Through August and September 2001, I had the pleasure of seeing the movie Hedwig and the Angry Inch three times in the theatre. I went with my friends to the downtown indie Ritz (it was a Sundance fave, hence the lack of mainstream integration). I bought the soundtrack beforehand to get an idea of what I was in for, something I oh so rarely do. Well, I was also particularly interested in this b/c it deals with gay issues, it was off-Broadway, and Matt McGrath played Hedwig in L.A. and closed the run in NY (to rave reviews I might add). I saw it and fell completely head over heels for everything about the show and John Cameron Mitchell. When it came to a nearby mall 3 weeks later, I immediately went. And yes, I went a third time, and didn't stop crying by the time "Wicked Little Town" started.  This was especially poignant to me b/c of 9/11.  The previews before The Anniversary Party were excellent palate wetters, but didn't prepare me for the emotional rollercoaster I was about to encounter. Hedwig actually makes you think!  It's not a neatly tied up ending!  It's heightened, yet realistic.  It may be the story of an inadvertant transexual, but the theme of being a yearning outsider is so universal.  In order to escape East Berlin, young gay Hansel accepts a proposal by an American GI.  Problem is, in order to get married and leave, he needs to get a sex change operation...which gets messed up, hence the title.  After being deserted in a Midwest trailer life, he makes up his mind to find his other half and fulfill his dream of being a "punk rock star of stage and screen," but not without many bumps in his quest, as freakin corny as that sounds.  John Cameron Mitchell is Hedwig. He wrote the script (which always gets modified during the stage show), lyrics, and the delicious Stephen Trask wrote the music. John wasn't into the drag lifestyle, but he learned the power of makeup, glitter lipstick quickly. He also has some fabulous legs, neck, abs, smile, mmhmm. All he's basically done since 1997 is the role of Hedwig, and he's so ready to move on now. Who can blame him? But the way he embodies this character...wow. I wanna be Hedwig's friend even though she's not real!!! Her voice is so soothing...her outlook on life so interesting...her pain and frustration so identifiable.  He's an adorable, gorgeous man...so lovely. Talent is freakin gushing out of him. And might my catty self add that I am extremely jealous of his size 4-6 body! I am so excited to see him do more things...and I can't thank him enough for creating this character and story. Oh how I wish I could have seen the "one woman" show on off-Broadway instead of through tape and book...Still, he needs to separate from the gorgeous Miss Hedwig and show us even more of his talent!  A children's musical, described as a cross between Willy Wonka and The Secret Garden (which he was in on Broadway) is his next creation. I met John at a DVD signing on December 15.  It was seriously one of the best days of my life.  He is so sweet, kind, and so hot. The DVD is so exquisite, run and get it!  Run like the wind!!!  The features are perfect, and there is an 85 min documentary on the evolution of Hedwig, which interviews past Hedwigs Michael Cerveris, Kevin Cahoon, Donovan Leitch, and shows pix/footage/commentary on Matt McGrath, Asa Somers, and Ally Sheedy.