Hedwig and the Angry Inch

This class will explore the skills that are needed to create a professional production. John Cameron Mitchell’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) will be used as a case study during the quarter. The class will focus on the film's design, research, and the integration of costume design into the production process. Script and character analysis, scholarly historical research, character design, collaboration, and visual communication will be reviewed in detail. A deconstruction of the design and production process is the centerpiece of this course. 2025 Copley Center Costume Designer-in-Residence Arianne Phillips will join the class for one month to review student work and discuss her contribution to Hedwig and the Angry Inch on screen and for the 2014 Broadway production. Each student will create 20 costume illustrations for the principal characters. These designs will be inspired by historical research and the film's idiosyncratic style, which reflects the vision of Filmmaker John Cameron Mitchell. This class will prepare students to think deeply about characterization and bringing the people in the screenplay to life. Reviewing current production practices with our designer-in-residence will prepare each student for a career in costume design in film, television, and theater. Our ultimate goal is artistic excellence and meticulous design practice.