‘Kinky Boots’ @ ATTPAC (Winspear)

—Carol M. Rice

The musical Kinky Boots (making a tour stop at the Winspear Opera House) is, of course, the popular Tony Award-winning show with book by Harvey Fierstein and music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper. Yes, THAT Cyndi Lauper, the ‘80s pop icon, who with Kinky Boots became the first woman to win a Tony alone in 2013…and what’s more, in her first-time outing as a Broadway songwriter. The songs definitely have her funky flair.

Loosely based on a true story (and a 2005 British film by the same name), the musical tells the story of Charlie Price, whose father hopes he’ll join the family’s four generations-deep shoe-making business, Price & Son. But Charlie is ready to leave the small town where he grew up and heads to London with his fiancée.…But shortly thereafter his father dies, leaving Charlie to decide what to do with the flailing factory.

Then he meets Lola, a night club performer and drag queen, who complains about the expensive yet cheaply made high-heeled boots that finish off her glam drag outfits – they always break. Charlie is inspired to save the shoe factory by making high-heeled boots that can take the weight of a man, and brings Lola along to help him design them.

This is the plot in a nutshell, although obviously a great many more things happen along the way, and getting there is quite the ride!

Charlie is played with building gusto by Noah Silverman. He starts off as a man with little confidence and direction and ultimately finds his purpose and voice – literally. His “Soul of a Man” is stunningly moving, and his apology to Lola’s voicemail is heartfelt and sweet.

As Lola, Omari Collins (aka “Scarlett D. Von’Du”) is a force to be reckoned with from the character’s first entrance. Collins features powerful vocals, superb dance skills, and solid acting chops. And even some boxing prowess! When we get to see behind Lola’s drag persona and meet Simon (the character’s birth name), Lola’s ability to strip down emotionally is raw and beautiful. Collins and Silverman have a beautiful duet at the end of Act I, “Not My Father’s Son,” and Lola’s “Hold Me in Your Heart” is heart wrenching, especially when we learn Lola is singing to her estranged real-life dad.

Charlie’s love interests include the self-centered Nicola played by Emma Dean and the quirky Lauren played by Sophie Gunter. These two women are a study in contrasts – emphasized by Nicola’s obsession with an expensive pair of red stilettos, compared to Lauren’s comfy, flat sneakers. Gunter gets to perform one of my personal favorite songs in this show, “The History of Wrong Guys.” (Fortunately, she ends up with the right one.)

Jason Daniel Chacon brings new meaning to the term “toxic masculinity” as Don – initially, at least. But when he comes around to accepting people for who they are, his turnaround is genuine, yet still a little off the wall. Chacon has great stage presence and is a lot of fun to watch. He really shines in “In This Corner.”

As George, Charlie’s right hand at the factory, John Anker Bow is perfectly cast. He has ideas yet defers to his new boss, but he’s not afraid to express his opinion. This character is one that could easily be a throwaway, but not in the talented hands of Bow.

Lola’s Angels (aka her backup singers and dancers) are played with high energy by Dargan Cole, Felipe Cristancho-Rodríguez, Jonathan Blake Flemings, Peyton Gaida, Blaise Rossman, and TJ Staten. These six actors are masters of drag and manage to keep up with Collins/“Von’Du” with every note and turn. They act almost as Lola’s Greek chorus, yet each with their own unique personality. The remainder of the ensemble is also excellent.

Something that I realized while watching this show is that Kinky Boots is not a show about drag queens. It’s about being who you are, accepting others who are different from you, and working together towards a common goal. Yet it doesn’t beat you over the head with those notions, instead letting the audience discover them as the characters do.

As presented at the Winspear as part of AT&T Performing Arts Center’s “Broadway at the Center” series, Kinky Boots is a super-entertaining, feel-good romp with some amazing songs and choreography (originally by Jerry Mitchell, recreated by Rusty Mowery), fabulous costumes (by Gregg Barnes), and most importantly, incredible BOOTS!

WHEN: April 23-25, 2026 (as of publication, three shows left!)
WHERE: Winspear Opera House, Dallas Arts Disrict
WEB: https://attpac.org/event/kinky-boots