Taye Diggs is just a few weeks away from making his debut as the first black man to take on the role of genderqueer rocker Hedwig in the Broadway revival of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Recently, Diggs sat down with “Entertainment Tonight” about the role and claimed that “I have a flaming gay man inside of me.”
Diggs opened up about the role with ET correspondent Janet Mock and explained that he’s learning about the difficulties of constantly getting dolled up.
“I’ve always told my friends I have a flaming gay man inside of me,” Diggs said. “She is coming out now! It’s fun and difficult. I don’t know how you girls do it in heels all day every day.”
Although Diggs’ decision to play Hedwig may still be a shock to some fans, Diggs explains that his five-year-old son, Walker, with ex Idina Menzel has no problem with seeing his dad in makeup and heels.
“[Walker] is so d— adjusted,” Diggs gushed. “He’s unfazed. I think he’s on the path of being a really cool adult.”
Since Diggs is the first black man to take on the role of Hedwig, many people wondered if major changes would have to be made to the character so Diggs would better fit for the role; however, he says only a few changes were made, which is proof Hedwig’s story is universal.
“That’s a testament to how great the show is,” Diggs said. “Anybody could get in there and put forth this message.”
Although it’s been years since Diggs has been on Broadway, he first made his debut in 1996 in Rent, he explains that Hedwig is the perfect play to make his stage return with.
“I’m learning how to be on stage,” Diggs said. “But then just the way John Cameron Mitchell writes — the intensity and the feeling and the depth. The show is basically about outcasts and loving yourself and loving others. The layers at which that can happen to human beings is crazy.”
Diggs will begin his stint as Hedwig for a limited 12-week engagement starting July 22 at the Belasco Theatre in New York.
