Hedwig and the Angry Inch

In this world of lonely, sad people looking for a personal connection to make them feel whole, Hedwig stands alone. Born Hansel Schmidt, the East German native fell in love with an American soldier and agreed to undergo gender reassignment surgery so they could be married. But the doctor botched the operation and left Hansel with nothing recognizable as genitalia. So Hansel became the "internationally ignored song stylist" Hedwig, and now travels the world telling her story and performing with her band, the Angry Inch. John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask's amazing musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch crash lands at the Tower Grove Abbey (2336 Tennessee Avenue; 314-865-1995 or www.straydogtheatre.org) for a limited engagement. Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday (March 31 to April 16) and at 8 p.m. Wednesday (April 6 to 13). Tickets are $20 to $45.