"Kinky Boots" at Lyric Arts

To close out the 2023-2024 season, Lyric Arts is bringing us their second regional premiere of the season (the first was 9 to 5) - the super fun and feel good musical Kinky Boots. Last seen in the Twin Cities in 2015 (the Broadway tour), the 2013 Tony-winning musical celebrates the love of shoes and self-identity in a glorious, fun, warm-hearted way. But of course it's about more than just shoes (even if they are "the most beautiful thing in the world"). As with most musicals there's a love story at its core, but this time the love story is a friendship between two very different men who grow to admire and respect each other, encouraging each other to live up to their full potential. With this great story (based on a 2005 movie that was based on a true story) adapted to the stage by Broadway legend Harvey Fierstein with score by music legend Cyndi Lauper (the first woman to win a solo Tony for best score), it's a surefire hit!* Lyric Arts has assembled a fantastic cast to ensure the most fun and heart-warming time. 

Lauren (Grace Hillmyer), Lola (Mitchell Douglass),
and Charlie (Erik Speegle, photo by Molly Weibel)

In this fictionalized version of the true story, Charlie inherits his father's shoe factory in Northampton England. The business is in trouble and Charlie is faced with the prospect of firing his friends and neighbors, until he gets a brilliant idea. Through a chance encounter with a drag queen named Lola, he discovers a niche market - high-heeled boots for men. He convinces Lola to help him design the line and make samples for an upcoming fashion show in Milan. Like any good love story, the two share their deepest feelings (bonding over not living up to their fathers' expectations), have fun together (dancing, singing, and creating beautiful shoes), and argue (Charlie feels the pressure of the business and lashes out at Lola's choices), only to resolve their differences just in time to save the day. It's a beautiful, uplifting, fun story.*

One might think it's a given that the woman who gave us "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" and "Time After Time" could write a Tony-winning score. But not all successful pop musicians can write a successful Broadway musical; it's a different beast. But Cyndi Lauper has the musical, lyrical, and emotional chops to write for musical theater, as evidence by this fantastic pop-rock score with fun singable anthems and beautiful ballads. "Everybody say yeah!"* And the music sounds fantastic as played by the ten-piece band led by Music Director Anna Murphy.

Lola (Mitchell Douglas) and her Angels
(photo by Molly Weibel)

Vanessa Brooke Agnes directs the piece with such joy, but also sensitivity to the poignant moments in the characters' journeys. I unexpectedly found myself tearing up on several occasions, and expectedly laughing and smiling on many. Rising star Mitchell Douglas reprises his role of Lola from the Minnesota premiere at Duluth Playhouse last summer, and it's obvious why they continue to be cast in this role. They absolutely blow the big numbers out of the water, big and loud and unabashedly confident. Yet it's in the quieter moments that I was most impressed, softly and emotionally singing songs like "I'm Not My Father's Son," letting us see the vulnerability behind Lola's shiny exterior. Equally impressive is new-to-me actor Erik Speegle as Charlie, possessing a strong voice with a beautiful tone, and believably taking us along on Charlie's emotional journey. 

Other highlights in this huge and hugely talented cast include Waverly Ann McCollum as Charlie's girlfriend; Daze Bishop stealing scenes as factory worker George; Quinn Forrest Masterson as the bigoted jerk Don who has a change of heart; Grace Hillmyer (who I like more and more every time I see her) as Lauren with a relatably awkward crush on Charlie, just belting her heart out on the fan favorite "The History of Wrong Guys;" and the six drag queens, aka "Angels," who were so gorgeous and talented I had to check the program at intermission to see if some of them were women (they're not). 

Price and Son shoe boot factory (photo by Molly Weibel)

The factory setting of the story is represented by a two-level set with lots of steel, brick, and rough edges. Work tables are brought on, and then moved out of the way for the fabulous high-kicking dance numbers (choreographed by Jaclyn McDonald, a fabulous dancer herself making her professional debut as a choreographer). Costumes range from the blue collar wear of the factory workers, to the glitzy and slightly trashy (in a good way) Angel costumes, to Lola's array of gorgeous short and slinky red numbers. All topped by big and bold wigs (designed by Miss Ava Cado) and drag makeup (drag consultant Cam Pederson). And let's not forget the boots! Every character gets to prance around in new boots for the closing number, not to mention the many prop boots. (Scenic design by Chad Van Kekerix, costume design by Eleanor Schanilec, props design by Vicky Erickson.)

Kinky Boots is such a joyful celebration of not just drag culture (which has been around for centuries, even millennia - see the timeline in the program), but of self-identity, and friendship, and going after your dreams no matter what the world says about them, or you. This is a fantastic regional premiere by Lyric Arts, and it really couldn't come at a better time than now, when trans rights and LGBTQ+ rights seem more in danger than they were 11 years ago when the show premiered.

Experience the joy of Kinky Boots at Lyrics Arts in Anoka now through August 11.

*Some text borrowed from my review of the 2015 Broadway tour.