Lift up your hands for the most groundbreaking, gut-busting, gender-bending character ever to grace the stage! Join the outrageous Hedwig Schmidt as she shares her story, backed by her rock band “The Angry Inch,” for an immersive rock event that will inspire anyone who feels life has given them an inch when they deserved a mile.
HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH
Lift up your hands for the most groundbreaking, gut-busting, gender-bending character ever to grace the stage!
Lift up your hands for the most groundbreaking, gut-busting, gender-bending character ever to grace the stage! Join the outrageous Hedwig Schmidt as she shares her story, backed by her rock band "The Angry Inch," for an immersive rock event that will inspire anyone who feels life has given them an inch when they deserved a mile.
Meet The Cast
Scott Anthony Joy
Hedwig
Scott Anthony Joy is ecstatic to be here in Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Detroit Public Theatre! Michigan: The Glass Menagerie, Assassins (Flint Repertory Theatre), Constellations, The Last Five Years, columbinus, My Dad was Fifteen Feet Tall (Outvisible Theatre Company). Regional: South Pacific (Paper Mill Playhouse, The Muny), Saturday Night Fever (Royal Caribbean), The Goat…Sylvia? (St. Louis Actors’ Studio), The Jungle Book (Stages St. Louis), Macbeth (St. Louis Rep), Into the Woods, All Shook Up, Hairspray (Grandstreet Theatre). BFA in Musical Theatre from Webster Conservatory. Thank you to fellow Gorlok Courtney Burkett, everyone at DPT and my family. This one is for the misfits. Keep listening to that midnight radio. www.scottanthonyjoy.com
Lily Talevski
Yitzhak
Lily Talevski is stoked to be making her Detroit Public Theatre debut! Regional credits include Girl in Once (Northern Stage), #7 in The Wolves (TheatreSquared), Ali in Mamma Mia (Mason Street Warehouse) and Tania in Carner and Gregor’s Toast (Bloomington Playwrights Project). Film credits include Debbie in The Pickle Recipe (Michael Manasseri dir.) and Flavia in Ovid and the Art of Love (Esme Von Hoffman dir.) Of Macedonian decent and a metro-Detroit native, she holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Oakland University and is currently living in New York. Many thanks go out to the entire creative team, The Hybrid Agency, Howard Emmanuel, Eric Gutman, Vladimir, Suzana and of course, Mom.
Meet The Creative Team
John Cameron Mitchell
Text
After a transient childhood moving every two years with his career army dad and family, Mitchell graduated from Northwestern University and headed for California where he developed a steady career playing bit roles in TV sitcoms (McGuyver, The Twilight Zone, Law & Order). On Broadway he starred in the original production of Six Degrees of Separation. With musician Stephen Trask he created the character Hedwig for a New York drag show. The two went on to make an off-Broadway musical about Hedwig the German transsexual, victim of a botched sex job, and her rock & roll band. After three years off-Broadway, Hedwig and the Angry Inch the movie arrived in theaters in 2001 and quickly established a cult status akin to the Rocky Horror Picture Show. It also earned Mitchell a Best Director Award at the Sundance Film Festival and a Teddy Award for Best Gay/Lesbian Feature. Mitchell has moved on—current projects include an animated children’s movie and an adult video—but he acknowledges his debt to Hedwig for releasing him from “his drab journeyman’s existence as an actor.”
Stephen Trask
Music & Lyrics
Stephen is an American musician and composer, who graduated from Wesleyan University. He was the music director and house band member at the New York club Squeezebox, where he performed with stars such as Debbie Harry, Lene Lovich and Joey Ramone. Trask composed the music and lyrics for the off-Broadway stage musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch (also a 2001 film), about a transsexual rock star named Hedwig. Trask’s real-life band Cheater performed as Hedwig’s band “The Angry Inch.” He received an Obie Award for the play and a Grammy Award nomination for the movie. He has done five films with filmmaker Paul Weitz. He composed the score for 2004’s In Good Company and American Dreamz, for which he also co-wrote the numerous songs the contestants sing, as well as the 2009 film Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant. Trask also scored the 2003 movies Camp and The Station Agent, as well as Dreamgirls (2006), In the Land of Women (2007), The Savages (2007), and The Back-up Plan (2010), among other works. He scored the 2010 film Little Fockers, a sequel to both Meet the Parents (2000) and Meet the Fockers (2004). Recent work includes the 2013 films Lovelace, directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffery Friedman and Admission, directed by Paul Weitz. Trask performed with Yoko Ono on July 14, 2007 at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago, Illinois.
Courtney Burkett
Director
Courtney’s DPT directing credits include Cry It Out, Marie and Rosetta, Murder Ballad (Wilde Award Nomination: Best Musical; It’s All Theatre: Best of Season), American Hero, and the touring production of Detroit ‘67. Courtney played Laurie in DPT’s production of Pipeline. Prior to co-founding DPT, Courtney spent five years as Director of Theatre Programs at Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, where she trained and mentored hundreds of young actors. Directing credits at Mosaic include The Tempest, Candide, Hastings Street, Lil Ham, and The Crucible. Before Mosaic, Courtney was a founding artistic partner with Breathe Art Theatre Project, where she directed and produced many productions and appeared in boom (Winner: The Rogue Critic Best Supporting Actress). Courtney spent two years working at the University of Michigan as the managing director of the CRLT Players. In that position, she oversaw 50 applied theatre performances annually on campuses throughout the country. Courtney also served as the business manager for the University of Detroit Mercy Theatre Company. While at UDM, Courtney taught in the Department of Theatre and directed and performed in Theatre Company productions. Courtney is a fourth generation native Detroiter. She received her BFA from Webster Conservatory of Theatre Arts and her MFA from Wayne State’s Hilberry Theatre program.
Eric Gutman
Music Director & Keyboard
Eric is thrilled to be returning to Detroit Public Theatre after the nearly sold-out runs of both his one-man show, “From Broadway to Obscurity” (2016 Wilde Award, Best One Person Show) and “Murder Ballad”. Eric has previously performed in “Hedwig…” on guitars and bass with Breathe Art Theatre Project and The Ringwald Theatre (also as MD). When not in Detroit, Eric tours with Under the Streetlamp, a retro rock and roll experience celebrating music from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and beyond. Broadway/National Tours: Jersey Boys; Off-Broadway: Forbidden Broadway, Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding. Thank you to Courtney, Sarah and Sarah Clare for continuing to collaborate with me in so many ways and for bringing relevant and important art to the city. My involvement in this show is dedicated to my wife, who would never allow me turn down an opportunity to play this amazing show. IG: @theguter or @underthestreetlamp
Isabelle Molnar
Costume Design
Isabelle is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan’s School of Music Theatre and Dance, and is excited for DPT’s Hedwig to be the first professional theatrical production of her career as a costume designer. Isabelle has costumed a total of 12 theatre and dance productions throughout her time at the University of Michigan, and began her Detroit-based professional career designing for choreographer Jennifer Crabrook’s Landlord Colors. Isabelle is excited to see the growth in Detroit’s performing arts scene and honored to be a part of it.
Chantal Gaidica
Lighting Design
Chantel is a freelance production manager and lighting designer. In addition, she is the producer for A Host of People, with whom she also has the pleasure of lighting devised work. She is a graduate of New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, and is lucky to be working with incredible artists in Detroit, New York, and other cities whenever possible. Recent lighting credits include Cleopatra Boy (A Host of People/Andy Arts), The Moors (Aquinas College), Fred (On The Rocks/Dixon Place), and Re-Release Party: The Golden Record (A Host of People/Ant Hall). Love and laughs to Charlie, Lucelenia, and Claudia. www.chantelgaidica.com
Tony Ross
Sound Design
Tony is an audio engineer, sound designer, and musician. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in studio recording, he made his audio home at Planet Ant as the Audio Director engineering live music and theater performances. He has worked with an array of Detroit and National musicians, theater and comedy performers, including Will Sessions, Ryan Dillaha, Detroit The Musical, The Daedelus 2 Mission, Robert Kelly and Todd Barry.
Mikey Brown
Projection Design
Pegi Marshall
Scenic Design
Mother of twins, Union Scenic Designer, props artisan, set builder, scenic painter, and advocate for green and sustainable theatre practices. Once upon a time, Pegi professed to students at such places as Baltimore School for the Arts, Morgan State University, Wayne State University, University of North Carolina and California Polytechnic State University. Nowadays, she is happy to get a full night of sleep and overjoyed that her children are growing up witness to her making art for the stage with her beloved Mike James!
Sarah Ackerman
Production Stage Manager
Sarah is a freelance stage manager from Warren, Michigan. She is elated to be making her DPT stage management debut. Sarah has a BFA in stage management from Michigan State University. She travels the country, stage managing musicals, operas, concerts, and events. Her most recent credits are La Traviata (Utah Opera) and Pippin (Summer Theatre of New Canaan). She also acts as Director of Technical Theatre at the Stoney Creek Theatre Company, teaching stage management, prop design, electrics, sound, and scenic art to high school students. Sarah also freelances as a scenic painter, makeup artist, theatre educator, and vocalist. Proud member of Actors’ Equity. Many thanks to Mom, Dad, Kate, Charlie, and the DPT staff. Go Green! sarahmackerman.com
Maxwell Allen
Rehearsal Assistant Stage Manager
Maxwell Allen is thrilled to work as Assistant Stage Management intern for this production. He is a graduate of Central Michigan University with a degree in theatre and media. This is his first time working with Detroit Public Theatre. He would like to thank his family for their support, as well as the cast and crew for a great experience.
Meet The Band
Sarah Reznich
Guitar
Sarah is a unique Detroit-bred artist who has been performing in the area for many years. She is a dynamic multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, equally at home singing and playing guitar, bass, and piano—a versatility which lends to her distinct style and sound. Some highlighted performances include the Detroit Music Awards, Concert of Colors, SXSW, and Metamorphosis Festival in Japan. Sarah can be found performing in the band Brother Hallow and with various other artists around Detroit.
Shawn Neal
Drums
Shawn began his interest in drumming at the age of five, when he slipped away from his parents at a music festival and was eventually found camped out behind Juice Newton’s drum kit. After being grounded, he later went on to study and play drums professionally on multiple tours, recordings, and musical productions, including From Broadway to Obscurity and Murder Ballad at Detroit Public Theatre. He is currently the co-founder and creative director of Woodshed Agency, where his work as a cinematographer has been featured in the documentary films Boy Howdy! The Story of CREEM Magazine, Being Satori Circus, and Under The Radar Michigan. He is thrilled to have once again wandered off from his daily life to find himself behind the drum kit, performing his favorite musical of all time at Detroit Public Theatre.
Emily Rogers
Bass
Boldly blazing trails into uncharted artistic vision, Emily Rogers is a prolific producer. An interdisciplinary artist, she actively works as a songwriter, musician, dancer, choreographer, event curator, musical director, host, and DJ. When Emily picked up the bass, she found a musical soulmate. In her hometown of Detroit, Emily is recognized and respected for her musicianship and showmanship. She is an accomplished bandleader, instrumental in the formation of eM Theory, My Detroit Players, RIB, Lola Valley, J Hill and the Wolves, Clear Grey and YIN: projects which have received nominations for Detroit Music Awards for best band, best song-writing, most outstanding live show, and best audio recording. In 2013, she received the Detroit Music Award for best rock instrumentalist. Her skillful playing and powerful stage presence have awarded her many live performance and studio recording appearances nationally and internationally. Highlights include: acclaimed hip-hop emcee Royce Da 5’9, Techno pioneers Underground Resistance, actor Jon Michael Hill (Detroit 187, Empire), Chicago house diva Screamin’ Rachel, One Be Lo of Binary Star, Black Women Rock, Sean Blackman’s InTransit, P-A-U-L, Buppy Lenox Brown, and other industry icons such as the Bass brothers, Barrett Strong, Ortheia Barnes, Wesley Snipes, Phuture Trax Records, George Clinton, the Russell Simmons Camp, and Westbound Records. In addition to her endeavors as a musician and songwriter, Emily contributes to the vibrancy of the Detroit community by curating inclusive concerts, recordings/jam sessions, micro festivals, and multimedia events. Emily has an eclectic catalog of available music, a plethora of performance chronicles, fantastic stories, and artistic adventures
