How one performer broke the mold by playing both sides of a musical duo
In short: Lena Hall is a rare talent who achieved a historic feat on Broadway. After winning a Tony Award for her role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, she later became the first person to perform both the title role and the supporting role of Yitzhak in the same production.
Born Celina Consuela Gabriella Carvajal in San Francisco on January 30, 1980, the performer eventually adopted the professional name Lena Hall. This change, finalized in 2013, was intended to create a symmetrical, memorable identity for both her acting and music careers, drawing inspiration from the singer Lena Horne.
Her theatrical career is marked by significant milestones. She made her Broadway debut in 1999 in Cats and later originated the role of Nicola in the award-winning musical Kinky Boots in 2013. Her most acclaimed stage achievement came in 2014, when she earned a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Yitzhak in the Hedwig and the Angry Inch revival.
Hall achieved a unique historical distinction during the Hedwig and the Angry Inch national tour in 2016. While performing alongside Darren Criss, she became the first actor to play both the lead role of Hedwig and the character of Yitzhak within the same production, performing the title role for one show a week.
Beyond the stage, Hall has demonstrated immense versatility. She has recorded albums with her band The Deafening, released solo projects like Sin & Salvation: Live At the Carlyle in 2015, and appeared in various film and television projects, including the HBO series Girls and the sci-fi series Snowpiercer. Her filmography includes roles in Sex and the City and The Graduates. Additionally, she provided the voice for Countess Coloratura on My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. She also joined the cast of the science fiction series Snowpiercer as Miss Audrey.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Lena Hall
- Also: Wikidata — Lena Hall · CC0
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