Kinky Boots the Musical is coming to the Auditorium starting this Friday, April 26th. There will be a total of 8 performances, including 2 matinees. Tickets may be purchased ahead of time here. The original opening show on Thursday has been canceled due to delays as a result of the evacuation on Wednesday. Because of the evacuation, the set team was unable to complete the set in time for a Thursday show.
Kinky Boots is a musical based off of the film Kinky Boots. The musical follows the story of a shoe factory owner, Charlie Price, who seeks out the assistance of a drag queen named Lola to produce high-heeled boots in order to save his struggling business.
“In the show, you’ll notice that the characters start out really divided… towards the end they all come together in a really beautiful way,” Mr. Omar Cruz, theater teacher, said.
Along with their matinees, 2 special events have been planned. On Saturday, April 27th, a discussion with FCPS Pride has been planned to take place in the Auditorium after the 1 p.m. show. Additionally, on May 4th at 12 p.m., a family-friendly drag brunch will be held in the Kogelman Theatre. This will take place before their matinee that day and feature DC drag performers Dixie Crystal, Pirouette, and Orpheus Rose. Tickets for the brunch will be sold at the door. More details can be found at this link.
The show has been in production for a while. Most shows require 8 weeks of rehearsal and preparation for opening night when all the hard work is put to test in front of a crowd. For this show, Beyond the Page has seen some issues with the controversy of the musical’s subject matter. Some students were unable to participate in the production of Kinky Boots because of its theme. Furthermore, Beyond the Page has been working hard to recover from the loss of students coming into the 2023-2024 school year.
Mr. Cruz describes, “This is really a story about acceptance and community.”
Because of the controversy surrounding drag queens, the theater company hopes that people will watch the show and possibly understand a new perspective.
“Change the world when you change your mind,” said Mr. Cruz.
Cast List:
Charlie Price Sunny Call
Young Charlie Billy Madore
Lola/Simon Keyshawn Pierre
Young Lola/Simon Aniyah Pleasant
Mr. Price Jeb Saraum
Sr. Simon Terence Boykin
George Samuel Glassman
Nicola Eva McGee & Violet Boyd
Lauren Lizzie Kendrick & Alyla Collins
Pat Isabelle Madore & Parrin Ash
Trish Charlotte Parker
Don Mac Jonas & Basleel Dlnessa
Harry Micah Thomas
Richard Bailey Payton Frost
Angels Jeb Saraum, Adrian Castellon, Liz Porter, Laniyah Layne, Julie Harding, & Aniyah Pleasant
Delivery Person Je’nae Hamilton
Stage Manager Karol Dubiel
Hooligans Karol Dubiel & Payton Frost
Bartender Sofia Calogi
Homeless Person Terrance Boykin
Ensemble Sofia Oliva, Ozzy Rader, Jahdiah Sturge
Vicki • Apr 25, 2024 at 5:13 PM
Your statement above in regard to why tonight’s show was canceled is a bit misleading and has led to some confusion. It should be clarified that the show was canceled this evening because the crew was not able to complete the set due to lost time from yesterday’s bomb threat investigation.
Josephine Keller • Apr 25, 2024 at 7:41 PM
Thank you for your comment! The story has been updated to clarify that.
Vicki • Apr 26, 2024 at 6:43 AM
Wonderful – thank you for updating!