"Hedwig and the Angry Inch," John Cameron Mitchell's rock opera about a German refugee who becomes a botched transsexual wannabe rock star, is eerily similar to the life of Jayne County. The Georgia native who became a transgendered legend in the early New York punk scene also happened to spend a good deal of time performing in Germany.

Actor's Express, which had a huge hit with the show in 2003, reimagines the story to close out its 20th anniversary season, transforming the theater into a sleazy strip club where the band performs live.

Actor's Express (ENLARGE)
Lawrenceville native Craig Waldrip throws 'caution to the wind' as the title character in 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch.'
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In his first starring role for Actor's Express, Craig Waldrip, a Lawrenceville native who previously has played characters as varied as a caroler in "A Christmas Carol" to Dr. Frank-N-Furter in "The Rocky Horror Show," dons the big blonde wig and outlandish persona.

So how does one prepare to play a character as comically complex as Hedwig?

"I think you just have to throw caution to the wind and go for it," Waldrip said. "I did some research. ... Hedwig does come from a very specific time and place — East Berlin from an era right before the Berlin Wall fell. That heavily influences not only the way she deals with a gender reassignment, but also her taste in music. It's this wild cross-section of American popular music from the '70s and '80s, everything from Anne Murray to Iggy Pop."

• THE 411: "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." $11-$27; $35 for opening gala at 5 p.m. June 22 and for Hedwig's Fan Club VIP Section. 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays; 7 p.m. Sundays. June 19-July 19. Actor's Express Theatre, 887 West Marietta St. N.W., Suite J-107, West Midtown. 404-607-7469, www.actors-express.com. For mature audiences.