Neil Patrick Harris is being replaced as the transgender German rocker on Broadway's "Hedwig and the Angry Inch".
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Harris will be stepping down from his starring role in the Broadway show this August. The "How I Met Your Mother" actor will be replaced by Tony nominee Andrew Rannells.
Rannells became a rising star after his stint on Broadway's "The Book of Mormon". The actor, who appeared on TV HBO's "Girls," will play the transgender rocker. In 2001, Rannells played the role of Hedwig in a 2001 production in Austin, Texas.
According to Entertainment Weekly, "Hedwig is a transgender singer from East Berlin who intersperses tales of her childhood with songs backed by her fictional rock band Tits of Clay, all the while distracted by her ex-lover's rival concert being performed the very same night, right across the street."
Broadway's "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" is based on a book by John Cameron Mitchell, with music and lyrics by Stephen Trask. The play picked up four trophies at Sunday's Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Actor in a Musical for Harris.
"To my family, David, I love you so much and I am so happy that we've gotten to do this, thank you for your sacrifices and thank you for putting up with me in all of this," Harris said about his fiancé TV personality David Burtka in his speech.
The actor added: "To kids, Harper and Gideon, I am so sorry that I haven't been able to spend as much time with you given the show. But I promise when this is done I will be able to read to you and put you to sleep. That's coming up soon."
The production opened in March this year and Harris has been performing in the musical seven times a week. He is set to play his final performance on August 17 - which is the date the production was originally slated to end its limited run.
Rannells is scheduled to star in the extended production show from August 20 through October 12.
What do you think of Rannells playing the role of Hedwig?
