Taye Diggs, Triple Threat.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at 12:13PM Have you read this good profile of Taye Diggs in the New York Times? It was written while he was in early rehearsals for Hedwig and the Angry Inch. I personally cannot wait to see his take on it. I've been as eager as he has to see him combine all his talents for one role.
As he states:
The role of Hedwig is ‘‘everything I’ve ever wished for,’’ he said. Then he turned, in what seems unusual for him, ferocious: ‘‘This is me telling myself, ‘O.K., bitch, put your money where your mouth is. You’ve been telling agents and your best friends — I told Idina — ‘I want a chance to show everybody everything. I can dance and I can sing, and everybody knows I can act'... They’re going to end up saying something good. ’Cause I’m not gonna mess up all three.’’
Taye Diggs is basically 1 of approximately 100 stars (at least) that would have been bigger stars if Hollywood still:
a) ...knew how to make musicals
b) ...made them regularly
c) ...cast them with actual triple threat talents.
A, B, and C don't actually seem like high hurdles to this here movie musical lover -- not given the extraordinarily deep acting talent pool out there and the treasure trove of instructional film school materials at home. By which I mean of course the complete filmographies of Busby Berkeley, Vincente Minnelli, Bob Fosse, Stanley Donen, and so on. One senses sometimes that today's young directors either never went to film school or didn't study the classics to learn some basic tools of the trade... at least not when it comes to the "dead" genres.
Reader Comments (15)
I want to see his take on Hedwig but i just saw the show a few months ago with John Cameron Mitchell. You think its worth doing again? plus its awesome how many stars are fighting to play Hedwig? Who else would you like to see in the role?
It's also worth mentioning that Taye Diggs is black. Even if Hollywood were making musicals and casting them with real talent, it's not guaranteed that they'd invest in making him a star. What that would mean is more roles for Hugh Jackman, Alan Cumming and young guys who appeared on Glee.
On that note, I think it's great to see a straight black musical theater actor take on Hedwig. The relationship between black actors and drag (and additionally, gay panic) is so fraught that this is an important bit of progress. Diggs has always been progressive and secure enough to own ALL of the communities he's belonged to, including the theater and all its queerness.
i've always been a fan of Taye's, and wished he had had the huge career he deserves. And, he's so damn gorgeous.
Josh -- i think so. I mean JCM's version was so different (given his sprained knee) than the others at least from what i've heard. I've only seen it once in the current revival but i saw the original 3 times (and the role *is* flexible.)
Hayden -- i love that the article goes into that issue, too (black men and drag). It's really a good piece. As for Taye's stardom if they made more musicals... i believe getting directors who really believed in the form and were good at it... that that hurdle wouldn't be a big one to clear either as they wouldn't feel the need to stunt-cast and could just pick great performers like Broadway does.
but considering we can't even get movie versions of black stage hits like FENCES (not a musical) and PORGY & BESS (musical) despite all the deep pockets of multiple colors in Hollywood. *sigh*
Taye is gonna kill this! I wish I could see it.
I'm traveling to nyc next month and my boyfriend and I are seriously trying to get tickets to this (since it's impossible and way too expensive to get Hamilton ones *sigh*).
I've always loved Taye Diggs and feel that even though he's been working prolifically and consistently forever, we haven't even scratched the surface of what he can do. And btw he's honestly one of the most gorgeous men ever.
I love Taye. He can do anything. BTW Porgy and Bess was made into a film--my mom played the original soundtrack LP recording often. As a kid I thought the cover was so steamy.
He's going to be amazing. So much talent wasted. You could write the same article regarding Kelli O'Hara, Sutton Foster or Yazbeck.
Him as Hedwig? I could go for that.
Pam -- well, i mean it was made into a film a long time ago but nobody thinks of it as a classic so it's ripe for a remake and htere was this braodway revival with AMAZING beautiful actors (Norm Lewis & Audra McDonald) there's no reason why it couldn't have become a movie but for lack of desire on Hollywood's part.
N--ooh, that would be good. Excited to see Audra at Williamstown this August, even though she won't be singing.
that times piece seemed to be more about the many issues the author is dealing with
Porgy and Bess and how it is directed costumed and played is often controversial for producers and cast. Harry Belafonte who was the lead in Carmen Jones opposite Dorothy Dandridge refused to play Porgy. I have often suspected that Porgy and Bess was made to capitalize on Dandridge’s success in Jones. And by that time she and producer Otto Preminger were lovers.
It was a pedestrian adaption and of course both Dandridge and Sydney Poitier were dubbed.
If it gets remade, it probably needs the pull of the star who plays Bess….as Audra McDonald’s Broadway turn of a few years ago.
A black Hedwig? How will that even play script-wise? Will aspects of the play be changed, or are we just supposed to have extreme suspension of disbelief here? Surely Taye Diggs has what it takes to nail this role, but come on now.
leslie19 -- i just wanted them to transfer it. Norm Lewis is so incredibly talented (and camera handsome) and yet he never gets leading roles in film or television. His voice is so powerful, too.
Rik -- the article addressed that briefly. I think it could be interesting... especially since Hedwig as a play is so fascinated by labels and dualities and becoming a different person.