Cygnet rocks out with “Hedwig”

Matthew Tyler as Hedwig. (Photo by Daren Scott)

In August of 2003, Cygnet Theatre threw open its doors with a production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Now, as Cygnet prepares to leave its original home and focus on the recently renovated Old Town Theatre, the company will once again present the glamrock musical, written by John Cameron Mitchell with Music and Lyrics by Stephen Trask. The new production is currently playing through August 9, 2009 on Cygnet Theatre’s Rolando Stage.

Artistic Director Sean Murray recently reminisced about Cygnet’s opening and the original production of Hedwig. “When we first put hammer to drywall and carved out the Rolando Theatre from the Actor’s Asylum in 2003, Hedwig was our leading lady. No one had heard of us, how could they have? We had not done anything yet! We were tucked in a corner of the Aztec Village Mall in Rolando, near SDSU. Who would find us? But the power of Hedwig brought people to us and set us off on our journey.”

Hedwig and the Angry Inch tells the story of Hedwig Schmidt, the wanna-be rock headliner and her search for identity, love and her “other half.” The show was originally presented at the Westbeth Theatre Centre on 27 February 1997. It opened off-Broadway at the Jane Street Theatre in February 1998 and quickly became a cult hit, winning a Village Voice OBIE Award, an Outer Circle Award and nominated for four Drama Desk Awards. In 2001, New Line Cinemas released the feature film version of Hedwig, which won two awards at the Sundance Film Festival.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Presented by Cygnet Theatre
June 6-Aug. 9
Tickets: $32-$36

6663 El Cajon Blvd, Suite N (in Rolando/College Area)
Box office: 619.337.1525
Online: cygnettheatre.com