Wayne Brady in Kinky Boots

Wayne Brady reprises his role as Lola in Kinky Boots on Broadway

The "Let's Make a Deal" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" star returns to the Great White Way.

Tom Millward
Tom Millward

Emmy Award-winner Wayne Brady returns to the Land of Lola tonight, as he begins a limited return engagement in the Broadway production of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Kinky Boots at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. Mr. Brady assumes the role of Lola from J. Harrison Ghee and will remain with the company through to April 26. Mr. Ghee is then set to return on May 1.

Mr. Brady joins Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears, who is scheduled to play Charlie Price until April 1, and Pentatonix singer Kirstin Maldonado, playing Lauren through to April 8, as well as fellow principal cast members Shannon O'Boyle (as Nicola), Daniel Stewart Sherman (as Don), and Marcus Neville (as George).

Although primarily known for his work on the improvisational comedy show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" and as the host of "Let's Make a Deal," "Don't Forget the Lyrics!" and "The Wayne Brady Show", Mr. Brady has also starred on Broadway as Billy Flynn in Chicago, as Tom Collins in Rent at the Hollywood Bowl, as Charley Kringas in a Los Angeles production of Merrily We Roll Along, and as Aaron Burr in the Chicago production of Hamilton. He previously starred as Lola from November 21, 2015 through to March 27, 2016.

On reprising the role, Mr. Brady previously commented: "To say that I'm thrilled to step back into Lola's fabulous shoes would be the understatement of the century! Lola is a role of a lifetime for an actor, a true tour de force. In this current political and social climate, we need more people to see characters like Lola... unafraid to speak her mind and unabashedly true to herself. I can't wait to join Jake Shears and Kirstin Maldonado onstage with the rest of the Kinky Boots family."

Kinky Boots officially opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on April 4, 2013, following previews from March 3.

Based on the 2005 British comedy movie of the same name by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth, the musical features a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein, with music and lyrics by Grammy & Tony Award-winning artist Cyndi Lauper and is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell.

Synopsis: "Charlie Price is forced to step in and save his family's shoe factory in Northern England following the sudden death of his father. Help comes from the unlikeliest angel, a fabulous drag performer named Lola. Together, this improbable duo revitalizes the failing business, while stepping out from their fathers' shadows and transforming an entire community through the power of acceptance."

The creative team behind Kinky Boots features scenic design by David Rockwell, costume design by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Kenneth Posner and sound design by John Shivers.

The production was nominated for a total of 13 Tony Awards in 2013, of which it won six: "Best Musical," "Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical" (for Billy Porter), "Best Original Score" (for Cyndi Lauper), "Best Choreography" (for Jerry Mitchell), "Best Orchestrations" (for Stephen Oremus), and "Best Sound Design" (for John Shivers).

Kinky Boots is produced on Broadway by Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig.

Kinky Boots Tickets are available now for performances through to January 13, 2019.

(Photo by Joan Marcus)

Originally published on

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