The late 90′s Off Broadway musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch has been ON Broadway since the end of March of 2014 is not only a remarkable story and amazing display of talent from Neil Patrick Harris but also A LOT of Wigs (and makeup!) !!
Illustration: Tom Bachtell
Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a musical comedy drama about a rock band front by Hedwig a transgendered singer from East Berlin. The show is unlike any other on Broadway with it’s bawdy jokes and gritty drama all with a flair of rock and roll and a dash of punk. In order to make Hedwig, well Hedwig a lot of make up and mayn wigs are required!
Hedwig’s most famous wig is the one with the GIANT Farrah curls on either side of her face. When the writer and original Hedwig, John Cameron Mitchell asked Mike Potters to make a “Farrah XXL” in the 90′s Potters says: “So I did the wig—staples, toilet-paper rolls, and glue. Kinda tragic. Kind of punk rock”. How excellent is that??! Like the musical, Potter’s too has come a long way with his wig designing and styling especially with his innovative wigs for the Broadway production. Hedwig remains on stage throughout the entire hour and forty minute production which means that offstage hair, makeup and wardrobe changes aren’t feasible so Mike Potter made all of Hedwig’s elaborate wigs easy for Neil Patrick Harris to change on his own by using magnets!!! This allows the actor to quickly slip off one wig and snap on another. Another neat feature for the opening act is a “bi-level” wig made up of 3 parts so that Harris can easily snap off one part and snap on another.
Photo: Joan Harris
