Kinky Boots: Kyle Taylor Parker steps in as Lola
Producers of the 2013 Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots, directed by Jerry Mitchell, have confirmed that the current star of the National Tour Kyle Taylor Parker will step into Lola's famous red boots on Broadway and cover for Tony Award winner Billy Porter for three months. Parker will begin performances on 27 January and play a limited run through to 26 April 2015.
Porter will return to Broadway as Lola from 28 April 2015 and has extended his contract with the production through to January 2016. He released a statement saying:
"Lola is literally my dream role, and I'm still loving every minute of it," says Porter, who has played more than 750 performances in the role that won him a 2013 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. "But I'm going to take a few months at the beginning of the year to do concerts, some directing, and other things. Then I'll be back at the end of April, and am excited to say that I get to strut my stuff in this glorious show until January 2016."Kyle Taylor Parker made his Broadway debut as an 'Angel' in the original company of Kinky Boots and has been playing the role of 'Lola' in the First National Touring Production since it opened in Las Vegas in September 2014. He has also appeared in the National Tour of 'In the Heights.'
Kinky Boots, featuring a book by Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (La Cage aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy), with music and lyrics by Grammy Award-winning artist Cyndi Lauper, officially opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on 4 April 2013, following previews from 3 March 2013, and is currently booking through to 6 September 2015.
The musical, directed and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell, opened to mostly positive 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).
Synopsis: "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 Andy Kelso (Charlie Price), Billy Porter (Lola), Jeanna de Waal (Lauren), Cortney Wolfson (Nicola), Daniel Stewart Sherman (Don), and Marcus Neville (George).
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).
Photo by Matthew Murphy Kyle Taylor ParkerOriginally published on