Kinky Boots: Andy Kelso and Jeanna de Waal

Andy Kelso and Jeanna de Waal are to join the cast of the Broadway premiere of the 2013 Tony Award winning musical Kinky Boots in the lead roles of 'Charlie Price' and 'Lauren,' respectively.

Andy Kelso, who currently stars as 'Harry' in the ensemble, will play the role of 'Charlie Price' from 28 Jan 2013, assuming the role from original cast member Stark Sands, who was nominated for a Tony Award for his portrayal. Sands will play his final performance on 26 Jan 2014.

Kelso will co-star with original cast member Billy Porter, who won a Tony Award for his role as 'Lola' and who has extended his contract with the show at least through to July 2014.

Jeanna de Waal will join the cast as 'Lauren,' beginning 04 Mar 2014, assuming the role from original cast member Annaleigh Ashford who will depart the musical in March 2014 to film the next season of the TV show "Masters of Sex."

Kelso has previously appeard on Broadway as 'Sky' in the musical 'Mamma Mia!' He has also played the rol of 'Fiyero' in a National Touring prouction of the musica 'Wicked.'

Jeanna de Waal most recently starred as 'Glinda' in the national tour of 'Wicked,' and in MCC Theater's revival of 'Carrie.' She has previously appeared on Broadway in 'American Idiot,' and has starred in London's West End production of the musical 'We Will Rock You.'

From 28 Jan 2014 the role of 'Harry' will be assumed by Jake Odmark, who currently stars in the ensemble of the Broadway musical 'Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,' in which he also understudies the role of 'Peter Parker/Spider-Man.

Kinky Boots, featuring a book by Tony Award-winner (La Cage aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy), with music and lyrics by Grammy Award-winning Cyndi Lauper, opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on 04 Apr 2013, following previews from 03 Mar 2013, where it is currently selling tickets through to 04 Jan 2015.

The musical, directed and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell, opened to mixed, but mostly good reviews: You are smothered in a good time (newyorktheatreguide.com); A shameless emotional button pusher (NY Times); A high time (NY Daily News); Blissfully entertaining (NY1).

In Kinky Boots, 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.

Kinky Boots is based on the 2005 British comedy movie of the same name, written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth.

The principal cast currently features Stark Sands (Charlie Price), Billy Porter (Lola), Annaleigh Ashford (Lauren), Lean Hall (Nicola), Daniel Stewart Sherman (Don), Marcus Neville (George), Sebastian Hedges Thomas (Young Charlie) and Marquise Neal (Young Lola).

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

The musical is being produced by Daryl Roth and Hal Luftigm and features sets by David Rockwell, costumes by Gregg Barnes, lighting by Kenneth Posner and sound by John Shivers (Sound Design).