J. Harrison Ghee as Lola in Kinky Boots More production photos
As yet another leading "lady" steps into those infamous red boots in the Broadway production of the 2013 Tony Award-winning Best Musical Kinky Boots at the Al Hirschfeld this week, we celebrate the Cyndi Lauper tuner by crowning it once again as our #ShowOfTheWeek! Todrick Hall hands over the reigns (and lipstick) to J. Harrison Ghee, who will continue to bring the "Land of Lola" to audiences eight shows a week on the Great White Way.
Mr. Hall was always going to be leaving behind some big shoes (or high-heeled boots) to fill, but Mr. Ghee is more than up to the task, having already entertained audiences across the States in the show's National Tour. So rest assured that the sex will still remain in the heel in this gloriously outrageous and crowd-pleasing musical. Why not check him out for yourselves?
The success of Kinky Boots has been phenomenal. With the dream team of director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell, songwriter Cyndi Lauper and a book by Harvey Fierstein, the show garnered a total of six Tony Awards and a Grammy, whilst the West End production picked up three Olivier Award nominations (and a recent Grammy nomination), winning "Best New Musical" on both sides of the Atlantic. So why exactly is the musical so popular? Well, I believe the story's central, universal themes have a lot to do with it...
All of us want to feel acceptance in life, whether that comes from our parents, our partners, our peers or in the workplace. The show's principal characters cover all those bases, so it is more than likely that an audience member will identify with at least one of them. I would wager that a large portion of the musical's fans truly empathise with Lola/Simon's tear-jerking ballad "Not My Father's Son," which tells the history of Simon's upbringing and his struggle of choosing between the man his father wanted him to be and his true self, which would undoubtedly cause a rift in their relationship. This moment in the show alone is reason enough to make sure you witness Kinky Boots in person.
Another reason to buy a ticket is to see a talented bunch of 'ladies' strutting their stuff in six-inch heels to Jerry Mitchell's Tony-winning choreography. These six guys aka Lola's Angels are the unsung heroes of this piece. Every time you feel that the pace is in danger of dropping, snap! Here they come, delivering the wow-factor. My hat also goes off to the fantastic costume design by Gregg Barnes for kitting them out in the most colourful and outlandish gear.
J. Harrison Ghee joins a principal cast that includes Killian Donnelly as Charlie Price - who originated the role in the West End and picked up an Olivier nomination for his efforts - and "Peter Pan Live!" star Taylor Louderman as Lauren. So treat yourselves to a loud and moving night out at the theatre and let this glorious Broadway cast raise you up. "Everybody Say Yeah!"
Click here for tickets to Kinky Boots for performances through to August 27, 2017, at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre.
J. Harrison Ghee as Lola in Kinky Boots More production photosOriginally published on