Courtney Bowman (Legally Blonde) has joined the cast of the forthcoming new production of Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein's Tony-winning musical Kinky Boots that will tour the U.K. and Ireland next year.
Helmed by Curve Artistic Director Nikolai Foster, the Made at Curve production will open at Leicester's Curve January 17, 2025, for a limited engagement through January 25. The tour will subsequently play Woking, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Truro, Norwich, Milton Keynes, Cardiff, Brighton, Birmingham, and more with a final stop at the Oxford New Theatre July 22-26.
As previously reported, the cast will be led by Johannes Radebe (Strictly Come Dancing, Burn the Floor, Freedom tour) as Lola and Dan Partridge (Grease, Hairspray tour) as Charlie Price. Bowman, seen as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, will play the role of Lauren.
Lauper said in an earlier statement, “Kinky Boots is one of the things I’m proudest of in my career, and I’m so excited that audiences will get to see it again, in a new production. It’s like a happy pill—and we could all use some of that right now! I can’t think of a better time or place to relaunch this special show in its place of origin.”
Fierstein added, "An all-new production is a thrilling event in the life of a well-loved show. And to have that rebirth occur in the place of its origin makes it all a billion times more exciting. I can’t wait to welcome Kinky Boots home."
The production will also have choreography by Leah Hill, set and costume design by Robert Jones, musical supervision by George Dyer, lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Adam Fisher, casting by Harry Blumenau, and wigs, hair, and make-up design by Campbell Young Associates with associate direction by Michaela Powell, associate choreography by Johnny Bishop, associate sound design by Harry Barker, and production management by Setting Line.
The winner of six 2013 Tony Awards, Kinky Boots features a Tony-winning score by Lauper and a book by Tony winner Fierstein. Tony winner Jerry Mitchell directed and choreographed the Broadway production.
The Broadway company was originally headed by Billy Porter as indefatigable drag performer Lola, whose broken heel helps mend a broken wing for a foundering shoe-maker, originally played by Stark Sands. Both Porter and Sands were Tony-nominated for their performances; Porter won the Tony for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, and Mitchell won his second career Tony Award for his choreography. The production played 2,507 regular performances and 34 previews at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.
An Off-Broadway production played 32 previews and 102 regular performances at Stage 42 in 2022.
The upcoming tour is produced by Royo and Curve.
Click here for the current touring itinerary.
