Overview
Synopsis
After trying to escape his father’s low-key, family ambitions for him, Charlie Price has suddenly inherited his father's shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Charlie must now face the decision of whether to pursue a new life in London with his fiancee Nicola, or return to the town in which he grew up and save his father’s dreams. Ultimately, Charlie decides to try to live up to his father's legacy and rescue his family business, and, in doing so, he finds unlikely inspiration in the form of Lola. A fabulous drag queen in need of some sturdy stiletto boots, Lola turns out to be the one person who can help Charlie become the man he's meant to be. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair find that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible. With the door thrown open and the world at their fingers, Charlie discovers that when you change your mind about someone, you can change your whole world.
Show Information
- Book
- Harvey Fierstein
- Music
- Cyndi Lauper
- Lyrics
- Cyndi Lauper
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Kinky Boots (2005 film)
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2012
- Genres
- Comedy, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Contemporary, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Northampton, London, Present Day
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Music Theatre International
- Ideal For
- Mostly Male Cast, Star Vehicle Male, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Child, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Written by Harvey Fierstein and with music by Cyndi Lauper, Kinky Boots is based on the 2005 film of the same name. The idea for the show was conceived in 2006 and it premiered at the Bank of America Theater, Chicago, in October 2012. The musical was directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell and featured Stark Sands as Charlie, and Billy Porter as Lola. The show then moved to Broadway, premiering at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in April 2013. Despite being viewed as a musical underdog, the
to read the context for Kinky Boots and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
Before the house lights go down, factory worker Don enters through the auditorium on his phone. He tells his caller that he can’t talk right now and is switching his phone off--something he reminds the audience to do also.
As the house lights fade, the voices of the factory workers are heard singing (“Price and Son Theme”). Factory owner, Mr. Price, sings to his son, Charlie, about the beauty of shoes but Charlie is less than impressed (“The Most Beautiful Thing in the
to read the plot for Kinky Boots and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
|
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
|
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor |
Songs
Act One
Price and Son Theme - Ensemble
The Most Beautiful Thing in the World - Young Charlie, Young Lola, Mr. Price, Nicola, Ensemble
Price and Son Theme [Reprise] - Ensemble
Take What You’ve Got - Harry, Charlie, Ensemble
*The Land of Lola - Lola, The Angels
*The Land of Lola [Reprise] - Lola, The Angels
Charlie’s Soliloquy - Charlie
Step One - Charlie
*The Sex Is in the Heel - Lola, Pat, The Angels
The History of Wrong Guys - Lauren
Not My Father’s Son - Lola, Charlie
*Everybody Say Yeah! - Charlie, Lola, Ensemble
Act Two
Price and Son Theme [Reprise] - Ensemble
*What a Woman Wants - Lola, Female Ensemble
*In This Corner - The Angels, Pat, Trish, Lola, Don, Ensemble
Charlie’s Soliloquy [Reprise] - Charlie
Soul of a Man - Charlie
*Everybody Say Yeah! [Reprise] - Ensemble
Hold Me in Your Heart - Lola
*Raise You Up - Lola, The Angels, Charlie, Ensemble
*Just Be - The Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A play, musical, or opera that has been adapted from a written work.
A song that uses short stanzas to tell a story about love.
The sequence of steps and movements in dance, also the orchestrated and rehearsed movements for actors, based on the script.
Performance of gender expression, often when men imitate or exaggerate a feminine style.
The accepted generic term for the LGBTQ+ theatre movement.
A production designed especially to show off the talents of a particular performer.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher