by Sierra Pasquale
There’s something thrillingly unhinged (and unexpectedly tender) happening at Albany Civic Theater right now. Their production of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” captures all the chaos, heartbreak, humor, and glam-rock fury that has made the show a cult classic for decades, while still finding moments of genuine emotional intimacy underneath the glitter and fishnets.
For those unfamiliar, “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” tells the story of Hedwig, an East German singer navigating identity, love, betrayal, and artistic survival after a botched gender reassignment surgery leaves her with the titular “angry inch.” Structured as a pseudo-rock concert, the musical unfolds through a mix of storytelling, biting comedy, and explosive musical numbers as Hedwig reflects on a life shaped by abandonment, reinvention, and the desperate search for wholeness. It’s a strange show by design. It is often profane, hilarious, and deeply vulnerable beneath its punk exterior.
At the center of this production is Leo Grinberg, who delivers a magnetic, star-level performance as Hedwig. Grinberg understands that the role works best not when Hedwig is played as a caricature, but as someone desperately performing strength while barely holding themselves together emotionally. The result is a performance that feels fearless without losing its humanity. Vocally, Grinberg absolutely tears through the score, handling both the rock-show swagger and the quieter emotional beats with remarkable control. But what truly elevates the performance is the emotional nuance. The flashes of pain behind the bravado, the exhaustion beneath the humor, and the aching need to be understood.
The production surrounding Grinberg rises impressively to meet that energy. The set design (Mike McDermott) embraces the gritty cabaret atmosphere the show demands, creating a space that feels part dive concert and part confessional. Rather than overcomplicating the staging, the production smartly lets the environment feel lived-in and rough around the edges, which suits the material perfectly. The intimate space at Albany Civic Theater actually works to the show’s advantage, making audiences feel less like passive viewers and more like attendees at one of Hedwig’s emotionally unraveling gigs.
The costume design (Sheena Johnson) is another standout. Hedwig requires costumes that are simultaneously exaggerated and revealing. Clothes are armor disguised as glam rock excess and this production nails that balance beautifully. Every outfit, torn fishnet, and over-the-top accessory feels like an extension of Hedwig’s fractured identity: part performance art, part self-protection mechanism. The costumes never feel cheap or campy for the sake of camp; they feel intentional, expressive, and deeply tied to character.
Musically (Nick Graziade), the production delivers exactly what audiences want from Hedwig: volume, intensity, and rawness. The band (Nick Graziade, Cory Haines, Scott Winn, Benji Hefner) sounds fantastic, giving the score the punch and grit it needs while still allowing the lyrics’ emotional weight to come through. Songs like “Origin of Love” and “Midnight Radio” land with particular force here, balancing spectacle with sincerity in a way that earns the emotional payoff.
And perhaps that’s what makes this production work so well overall is that it understands that beneath all the glam rock chaos, Hedwig is ultimately about longing. The longing to be loved, to be seen, to become whole. The show’s themes of identity and reinvention feel as relevant as ever, but the production never turns didactic or heavy-handed. Instead, it trusts the material and the performers to carry those ideas naturally.
To be clear, “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” is not a musical that will appeal to everyone. It’s loud, weird, sexually explicit, emotionally messy, and aggressively unconventional. But for fans of the show (or anyone interested in seeing ambitious local theater that takes real artistic risks) this production is absolutely worth seeing. Albany Civic Theater has mounted a production that feels vibrant, emotionally honest, and unapologetically alive, anchored by a truly exceptional turn from Leo Grinberg that deserves to be remembered long after the final encore fades.
Albany Civic Theater presents “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”. Text by John Cameron Mitchell, Music and Lyrics by Stephen Trask. Leo Grinberg as Hedwig, Amanda Dorman as Yitzhak, Chris Kowalski as Theater Custodian, Musical Direction/Guitar; Nick Graziade, Drums; Cory Haines, Bass; Scott Winn, Keyboard; Benji Hefner. Directed by Nate Beynon, Stage Managed by Beth Swallow, Produced by Amanda Dorman, Set Design by Mike McDermott, Lighting Design by Oona Newman, Sound Design by Barry Streifert. May 22-24, 29-31. Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm, Sunday at 3pm. 235 Second Avenue, Albany, NY 12209. Tickets and more information at albanycivictheater.org.