Local Review: The UTEP Dinner Theatre's Side Dish Student Production of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch"

   For their second annual student production, the UTEP Dinner Theatre put on a killer production of John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask's "Hedwig and the Angry Inch", which is a show about a transgender women named Hedwig, who was left with an "angry inch" when her sex change operation got botched. Judging from some of the other reviews I have written on this blog, you might think that "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" would be the type of show I wouldn't like. However, I LOVE this show. I love this show so much, that in fact, I was Hedwig two or three Halloweens ago. The music (By Stephen Trask) is great and book writer and original star, John Cameron Mitchell, did an amazing job creating the complex character that is Hedwig.

   In the title role, Allen Thompson is a ROCK STAR. Hedwig has to be one of the most demanding males roles in the male musical theatre canon and he absolutely SLAYED that role. I really cannot say enough good things about him in that role, he was absolutely perfect. Playing the role of Hedwig's husband, Yitzhak, was Nichole Audrey Hardgrove. Hardgrove was quite good in the role, and occasionally grabbed your attention, while she wasn't speaking, at exactly the right moments. Hardgrove also did an amazing job with the song "Midnight Radio". With a two person show, such as this one, casting is a hit or miss. In this case, it was a definite hit.

  Set designer, Fernado Borboa, did a really great job transforming the UTEP Dinner Theatre into the small, intimate, dingy setting, that you might find Hedwig performing in, in real life. This production was spot on in every single way. When I walked into the theatre, the environment felt absolutely obscure. It almost felt like I was in a bar, it really worked in the show's favor and kind of gave you a small taste of the show before it even started. All of the technical aspects of this production were fine, including Tessa Spence's lighting design and Jim Wilkinson's sound design.

  The UTEP Dinner Theatre's student production of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" was really quite phenomenal. It was a spot on show and if it were still open, I would tell of you to run and see this show. I know there is a touring production of the show on the road right now, and if it comes near you, you must see it.





Image result for 4 and a half stars

The UTEP Dinner Theatre's production of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" was directed by Jonathan Contreras and Allen Thompson and the cast consisted of:

Hedwig/Tommy Ginosis- ALLEN THOMPSON
Yitzhak- NICHOLE AUDREY HARDGROVE
Background Vocals- DANIEL MACIEL 

For more information, visit http://www.academics.utep.edu/Default.aspx?alias=www.academics.utep.edu/udt

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