Image: Writer, director, and actor John Cameron Mitchell will be visiting the department next week on March 28 for a special workshop with MFA Film students and a screening of his cult-classic rock musical, Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) followed by a talkback. Mitchell is an American actor, writer, and director known for his groundbreaking work in film, theater, and television. He is best known for creating, directing, and starring in the Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001), a film adaptation of the off-Broadway stage production he co-wrote with composer Stephen Trask. Mitchell developed an early interest in performance and studied theater at Northwestern University before moving to New York City to pursue acting professionally. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Mitchell built a career on the stage, appearing in Broadway productions such as Big River and Six Degrees of Separation. In 1998, he co-created Hedwig and the Angry Inch, a genre-defying rock musical about a genderqueer East German singer navigating identity, love, and fame. The show became an off-Broadway sensation, earning a cult following. In 2001, Mitchell directed and reprised his role as Hedwig in the film adaptation, which won the Best Director Award and Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. The film’s success cemented his status as a visionary filmmaker. Following Hedwig, Mitchell directed Shortbus (2006), a provocative indie film exploring sexuality and relationships through an ensemble cast. In 2010, he directed Rabbit Hole, starring Nicole Kidman, a deeply emotional drama about grief, which earned Kidman an Academy Award nomination. Beyond directing, Mitchell has remained an active performer. He starred in television series such as Girls, Vinyl, The Good Fight, Yellowjackets, The Sandman, and the Hulu series Joe vs. Carole, where he played Joe Exotic alongside Kate McKinnon. In 2017, he stepped back into the role of Hedwig for a special Broadway performance benefiting LGBTQ+ organizations. Read More: IMDB
