‘Kinky Boots’ is a film based on the story of Charlie Price, a shoemaker in Northampton England trying to save the family business after the death of his father. Help comes in the form of a drag queen called Lola who insists the shoe factory broaden its products to a more creative clientele in order to stay successful.
This 2005 comedy has become a Broadway play starring Pittsburgh native, Billy Porter who plays Lola; along with Stark Sands as Charlie Price.
Just off the heels of a five week run in Chicago with rave reviews, the cast prepares for its Broadway opening on April 4th. ‘Kinky Boots’ for the stage is written by Harvey Fierstein with original score by Cyndi Lauper, directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell.
Porter has several notable and impressive credits under his belt including starring in the original cast of ‘Miss Saigon’, ‘Five Guys Named Moe’, ‘Grease’ and ‘Smokey Joe’s Cafe’. He had an album debut in the 90s as well as in 2005 and he’s working on another recording project due out later this year. He also performs and choreographs for local theatre when in Pittsburgh.
“IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE OF ME TO SHOW UP TO BE THIS AMAZING CHARACTER AND SAY I’M STRAIGHT!”
Porter took time from his busy rehearsal schedule to chat with me about the musical among other things. First, it is important to note that he hails from East Liberty and not Homewood which is often reported. “My zip code is 15206. I don’t know if people thought it sounded better to say Homewood at the time since it was considered a bad area and something good was coming from it border but it was East Liberty!”
The character of Lola was always that of drag but straight. I asked how the sexuality change came about. “I think I sort of moved it in the gay direction. I have always been gay and now I have the biggest career defining moment of my life and they want me to be straight? That just didn’t make sense! It would be irresponsible of me to show up to be this amazing character and say I’m straight! This is a part that will let people walk away from the play understanding differences and having empathy. It’s about changing the world when we change our minds!’
Of course I needed to know what it was like prepping for his role each night and how long the process was and I got much more of an answer than I had expected, “It takes about 45 minutes. Someone does my makeup and I get into costume. It’s my job, I get to do what I love for a living so it’s not an issue! I get to dress up, sing and dance for a living! I haven’t been on Broadway since 1999, I feel blessed and grateful!”
When the role came about, Porter wanted to bring all of himself to it as a black, gay man. “This part was tailor-made to my strengths as an artist. The timing of who Lola represents is so much bigger; bringing an archetype in a forum where we’ve not really changed much in a popular way” He went on to explain, “You can be who you are when it’s popular. Twenty-five years ago it wasn’t popular to be gay. Not even sure it’s popular now but we’re part of the conversation. Everybody is out now but it’s all white. I’m a powerful, gay black man! I feel so lucky to be introducing the newness of this on that level! “
After a recent photo shoot for ‘Vanity Fair’ as Lola, he thought “Look how far we’ve come, but we’ve got a long way to go.’
How does he feel about Cyndi Lauper’s score? “Her score is brilliant and people who are fans are not going to be surprised! Her imagery is quite stunning! She was writing better music back then than we have now. I am not saying we don’t have good music now because we do but she’s a master as what she does. She can write a hook and knows how to write a hummable melody. You may not know every lyric but you’ll leave the show remembering the songs, all of them.”
The Chicago performance reviews have been rave but I wanted to know what Porter has heard. “I’ve gotten nothing but positive feedback and people are embracing the way Lola opens hearts and minds. I don’t know of anything negative because I don’t allow that in my face!”
What is Porter’s take on life and what is something we don’t know about him? “Ninety percent of the time life is glass half full for me. I get to be special and I embrace that now. Not something I knew at an early age and I would never want to be born any other way than I am. I’m a closet introvert. I have to work at being an extrovert, real extroverts don’t work at it. I’m perfectly content at home watching television alone.”
This Pittsburgh native stays true to his city, you can hear the pride in his voice when he speaks of his training at CMU, his love of the local theatre, symphony and cultural district. “I love Pittsburgh! I really think it’s a wonderful place. It took awhile to realize it but I like coming home. The creative energy in Pittsburgh rival anywhere in the world. CMU is one of the top five acting schools in the country!” His favorite things to do when he’s home aside from visiting the theatre? He attends Mt. Arat Baptist Church, he spends time with friends and family and he enjoys eating out. “I never knew about Pittsburgh restaurants. Salt of the Earth is my favorite! I’ve been all over the world and the food is right up there with the other places I’ve been to! Kevin Sousa is an amazing chef. I love Union Pig & Chicken and his other place Station Street Hot Dogs, that place is crazy good. Those hot dogs are slap your mother silly, good!”
Kick up your KINKY BOOTS for our hometown Lola!
Porter encourages his friends back here at home to schedule a trip to New York to take in a Broadway show while taking in the show’s message of acceptance and love. We couldn’t be more proud to call him one of our own and are excited his boots are made for super-stardom!
Kinky Boots opens April 4 at the Al Hirschfield Theatre, 302 West 4th Street, New York. For tickets, visit broadway.com.
About Billy Porter:
- Attended Allderdice High School 1/2 day and CAPA High School 1/2 day graduating in 1987.
- Attended Carnegie Mellon University graduating in 1991.
- Appears on 1996 soundtrack for the film ‘First Wives Club’ singing “Love is on the Way’.
- Released his own albums in 1997, ‘Billy Porter’ and another in 2005 titled ‘At the Corner of Broadway and Soul’
- Performed ensemble and character vocals on Fox Animated Studios film, ‘Anastasia’