Photo courtesy Hunger Artists TheatreAhhh, Fullerton: home of the soon-to-be-former College World Series champs, onetime residence of Jackson Browne, and now—transvestite capital of OC! That the two greatest trannie rock musicals ever are premiering in the same town on the same weekend is certainly a serendipitous affair, but while the City Council has done much to trumpet its revitalized, bar-crazy downtown, we somehow doubt that this artistic coup will fare the same.
First, there's Hedwig&theAngryInchat Hunger Artists, finally receiving its OC premiere after originating in seedy NYC drag clubs before becoming an off-off-Broadway hit and finally a movie. It's the life tale of Hedwig, a rock-band-fronting trannie cursed with a one-inch pecker from a botched sex-change operation. Set in a cocktail club (of which the audience are patrons), Hedwig uses the stage—and his/her backing band—as a confessional, belting out songs and dialogue that unwind a tale of love, heartbreak, acceptance and big foofy wigs.
TheRockyHorrorShowyou already know from the 1975 film, but it was a stage musical first and was produced by the Maverick Theater a scant two years ago. The main excuse to check it out this time, though, is that the Maverick will at last be unveiling its new and hopefully permanent space after spending years drifting from one locale to another—most recently, the company was based out of a couple of storefronts at the Block megamall in Orange. The new digs (on a bridge just above Harbor Boulevard in downtown Fullerton's SOCO district, next door to a Calvary Chapel and across the railroad tracks from the Amtrak station) are designed like a 1920s Art Deco speakeasy, so even if this Rockyhas its fishnets in a twist, the building ought to be a sight. What's more, Rockywill be staged at midnight every Saturday in July until the run ends, and the Maverick will be selling prop bags in case you just haveto re-create the cinematic experience.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch at the Hunger Artists Theatre, 699-A S. State College Blvd., Fullerton, (714) 680-6803. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m. Thru July 24. $18-$20; The Rocky Horror Show at the Maverick Theater, 110 E. Walnut Ave., Fullerton, (714) 526-7070. Fri.-Sat., 8:30 p.m. (also Sat. at midnight in July). Thru July 23. $18.
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