Upon entering the Ark Theater, one is immediately transported to a grungy, offbeat club where Hedwig and her band, The Angry Inch, are about to take the stage. Richie Ouellette’s set design leans into the grit and rawness of the story — with dismembered mannequin body parts strewn about, it evokes a world held together by glitter, duct tape, and defiance. It’s a visual cue that this isn’t going to be a polished Broadway affair — it’s Hedwig’s world, jagged edges and all.
Under the direction of Ethan Heard, the production embraces the show’s contradictions — glam and grime, humor and heartache, spectacle and sincerity — creating a space where Hedwig’s fractured journey can unfold with both immediacy and imagination.
The show kicks off with an opening monologue that aims to blend raunchy humor with punk swagger, but the comedy didn’t fully land. Several jokes were met with silence — a surprise not just to the audience, but seemingly to Hedwig herself. The lack of early laughs created an uneven momentum that took a little while to recover from. Fortunately, the energy shifted once the story and songs took the spotlight.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch follows the journey of Hedwig Robinson, a genderqueer East German rock singer left physically and emotionally scarred by a botched sex-change operation and a string of failed relationships. After escaping the Iron Curtain through a marriage that quickly crumbles, Hedwig reinvents herself in the U.S., only to be betrayed by Tommy Gnosis, a former protégé and lover who rockets to stardom using her stolen songs. Through biting wit and searing ballads, Hedwig lays bare her story — one of heartbreak, survival, and the relentless search for identity and love.
Sawyer Smith’s portrayal of Hedwig was appropriately bawdy and bitter, at times heart-wrenching, but always true to their rock ‘n’ roll persona. Smith brought a volatile mix of sharp-tongued defiance and aching vulnerability, capturing the fractured brilliance of a character who refuses to be broken. Vanessa (V) Sterling gave a standout performance as Yitzhak, Hedwig’s long-suffering husband and backup singer. Sterling’s restrained power and simmering emotion added crucial depth to the show, culminating in a breathtaking final transformation.
Kudos are due to sound designer Eric Norris, who struck an impressive balance for a rock musical. While earplugs were thoughtfully offered at the door, the mix was well-controlled: loud enough to evoke a club concert experience, but clear enough to preserve the integrity of the lyrics and underscored dialogue. That’s no small feat in an intimate space like the Ark.
Special recognition must also go to Ali Pohanka for wig and makeup design. Hedwig’s looks throughout the show were as bold, layered, and expressive as the character herself — from towering wigs to glitter-laced eyes and smudged glam rock weariness, the visual transformation was essential to the storytelling. Pohanka’s work helped externalize Hedwig’s shifting emotional states, serving as both armor and identity.
This production takes on added resonance during World Pride in Washington, DC, as Hedwig remains a touchstone for queer expression, defiance, and the ongoing journey toward self-acceptance. It’s also fitting to remember that Rick Hammerly — a key figure in the DC theater scene — received a 2003 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical for his turn as Hedwig in Signature Theatre’s acclaimed production. This new staging continues that legacy, reminding us of the enduring power and necessity of Hedwig’s story.
Despite a rocky start, this Hedwig and the Angry Inch delivers the core of what makes the show iconic: boldness, heartbreak, killer music, and a fierce celebration of selfhood. It’s messy in places, but so is Hedwig — and that’s part of the point.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Signature Theatre
Ark Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave in Arlington, VA
90 minutes with no intermission
ends on June 22, 2025
for tickets, call 703-820-9771 or visit Signature
for more shows, visit Theatre in DC
