USA - Thanks to BroadwayGlobal this exclusive look at Broadway's hottest new preview of "Kinky Boots" will shed some light on how this musical has set it's mark in theatre history. It is not just because of wonderful direction from Tony Award winning Director/Choreographer Jerry Mitchell, pop star/music writer Cyndi Lauper or playwright Harvey Fierstein, the master of re-writing book from movies to stage. "Kinky Boots" is Dragtastic. A Broadway must be see musical. BroadwayGlobal.
When audiences in previews give standing ovations for a song in the middle of a Broadway show like "Kinky Boots", you can be certain not only will Mr. Porter's performance go down in Broadway history, but it will also be acknowledge with a Tony Award nomination and most possibly the winner for Best Leading Role Performance from a man or women. Billy Porter's dragtastic heart and soul "Kinky Boots" performance has made its' mark in Broadway history. "Kinky Boots" fits like a glove. "Kinky Boots" is the newest Broadway smash hit musical for our current generation." Theatre Chat.
This century has a handful of moving theatrical moments and now Billy Porter's performance joins the ranks of characters like Zaza in "La Cage". Mr. Porter gives one of the most powerful performances of a life time. It is not just Billy's amazing singing, outrageous vocal range that hits the cord for every audience member. It is Billy's execution of lines as one of the funniest, larger than life characters Broadway has ever seen, Lola. "Billy Porter gives a dragtastic heart and soul performance of a life time. "Kinky Boots" is a perfect fit for musical theatre lovers." BroadwayGlobal.
Harvey Fierstein's brilliant book is also the reason why "Kinky Boots" not only works, but leaves the audience wanting more. Cyndi Lauper who popped out from behind the audience side curtain on preview night with "Holy Shit, look at all these people". She may not have realized just how powerful her music is, or would be when joined with a story that brings hope for acceptance. Stark Sands glorious voice rocks the Broadway stage throughout his entire performance. Annaleigh Ashford gets every endearing beat of a girl in love with the struggling shoemaker Stark Sands. Their energy on stage is infectious.
Celina Carvajal gives the love hate performance expected from her role. Daniel Sherman sets the opposition with blasting contrast to Billy's dragtastic character as a butch straight blue collar worker in a shoe factory. Will this man of a man be able to accept Lola a shoe designing drag queen? The story may be similar to "Billy Elliot" the story about a boy that wants to dance but in this musical some boys just want to wear mom's boots. Is it really so wrong just to wear or be who you want to be?
Billy's character explains that red is hot, sexy and kinky so what better name than "Kinky Boots" for the musical that is about to walk all over Broadway. "These boots were made for walking, and that's what they are gonna do. If fact one of these days these "Kinky Boots" are gonna walk all over you and possible the globe. The message is heartfelt leaving audiences clapping in the aisles and ready to come back for more. Everyone has that favorite pair of boots, well you will wear these "Kinky Boots" over and over again." Theatre Chat.
The use of factory conveyor belts with choreography and staging is ingenious giving one of the best show stopping numbers, with the help of high kicking "La Cage" - Cagle like characters, the Angels are also the stars of this hit musical. A Tony Award nomination for best costumes by Gregg Barnes is also a sure bet for the Tony Awards.
I will say Cyndi Lauper does not act like she wants to get to close to her "Kinky Boots" fans. Even Harvey stayed very close to Cyndi's side, with just a quick photo for the press. Just a few feet away the true stars of "Kinky Boots" Billy Porter, Stark Sands and Annaleigh Ashford were more than gracious to one of the largest group of stage door fans that we have seen in years. "A special thank you to all the "Kinky Boots" cast members who came out the stage door to acknowledge their "Kinky Boots" fans. Remember creative team your fans will share their love of this brilliant musical. So a quick greet or shout out will show how humble you are to the fans that will fill your pockets.
"Even Director/Choreographer Jerry Mitchell was kind enough to take a quick photo for our social media friends to share, so click on the picture and share Jerry Mitchell or Billy Porter with Richard Cameron of Theatre Chat to spread the word - "Kinky Boots" is not only one of the strongest musicals of the season, "Kinky Boots" has created one of the most beloved characters Broadway has ever seen with Billy Porter's performance of Lola! A Theatre Chat must be see over and over again." Theatre Chat.
"BroadwayGlobal ask all our 180,000 theatre fans to share the link of this exclusive look before the official opening of "Kinky Boots". "Kinky Boots" is one of the best musicals ever written, sharing the need to accept everyone no matter how high their heels may be." BroadwayGlobal.
Included in the slide show pictures is BroadwayGlobal Richard Cameron in wig, dress and boots as a young boy. Although I never married the idea of wearing drag in my everyday life, I understand how it feels to wear a dress, wig, a pair of "Kinky Boots" and the importance of accepting everyone no matter what they wear." Richard Cameron.
Congrats to our dear Theatre Chat friend Eric Leviton who worked with Richard Cameron at Disney just a few short years ago. For very special reasons Eric's performance brought tears to my eyes for his Broadway debut...
The "Kinky Boots" cast includes: Billy Porter (Lola), Stark Sands (Charlie), Annaleigh Ashford (Lauren), Celina Carvajal (Nicola), Daniel Sherman (Don), Marcus Neville (Gerorge), Adinah Alexander (Milan Stage Mansger/Ensemble), Eric Anderson (Ensemble), Eugene Barry-Hill (Simon Sr./Ensemble), Stephen Berger (Mr. Price/Ensemble), Caroline Bowman (Ensemble), Cole Bullock (Young Lola Understudy), Paul Canaan (Angel/Assit. Dance Captain/Ensemble), Sandra DeNise (Swing), Jonah Halperin (Young Charlie Standby), Andy Kelso (Harry/Ensemble), Kevin Smith Kirkwood (Angel/Ensemble), Eric Leviton (Ensemble), Ellyn Marie Marsh (Ensemble), John Jeffrey Martin (Richard Bailey/Ensemble), Marquise Neal (Young Lola), Kyle Taylor Parker (Angel/Ensemble), Nathan Peck (Dance Captain/Swing), Robert Pendilla (Swing), Jennifer Perry (Trish/Ensemble), Kyle Post (Angel/Ensemble), Tory Ross (Pat/Ensemble), Lucia Spina (Swing), Charlie Sutton (Angel/Enseble), Joey Taranto (Angel Ensemble), Sabastian Hedges Thomas (Young Charlie), Timothy Ware (Lola Standby/Swing).
Production team: Jerry Mitchell (Director/Choreographer), Harvey Fierstein (Playwright), Cyndi Lauper (Composer and Lyricist), Stephen Oremus (Music Supervisor/Arranger/Orchestrations), Gregg Barnes (Costume Designer), Kenneth Posner (Lighting Design), John Shivers (Sound Design), Josh Marquette (Hair Design), Randy Houston Mercer (Make-up), Kathy Fabian/Propstar (Properties Coordinator), Brian Usifer (Music Director), Michael Keller (Music Coordinator), Rusty Mowery (Associate Choreographer), DB Bonds (Associate Director), Amy Jo Jackson (Dialect Coach), Telsey and Company (Casting), Smitty/Theatersmith (Technical Supervisor), Lois L. Griffing (Productions Stage Manager), Thomas Recktenwald (Stage Manager), Kenneth J. McGee (Assistant Stage Manager), Foresight Theatrical (General Manager).
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