When you step into a pair of high heels, you better be sure you know how to sashay your way around in them and when you’re Taye Diggs and you’re slipping on heels previously worn by Neil Patrick Harris, Michael C. Hall, and Darren Criss, the stakes are much higher than those heels. As everyone knows by now, Diggs made his debut as the latest transgender heroine of Broadway’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch on July 22.
As we previously reported, Diggs, who first appeared on Broadway in Rent, is the first African-American to take on the transgender rock singer role. This will be the first time audiences have seen Diggs on the stage since he starred in 2005’s A Soldier’s Play.
There has been some discussion that Diggs’ portrayal of “Hedwig” contributes to the emasculation of African-American men. The list of Black male performers who have cross-dressed in roles is long and has had some accusing these performers of perpetuating racial stereotypes.
Comedian Dave Chappelle, who refused to wear a dress while filming “Blue Streak” with Martin Lawrence, once told Oprah Winfrey that “I don’t need no dress to be funny,” and suggested that Black male performers who cross-dressed for roles had negative effects on the black male image.
However, for Diggs, Hedwig is a role that he told the New York Times “is everything I’ve ever wished for.” He further added that he’d told his ex-wife Tony-winning actress Idina Menzel “‘I want a chance to show everybody everything. I can dance and I can sing, and everybody knows I can act.’ ’’
Judging from the reviews and reactions he’s gotten from social media, it’s a chance he won’t regret taking.
Debut performance – Sold Out!
“Flawless, intense and devilishly funny….”
After the show
“UNBELIEVABLE”
@HedwigOnBway WAS UNBELIEVABLE pic.twitter.com/ftbEnwKPDi
— Alex Robertson (@A_Rob98) July 26, 2015
“One glistening mofo”
@TayeDiggs is one glistening mofo. He added a new flavor to @HedwigOnBway. #TheFlavorIsChocolate #MoreShowsNeedIt
— Keith Livingston (@The_RunnerUp) July 25, 2015
https://twitter.com/jhoffert/status/624794080615231488
You can see Diggs in Hedwig at the Belasco Theatre, 111 W. 44th St. New York, New York 10036. For ticket information visit HedwigBroadway.com.
#Repost @nicolebridgeford ・・・ #NationalLipstickDay 💄💄💄💋💋💋💋💋🍰🍰🍰#HEDWIG #tayediggs
A photo posted by Taye Diggs (@tayediggsinsta) on
A photo posted by Taye Diggs (@tayediggsinsta) on
#Repost @jasorude ・・・ I need answers 💀😩 #TayeDiggs
A photo posted by Taye Diggs (@tayediggsinsta) on
