Donovan Leitch, the sometime actor and lead singer of the group Nancy Boy, will play the title role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Wednesdays during Ally Sheedy's run in the show. Leitch's father, the single-named Donovan, made his mark in the 60s with such pyschedelia- tinged hit songs as "Sunshine Superman" and "Mellow Yellow." As an actor, Leitch has appeared in the films "Gas, Food, Lodging" and "I Shot Andy Warhol."

Ally Sheedy made her debut as Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Sept. 20. The film actress was originally expected to bow a week earlier, but her appearance earlier this month at the Telluride Film Festival to promote the film "I'll Take You There" caused her to miss several rehearsals.

Leitch may play performances in addition to Wednesday evenings sometime in the future, though a press rep could not stipulate which shows those would be.

Sheedy starred in such mid-80s teen comedies as "The Breakfast Club" and "St. Elmo's Fire." Her career was long on the down side, however, when the 1998 art film "High Art" brought her back into the public eye. In that movie, Sheedy played lesbian, drug-addled, has-been photographer.

Sheedy will be the first female to play the part of the tortured German transsexual rocker. To date, only male actors have filled the role: the show's creator John Cameron Mitchell, Michael Cerveris and Kevin Cahoon. In other Hedwig news, the show begins a national tour this fall, as a new production starring Kevin Cahoon starts in Boston on Sept. 24. An L.A.-based show will commence on Oct. 24. Finally, a European troupe began performances in Cologne, Germany, on Sept. 10.

Hedwig was written by its star, Mitchell (book), and Trask (music and lyrics). Leitch and Sheedy play the title singer, an obscure and tortured transsexual rock singer, who tells her darkly comic story while ostensibly performing a concert.The musical has been playing at the Jane Street Theatre since Feb. 14, 1998. For tickets call (212) 239-6200.

-- By Robert Simonson