It’s time to put that wig back on the shelf: “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” is closing on Broadway.
The producers of the Tony-winning revival announced on Tuesday that the show, now starring Taye Diggs in the title role, will finish its Broadway run on Sept. 13 at the Belasco Theater. At that time it will have played 22 previews and 506 regular performances.
A rock musical about an “internationally ignored” East German singer — the victim of botched sex-change surgery — “Hedwig” was never obvious Broadway fare. With a book by John Cameron Mitchell and music and lyrics by Stephen Trask, it began Off Off Broadway nearly two decades ago, built a dedicated cult following of “Hedheads,” and arrived on Broadway thanks to the star power of Neil Patrick Harris, who won the Tony for Michael Mayer’s production.
“Hedwig” recouped its budget on Broadway in just 15 weeks, and played to enthusiastic houses even after Mr. Harris departed.
Mr. Diggs, the first African-American to play Hedwig on Broadway, joined the cast on July 22, and was scheduled to continue through Oct. 11, but the box office has been flagging. For the week ending Aug. 16, the show grossed just over $400,000, playing to 75 per cent capacity.
An earlier version of this post misstated the day that the producers announced that the show was closing. It was Tuesday, not Thursday.