Kinky Boots

Playing at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre located at 302 West 45th Street. It runs two hours twenty five minutes. It is an open ended show.

The musical has been nominated for thirteen Tony Awards. It won the 2013 Outer Circle Critics award for “Best New Musical”.

Kinky Boot was an English film made in 2005. It was based on a true story.

It premiered in Chicago at the Bank of America Theatre on October 2012. Jerry Mitchell was the director and choreographer.

The book was written by Harvey Fierstein. He was nominated for a 2013 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical for “Kinky Boots” and for “Newsies” (2012). Harvey won a Tony Award for Best Musical for “La Cage Aux Folles” (1983) and won a Tony Award for both writing and originating the lead role in “Torch Song Trilogy” (1982).

Cyndi Lauper is the composer. She has been nominated for a 2013 Tony Award for Best Score. Cyndi has been nominated for fourteen Grammy Awards and has won five. 1985 for Best New Artist and Best performance in a music video ”Cyndi Lauper in Paris” In 1991 Lauper was ranked No 58 of the 100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll by VH1.

Jerry Mitchell is the director and choreographer. He has been nominated for 2013 Tony Award for both. Jerry was nominated for a Drama Desk Award and Tony Award for “Legally Blonde” (Choreographer 2007) He won a Tony Award for best Choregraphy for “La Cage Aux Folles” (2005). Jerry was nominated for a Tony Award for “Hairspray” (2003) and a Drama Desk Award for ”The Rocky Horror Show” (2001).

David Rockwell did the scenic design. He was nominated for a 2013 Tony Award for Best Scenic Design. David was nominated for a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award and Outer Circle Critics Award for ”Legally Blonde” (2007). He was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for “All Shook Up” (2005) and “The Rocky Horror Show” (2001).

Gregg Barnes is the costume designer. He was nominated for a 2013 Tony Award for this show. Gregg won a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for “Follies” (2012). He was nominated for a Tony Award for “Legally Blonde”(2007), Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for “The Drowsy Chaperone” (2006) and a Tony Award for “Flower Drum Song” (2001).

Annaleigh Ashford and Billy Porter have been nominated for a 2013 Tony Award.

Stark Sands has been nominated for a Tony Award for “Kinky Boots” (2013) and “Journey’s End” (2007).

There are thirty four people in the cast.

Ever since Charlie Parks (Stark Sands) was a little boy his father (Stephen Berger) instilled in him how important the family shoe business was. Charlie wants no part of the business. As soon as he is old enough he leaves North Hampton with his fiancé Nicola (Celina Carvajal) for London. Not yet settle in his apartment his father dies. When he arrives at the factory he finds out they are losing money. No one wants to pay a lot of money for well-made shoes. He wants to close the factory but his employees won’t let him. Returning to London to figure out what to do, he comes across a women being attacked by two men. Charlie comes to her defense. However the women Lola (Billy Porter) can defend herself. She managed to knock out Charlie with the boot she is holding.

When Charlie wakes up he finds out Lola is a transvestite. Lola explains to Charlie drag queens are deva's and transvestites look like Winston Churchill and then their mothers. Charlie watch's Lola and her Angels perform.

Charlie comes up with the idea of making boots for the transvestites to save his business. Lola comes to work for him being himself (Simon). She insists the boots be red. Red oozes sex, no other color will do. The men in the factory are not thrilled with Lola/Simon being there, especially Don (Daniel Stewart Sherman). They end up have a fist fight with boxing gloves. Little does Don know that Simon's father (Eugene Barry) taught him how to prize fight. Simon Jr. would not accept the fact that his son is gay. Simon lets Don win so he won’t lose face. Don realizes it. Lola says to him do something for me, accept people for what they are.

Charlie up breaks with his fiancé. One of the factory workers Lauren (Annaleigh Ashford) makes a move on him.

The boots save the factory.

You have to see this marvelous show to find out how things work out.

Stark Sands is outstanding especially when he sings “Soul of a Man”. He does such a touching job, it makes you want to cry.

Billy Porter adds a fine edge to his character. He does an eye catching performance without making Lola looking campy. Billy puts his heart and soul in the song “Hold Me in Your Heart”.

Marquise Neal does a great in this role. I hope he keeps acting. He is an up a coming talent.

Best of is Annaleigh Ashford. Her facial expressions and body movements are fantastic. She steals a couple scenes. Annaleigh did a remarkable job.

The music has a great beat.

The “Angels” are divine.

At the beginning of the show Daniel comes out in character. He is taking into his cell phone saying no calls, texts or vibrations are allowed. You think he is talking to the person on the phone until he glares at the audience. We got the message.

The main theme is to treat people for who they are.

This is a show worth seeing. You will walk out with a smile on your face.

Review by Rozanna Radakovich

Photos by Annazor

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