A Hedwig spokesperson said the production had no comment on the report.
Musto wrote, "I hear that the singer/twerker—who did great last night as the VMAs host, down to her drag-star-laden finale—was in talks to be a replacement in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, but neither side had committed and the current Hedwig, Taye Diggs, failed to ignite the box office, so the show’s simply closing. Maybe it’s just as well. When another famous woman—Ally Sheedy—played the transsexual character in 1999, it was a bonafide disaster."
The Broadway production, with a book by John Cameron Mitchell, music and lyrics by Stephen Trask and direction by Michael Mayer, was initially announced as a 16-week limited engagement; it turned into a 76-week run. The production is scheduled to close Sept. 13 after 22 previews and 506 regular performances. Taye Diggs is the show's final star.
Beyond Broadway, a national tour of Hedwig and the Angry Inch will start in San Francisco on Oct. 4, 2016, with productions also being planned for the West End and Australia.
About the closing, Producer David Binder said in an earlier statement, "When we announced our limited 16-week Broadway engagement of Hedwig, never in my wildest dreams did I think it would run for a year and a half. Hedwig heralded a historic year of acceptance and celebration across America. It has been a privilege to work with our extraordinary leading men Neil, Andrew, Michael, John, Darren and Taye; Lena Hall, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Shannon Conley, and our kick-ass band, Tits of Clay. I am so happy that Michael Mayer's groundbreaking production has introduced Hedwig to a new generation of fans and brought John and Stephen’s downtown show into the mainstream. The vision of these artists was truly ahead of its time. I couldn’t be prouder of the entire team and am thrilled that audiences across the U.S. will soon be able to experience our show when it begins its national tour."
Diggs began performances July 22 at Broadway's Belasco. He succeeded "Glee" star Darren Criss (who played through July 19) and is the first African-American actor to play Hedwig in New York.
He is joined by Rebecca Naomi Jones, who began performances as Yitzhak April 14.
The Broadway premiere of the cult rock musical began previews March 29, 2014, at the Belasco, prior to an official opening April 22 with Neil Patrick Harris in the title role. Tony nominee Andrew Rannells succeeded Harris, and Michael C. Hall succeeded Rannells. Writer John Cameron Mitchell played the part after Hall.
Click here to see how Mitchell compares each Hedwig to a superhero!
Hedwig features a book by Mitchell, music and lyrics by Trask, direction by Mayer and musical staging by Spencer Liff. Justin Craig is musical director.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch partnered with The Hetrick-Martin Institute, donating more than $500,000 since the show opened on Broadway in 2014. Hedwig and the Angry Inch has been an HMI supporter since 2003 helping LGBTQ at-risk youth through ticket sales, album proceeds and fundraising.
When it closes next month, Hedwig will hold the record as the longest-running show to have opened at the Belasco. Though Oh! Calcutta! holds the theatre's overall long-run record, having played there from February 1969 to February 1971, it transferred there from the downtown Eden Theatre (now the Village East Cinemas).
The Belasco Theatre Box Office is located at 111 West 44th Street. For more information, visit HedwigBroadway.com.
