drama Desk Award Nomination for his role of Dickon in the Broadway production of The Secret Garden. Off-Broadway, Mitchell received an Obie Award and a Drama Desk Award Nomination for his role of Larry Kramer in The Destiny of Me. In Lincoln Center’s Hello Again, Mitchell received a Drama Desk Nomination. He has also appeared in the original Broadway production of Six Degrees of Seperation and as Huck Finn in the Broadway production of Big River. Mitchell adapted and directed Tennessee Williams’ Kingdom of Earth for New York’s Drama Dept. Theatre Company, of which he is a founding member.

MEET THE LYRICIST

Stephen Trask
Stephen Trask is the author of the music and lyrics for Hedwig and the Angry Inch as well as the Music Director for the show. He was the original leader of the notorious Squeeze Box house band. During his time there as Music Director he performed with Debbie Harry, Lene Lovitch, Hole, Green Day, Joey Ramone, as well as New York's most popular drag queens. For five years Stephen performed with his band, Cheater, who originated the role of “The Angry Inch” Off-Broadway and performed on the original cast recording. From 1993-1998, Stephen danced with and accompanied The Corner Store Dance Company. He has scored numerous dance pieces and movies. During Hedwig’s reign at the Jane Street Theatre, Stephen received an Obie Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical, a 1998 New York Magazine Award, Drama Desk nominations for Outstanding Music, Outstanding Lyrics, and Outstanding New Musical, a Grammy Nomination for Best Cast Album and two GLAMA Awards: Best Cast Album and Best Score for Film or Stage. He was the producer for the album for the rock band Nancy Boy, as well as the score and soundtrack album for the film version of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. He also composed the music for the New York Theatre Workshop production of Cavedweller, adapted from Dorothy Allison’s novel and works regularly in the film world supplying the original score for Camp, The Station Agent and the upcoming film The West Memphis Three.

MEET THE DIRECTOR

Billy Ensley
Billy Ensley performs and directs regionally and returns to Actors’s Theatre where he was last seen playing the role of Hedwig in the past two productions, which he also       directed.  Always interested in bringing something beautiful and new to life on stage, Billy is thrilled to be wearing the director’s hat for this production, working with Scott Ripley in the role of Hedwig.  Billy directed the award winning Bat Boy – The Musical for AT and has been seen on stage here in Visiting Mr. Green, You Should Be So Lucky and Piaff.  Billy is very excited to be playing the role of Katurian in AT’s upcoming production of The Pillowman.  Billy has been honored to receive Creative Loafing’s ‘Actor of the Year’ Award twice and Charlotte Magazine’s ‘Best of the Best’ Award for performance.  Currently, Billy is directing Oliver! for Theatre Charlotte’s opening production of their 80th anniversary season.  To all you Hed Heads – “Lift Up Your Hands!”

MEET THE CAST

Scott Ripley (Hedwig) graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy (BS, English) in 1984 and served aboard the carriers USS Nimitz and USS Theodore Roosevelt as a bombardier/ navigator in Attack Squadron 35. He logged 1,000 hours and 200 arrested landings in the A-6 Intruder. In 1990, he resigned his commission to enter the Professional Actors Training Program at U.C. San Diego, where he received his MFA (Acting) in 1993. Since then he has played leading roles on professional stages across the country and abroad, including at La Jolla Playhouse, American Conservatory Theatre (ACT), Portland Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Taiwan National Theatre, Moscow Art Theatre and for three seasons in the acting company of the American Repertory Theatre. He has also done film, television, commercial and voiceover work in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Mexico, Belgium and the Netherlands. Scott has taught acting, improvisation, voice and movement at U.C. San Diego, Northeastern University, Salem State College, Babson College, the American School of the Hague, Sinclair Community College and Arizona State University. He is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Theatre Department at Davidson College. For ATC, Scott played Peter in Bug (MTA nominee, Best Actor in a Drama) and Charlotte von Mahlsdorf in the critically acclaimed production of I Am My Own Wife, for which he won Creative Loafing’s Theater Person of the Year Award.

Christy Johnson (Yitzhak) has been submerged in the arts since age six months. Christy acquired a BA and MA from UNCG. Musical highlights include: Lucy in Jekyll & Hyde, Sally Bowles in Cabaret, Yitzhak in Hedwig and The Angry Inch, Mama Noah in Children of Eden, Mammy Yokum in Li’l Abner, and Ella Peterson in Bells Are Ringing. She hosted the TV pilot Order Up; is the national spokesmodel for Makeup By Kathy; and was in the Charlotte Film Festival commercial. Christy is featured in films Tobe Hooper's Mortuary; National Lampoons Pucked (both available on DVD); Bollywood production Ta Ra Rum Pum (Currently in various theatres across the US & India); George Clooney’s Leatherheads; Gospel Hill; and Wesley. She is also featured in music videos for Madina Lake (Roadrunner Records) [currently featured on MTV2 & The Fuse] and Giles (Victory Records).  Christy fronts the punk influenced rock band DREAMKILLER, with whom she released the album, “Just Another Freak In The Freak Kingdom.” Other accomplishments include: National Karate Junior Olympics and National Quad Speed Skating Junior Olympics gold medalist, and Miss Junior Greensboro 2003.
Visit http://www.geocities.com/rentphanatic or http://www.myspace.com/ChristyJohnson for more information.

Troy Conn (Lead Guitar) is a versatile guitarist with many years of playing experience covering a wide array of musical styles.  While currently focusing on playing Jazz, Troy studied at UNCC and received his Bachelor’s in Music Performance in classical guitar.  He also attended Berklee College of Music during a Summer Guitar Sessions with an emphasis on Modern Jazz Improv.  Troy has performed in Master classes with Eliot Fisk, Gene Bertoncini and Victor Wooten.  Troy is currently playing with FLOW, an original modern jazz quartet and freelancing in various situations.  He is also the Guitar Instructor at Providence Day School and Pfeiffer College.  This is Troy’s 3rd
musical at Actors Theatre.  

Jeremy DeCarlos (Guitar) was born in Florence, SC, raised in Columbia, SC, and now resides in Rock Hill, where he is a Theatre major at Winthrop University. At Winthrop Jeremy created memorable roles in American Buffalo and Top Dog/Under Dog. Jeremy appeared in ATC’s Johnny Guitar, Crowns, Take Me Out, and most recently Natural Selection. Jeremy has been acting since the age of 13 and has appeared in a few minor roles in films.

Chip Decker (Bass) was born and raised in the Green Mountains of Vermont. (Yes, I like Ben & Jerry’s, No I never went “Cow Tippin”) and has lived in Texas, North Dakota and North Carolina.  Chip joined Actor’s Theatre in 1996 and became Producing Artistic Director in 2002. In addition to acting in our productions of  Dark Rapture, Stumps, Zara Spook & Other Lures, Bug and the Reduced Shakespeare’s  “Abridged” plays, Chip received Creative Loafing’s Best Director (Comedy) Award for our production of Wonder of the World as well as sharing Theatre Person of the Year honors. He also directed the popular  Polish Joke which opened our 2005-2006 season and last Season's The Oldest Profession.

Jeff Lynds (Drums) is thrilled to be back under the lights at the Actor's Theatre performing for the Hed Heds again. I'd like to thank the Actor's Theatre for the opportunity to perform in this tremendous rock 'n' roll show with such a talented cast. Most importantly, love and thanks to my now hearing impaired family for their support and encouragement of a guy playing out on stage the fantasy of being a real rock 'n' roll drummer.

Ryan Stamey (Keyboard) is excited to be a part of Hedwig. He was last seen on the ATC stage as Duke in The Great American Trailer Park Musical and tickling the ivories in The Oldest Profession. He has performed on land and sea with Royal Caribbean and his local credits include The Shakespeare Stealer at Children’s Theatre and Psycho Beach Party with Barebones Theatre Group.