Darren Criss set for 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch' national tour

LOS ANGELES, May 9 (UPI) -- Darren Criss is returning to Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

The 29-year-old actor confirmed he will star in a national tour of the musical after the Hedwig and the Angry Inch official website announced the news Monday.

Criss, who previously played Hedwig during a 12-week run on Broadway, will reprise the transgender singer for performances in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The tour will run Oct. 4 - 30 at SHN Golden Gate Theatre and Nov. 1 -27 at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre.

"When I found out that the tour would be kicking off in my hometown of San Francisco -- the city where I was introduced to Hedwig and the Angry Inch -- I could think of no better excuse to get back into the heels of a character I loved and missed so very much," Criss said in a statement.

"Getting to share this fantastic Broadway production with the two great Californian cities of my life story will hopefully be as much of a joy for me as it will be for audiences who will experience Hedwig's life story on the west coast!" he added.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch opened off-Broadway in 1998 and was revived on Broadway in 2014. Criss, Neil Patrick Harris, Andrew Rannells, Michael C. Hall and Taye Diggs played Hedwig during the musical's successful Broadway run.

"People as talented as Darren don't come along all that often," Hedwig composer Stephen Trask lauded. "What's really cool to me is that because Darren played her on Broadway, we can launch the tour with continuity and authenticity, but at the same time we can make the show his and take advantage of how truly amazing he is."

Criss is also known for playing Blaine Anderson on the Fox series Glee, which came to a close after six seasons in 2015. The actor made his Broadway debut in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying in 2012.