Spreading it like a disease...
Acclaimed rock musical “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” comes to Jefferson
Production stars award-winning performers David Colbert and Petra DeLuca
LOUISVILLE, KY (Nov. 3, 2006) -- A professional production of an off-Broadway rock musical is coming to Louisville and Jefferson Community and Technical College, thanks to the efforts of a pair of professors, who were inspired by the show’s messages and moved by its humor and music.
“Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” starring Barrymore-award winners David Colbert and Petra DeLuca, will run for six nights, Nov. 13-18, at the Southwest Campus of Jefferson Community and Technical College. The Colbert and DeLuca production has run in numerous U.S. cities to wide acclaim. The production is coming to Louisville from New York City where it was performed Oct. 31 to benefit Broadway Cares.
“We chose ‘Hedwig’ because of both its entertainment value and its messages of self-affirmation, acceptance and love,” said English professor Pam Butsch, who is funding the production with her husband, Rick Butsch, also an English professor at Jefferson. “Despite its controversial nature, the play can inspire everyone. Once we saw it, we knew we had to find a way to bring it here.”
“Hedwig,” about a fictional rock-and-roll band fronted by a transsexual singer is based in part on Plato’s Symposium. It was written by John Cameron Mitchell; music and lyrics are by Stephen Trask.
The Butschs hope students will attend the production, but it is open to the public. “We thought this would be a wonderful opportunity to bring off-Broadway to both the JCTC and Southwest community,” said Rick Butsch, who noted that tickets are only $10 to make it accessible, especially for students.
“Hedwig” tells the story of Hansel, who falls in love with Luther, an American soldier in Communist East Germany. Hansel undergoes sex change surgery to marry Luther and flee to the United States. However the operation is botched, leaving Hansel, now Hedwig, with scar tissue and the “angry inch” of the title. Later when the marriage fails, Hedwig takes charge of her life by forming a punk/rock band, which she names “The Angry Inch” and hits the road in search of her “other half.” Colbert starts as Hedwig and DeLuca as Yitzhak, Hedwig’s second husband.
“It’s edgy and it’s fun and the band really rocks. We expect to blow the roof off the auditorium,” Rick Butsch said. “We hope people from all over the area come to experience this extraordinary event.”
Performances will be held at the JCTC Southwest Campus Auditorium:
Monday, Nov. 13: 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 14: 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 15: 6 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 16: 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 17: 8 p.m.
Saturday Nov. 18: 8 p.m.
Tickets, which are $10, may be reserved by calling Dr. Pam Butsch at 213-7279, Dr. Rick Butsch at 213-5130, or Elizabeth Gaw at 213-7266. Reserved tickets can be picked up at the Southwest Campus Humanities Building Monday - Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or at the box office up to two hours before each performance. Tickets also maybe purchased at the box office before each performance. Seating is general admission. Credit cards cannot be accepted.
Production stars award-winning performers David Colbert and Petra DeLuca
LOUISVILLE, KY (Nov. 3, 2006) -- A professional production of an off-Broadway rock musical is coming to Louisville and Jefferson Community and Technical College, thanks to the efforts of a pair of professors, who were inspired by the show’s messages and moved by its humor and music.
“Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” starring Barrymore-award winners David Colbert and Petra DeLuca, will run for six nights, Nov. 13-18, at the Southwest Campus of Jefferson Community and Technical College. The Colbert and DeLuca production has run in numerous U.S. cities to wide acclaim. The production is coming to Louisville from New York City where it was performed Oct. 31 to benefit Broadway Cares.
“We chose ‘Hedwig’ because of both its entertainment value and its messages of self-affirmation, acceptance and love,” said English professor Pam Butsch, who is funding the production with her husband, Rick Butsch, also an English professor at Jefferson. “Despite its controversial nature, the play can inspire everyone. Once we saw it, we knew we had to find a way to bring it here.”
“Hedwig,” about a fictional rock-and-roll band fronted by a transsexual singer is based in part on Plato’s Symposium. It was written by John Cameron Mitchell; music and lyrics are by Stephen Trask.
The Butschs hope students will attend the production, but it is open to the public. “We thought this would be a wonderful opportunity to bring off-Broadway to both the JCTC and Southwest community,” said Rick Butsch, who noted that tickets are only $10 to make it accessible, especially for students.
“Hedwig” tells the story of Hansel, who falls in love with Luther, an American soldier in Communist East Germany. Hansel undergoes sex change surgery to marry Luther and flee to the United States. However the operation is botched, leaving Hansel, now Hedwig, with scar tissue and the “angry inch” of the title. Later when the marriage fails, Hedwig takes charge of her life by forming a punk/rock band, which she names “The Angry Inch” and hits the road in search of her “other half.” Colbert starts as Hedwig and DeLuca as Yitzhak, Hedwig’s second husband.
“It’s edgy and it’s fun and the band really rocks. We expect to blow the roof off the auditorium,” Rick Butsch said. “We hope people from all over the area come to experience this extraordinary event.”
Performances will be held at the JCTC Southwest Campus Auditorium:
Monday, Nov. 13: 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 14: 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 15: 6 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 16: 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 17: 8 p.m.
Saturday Nov. 18: 8 p.m.
Tickets, which are $10, may be reserved by calling Dr. Pam Butsch at 213-7279, Dr. Rick Butsch at 213-5130, or Elizabeth Gaw at 213-7266. Reserved tickets can be picked up at the Southwest Campus Humanities Building Monday - Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or at the box office up to two hours before each performance. Tickets also maybe purchased at the box office before each performance. Seating is general admission. Credit cards cannot be accepted.