Rent star Anthony Rapp will play the gender crossed glam rocker, Hedwig, in the Pittsburgh resident premiere of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, directed by Brad Rouse at City Theatre, May 1-June 8, 2003.

John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask's rock musical, by turns poignant and funny, was an Off-Broadway sensation and later embraced as an independent film starring Mitchell.

Rapp's work includes originating the role of Mark in Rent, and Broadway's Precious Sons and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. He starred in a staging of Henry V in Boston in summer 2002. Rapp has also made appearances performing with his own rock band.

Rouse directed The Mice, by Nell Benjamin, Julia Jordan and Laurence O'Keefe, as part of 3hree at the Ahmanson Theatre and Prince Music Theatre (Barrymore and Ovation nominations, Best Director). Other credits include Bloomer Girl (Encores!), Lucy and the Conquest by Cusi Cram (Juilliard) and Tatjana in Color by Julia Jordan. Workshop productions include Sparrow on the Roof by Adam Rapp; Heading East by Robert Lee and Leon Ko; Jack, Jesus and the Brazilian Marrano by Daniel Goldfarb; and Equal Unto the Angels by Stephanie Simpson.

Rapp and Rouse will visit Pittsburgh to cast the band for the conceptual musical. City Theatre is the resident professional theatre committed to recent and new works. Currently on City Theatre's mainstage to Dec. 22 is the world premiere of Christopher Durang's sendup of Dickens, Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge. For more information about City Theatre, visit http://www.citytheatrecompany.org. — By Kenneth Jones