Wayne Brady to Step Back into Lola’s Heels in Kinky Boots on Broadway

Emmy Award-winner Wayne Brady is getting ready to strut back down the Great White Way as he steps back into Lola's high-heels and returns to Kinky Boots.

The actor will take over from current Lola J. Harrison Ghee, who will be temporarily leaving the show to work on another project. Mr. Brady will play Lola for a limited run from March 5 through to April 26. Mr. Ghee will then return to the musical, which runs at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, on May 1.

Mr. Brady took over the role of Lola from original cast member Billy Porter back in 2015, and also recently appeared in the Chicago production of Hamilton as Aaron Burr.

On reprising the role, Brady said: ""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."

During his run, he will star alongside Jake Shears, who is scheduled to play Charlie Price until April 1, and Kirstin Maldonado, who will play Lauren until April 8.

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.

- by Will Longman