By Hannah Kowpank
Iron Crow Theatre’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a raw, electrifying experience that pulses with grit, humor, and an aching vulnerability. Under the direction of Sean Elias, this production leans into the jagged edges of John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask’s cult rock musical, delivering a performance that is both fiercely intimate and ferociously theatrical.
For those unfamiliar, Hedwig is part rock concert, part confessional, following the genderqueer East German singer Hedwig Robinson as she recounts her tumultuous journey of love, loss, and self-discovery. The show is inherently rebellious, an outcry against rigid identities and societal constraints. Iron Crow, Baltimore’s queer theater company, feels like the perfect home for it as they celebrate their 15-year anniversary pioneering queer theater in Baltimore.
At the heart of the production is the mesmerizing lead performance. Leo Gringberg, embodying Hedwig with a scorching intensity, commands the stage with both rockstar bravado and aching humanity. His comedic timing with landing Hedwig’s sardonic jabs garnered laughs from the audience, while the emotional undercurrents — moments of quiet devastation between the spectacle — make this portrayal unforgettable. Vocally, he navigates Trask’s anthemic score with a mix of ferocity and tenderness, from the raucous defiance of “Tear Me Down” to the gut-wrenching honesty of “Wicked Little Town.”
Matching Hedwig’s fire is Canter Irene O’May as Yitzhak, Hedwig’s long-suffering husband and backup singer. Her performance seethes with suppressed resentment and longing, making the eventual unraveling of their dynamic all the more poignant. The scenes between the two crackle with tension, each note and glance telling a story of its own.
Visually, the production embraces the DIY aesthetic that Hedwig thrives on. The set, a tattered remnant of a failed rock tour, is strewn with discarded dreams — neon-lit remnants of Hedwig’s past clashing against the starkness of her present. One of the most striking elements of the production was its innovative use of live camera work, projected in real-time onto a screen behind the stage. This technique added a cinematic layer to the performance, allowing the audience to experience intimate close-ups, shifting perspectives, and behind-the-scenes angles that would be impossible to catch with the naked eye.
Musically, the Angry Inch band is a force in its own right, injecting the show with the raw energy of a back-alley rock gig. Under the musical direction of Michelle Henning, each song pulses with urgency, whether it’s the explosive catharsis of “Exquisite Corpse” or the transcendent release of “Midnight Radio.” The sound design balances the power of the music with the intimacy of Hedwig’s storytelling, ensuring that no lyric or whispered confession is lost.
What makes this Hedwig particularly resonant is how it speaks to the current moment. Hedwig’s struggle with identity, belonging, and self-creation feels as urgent as ever, and Iron Crow’s production does not shy away from the show’s inherent queerness. Instead, it celebrates it, making space for Hedwig’s pain and joy to exist without compromise. The result is a show that doesn’t just entertain — it confronts, embraces, and ultimately liberates.
In the familiar ballad “Origins of Love,” the timeless story clashes with images of the current political climate behind the band. In an era where trans and queer people are being targeted by laws that dictate where we can exist, who we can be, and how we’re allowed to love, the song becomes more than a theatrical number. It’s a protest. But the song, like the show itself, refuses to dwell in despair. Instead, it insists that love — deep, true, and unapologetic — will always endure.
Iron Crow Theatre’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a triumph, a searing testament to the power of self-expression and resilience. It is as heartbreaking as it is hilarious, as messy as it is meticulously crafted. Whether you are a longtime Hedwig devotee or a newcomer to her story, this production is one of a kind to be seen, felt, and experienced.
Running Time: 90 minutes, with no intermission.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch played March 14 to 16, 2025, presented by Iron Crow Theatre performing at M&T Bank Exchange at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center,, 401 W Fayette St., Baltimore, MD.
Credits for the cast and creative team are here.
