By Scott Tucker

“Don’t You Know Me? I’m the new Berlin Wall Baby! Try and tear me down!” declared the East German slip of a ‘girlyboy’ to a sold-out audience of her hard-core fans at New World Stages on Wednesday, October 28th, as Hedwig (David Brian Colbert), along with band members Yitzhak (Petra DeLuca) and the Angry Inch (Tim Cleary, Chris Gordon, Daniel Lincoln & Matt Orlando) hijacked the set of the Gazillion Bubble Show for an outrageous evening of glam-rock to benefit BC/EFA.

The set may have been hijacked, but the audience was full of willing captives who sat in their seats on tenter hooks as Hedwig’s personal tragedy unfolded through stories and songs like “Tear Me Down,” “Wicked Little Town,” and “Midnight Radio.” And like the Berlin Wall, the walls of financial strife caused by unemployment, illness and lack of insurance will be knocked down a bit more by the $14,800 raised at this event.

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Colbert and DeLuca are definitely not strangers to the roles of Hedwig and Yitzhak, Hedwig’s gender-bending lover. They have toured the country, racking up theatrical awards and honors along the way, and they were thrilled with the chance to reprise the roles they played on behalf of BC/EFA in both 2005 and 2006at this year’s event. Debuting on February 14, 1998, the original off-Broadway hit by John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask enjoyed a much-lauded two-year run at the Jane Street Theatre. Since then, Hedwig has become a worldwide phenomenon, with die-hard fans (who call themselves “Hedheads”) following the show around the globe.

While David and Petra certainly weren’t virgins, it was the first time BC/EFA Producers Scott Tucker and Trisha Doss co-produced an event. They were supported by an amazing, experienced production team composed of Production Managers Nathan Hurlin and Michael Palm, Sound Designer Evan Schultz, Stage Manager Jason Quinn, and Production Stage Manager Jennifer Rogers, as well as the creative team of Director Aaron Mark and Music Director Daniel Lincoln, all of whom came together to make the one-night production a success.

Stars Feed on Fan Energy
“Broadway Cares has always been a charity near and dear to me, not just because of what they do for people in the community, but the outreach that they give to help programs all over the country to assist those living with HIV and AIDS,” Colbert said.

“This year’s show gave me one of the best audiences I’ve ever had. Hedwig fans from Toronto to Delaware packed the house and just kept feeding me their amazing energy. AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE!”

Ms. DeLuca added, “I can honestly say, from the very bottom of my heart, that I am so proud to have been a part of this evening. I am so proud to have helped such an amazing organization raise so much money. Thank you, BCEFA, for letting us be a part of a cause that is so important and vital. We kicked ass!”