A revelation

EDGE: Were you familiar with the show before you took the role?

Hannah Corneau: The first time I actually saw it was on Broadway with Neil Patrick Harris and Lena Hall. I had seen the movie of course and knew about it, but the first I ever saw it live was on Broadway in this particular production I am in now.

EDGE: What was your response?

Hannah Corneau: Oh my goodness. It was absolutely the most profound theatrical experience I had ever attended. I think that Michael Mayer has fully realized what it is all about and brought it to the next level technically so it was on a Broadway scale. And it was just extremely profound and thrilling and unlike anything I had ever seen before.

EDGE: And what did you think of Yitzhak?

Hannah Corneau: Of course. The part is such a special one. Any actress would be honored to play it. I meet so many people at the stage door who say that my part is a dream role, and I feel such immense gratitude every time I hear that because it truly is such a rich role. Luckily actresses like myself get to play every once in a while.

EDGE: But how do you put up with Hedwig's abuse for eight shows a week?

Hannah Corneau: There is definite abuse there, and it is certainly a co-dependent relationship. I think there's a fine line between love and hate and I think a lot of that abuse comes out of love and vulnerability and weakness; so, like I said, it is co-dependent, but Hedwig and Yitzhak certainly love each other and hopefully we get that across as well. Hopefully we do portray the immense amount of love between them; but Yitzhak is a physically and emotionally abused character.

A sad clown

EDGE: You described Yitzhak as 'sad clown and very vulnerable.' Can you elaborate?

Hannah Corneau: I mention clown because in theater clowning is essentially a lot of physical work without any words. I relate Yitzhak to a clown because truly he is just a silent hero behind the star, and essentially he's a sad and vulnerable being trying to find his voice. But you don't hear him speak. So that's what I mean as a 'sad clown.' Because Yitzhak doesn't have a lot of text to rely on. He has no opportunity to speak within the realm of the show. You see a lot of who Yitzhak is through facial expressions, physicality and the harmony that Yitzhak provides to Hedwig's songs. It is an interesting character to play without much text to bring him across.

EDGE: How would you describe the relationship between Hedwig and Yitzhak?

Hannah Corneau: I think there's an immense co-dependency. That's how I would describe it. It's a very volatile relationship, and a very vulnerable one. They both have their weaknesses. It's a controlling relationship because I think Hedwig is so out-of-control in her life; Yitzhak is that anchor of control for her and gives her the opportunity of control. I think that's where all the abuse stems from -- the need to control something because Hedwig has had such little control of how her life has played out that Yitzhak is something, someone she can control. But she does treat him like a thing some of the time. But it is co-dependent because Yitzhak does stay and feeds on that love and attention, even if it is negative attention.

Loving yourself

EDGE: Do you feel the ongoing changes in attitudes towards the LGBTQ community has made 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch' more popular today?

Hannah Corneau: I guess there's more acceptance and awareness of human beings of their emotional and psychological and mental journeys throughout this life that we are given. Thankfully that is apparent in our culture now. We are nowhere near perfect, but that growing awareness has allowed shows like 'Hedwig' and 'Priscilla' and 'Kinky Boots' to be as well-received as they should be. However Hedwig isn't trans, Hedwig is gender queer. But what I love about 'Hedwig' is that yes, it is for everyone. I love that the LGBTQ community can come and feel so accepted and loved. But in the day I love 'Hedwig' because it is a story of loving yourself no matter who you love, who you are, what you want to do with your life and who you want to do it with. So, yes, 'Hedwig' plays with gender identity and present that in a beautiful way. In the end of the day, I say that we are just human beings telling a story about humans. Hopefully humanity, whether in Seattle or Durham, NC, can accept and see that.

EDGE: This production takes place on the set of a failed musical -- a musical version of 'The Hurt Locker,' which is pretty funny in itself. And in the reworking of the show, Yitzhak gets a song that's not in the original...

Hannah Corneau: Yes. Because we have been given the set of the show. We found a stage - the one of a musical of 'The Hurt Locker' that closed the day before. And so we are given the stage with the set of that show still there. There is some music left over on the stage that Hedwig stumbles upon and I get to sing. He cuts me off, but Yitzhak gets a moment.

EDGE: You're a member of RANGE a cappella, a singing group that you helped start. Can you talk a bit about it?

Hannah Corneau: It is a group that started in New York. Basically it is comprised of myself and all my friends from college. We went to Syracuse University together. Of course we picked up some fantastic people we met in New York along the way. We've been together for three years and we've been presented with fantastic opportunities. We sang with Kelly Clarkson at Radio City Music Hall, working for Nickelodeon and Billboard. We did a Sesame Street segment. We're on this beautiful wild ride and we're just on with it. We had an EP come out two months ago, which had a great response. It is on Spotify now. And honestly it is such a source of joy in my life and I'm happy to be a part of it.

EDGE: What's next for Hannah?

Hannah Corneau: After Boston, we go to D.C. After that, I am not sure of anything in my theatrical life, but I am going to Europe after the tour for a journey.