Everybody say “yeah” to Kinky Boots

Lubbock Community Theatre’s production of Kinky Boots is directed by Jillian Johnstone. This musical is based on the book by Harvey Fierstein, with music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper. It premiered in Chicago in 2012 and appeared on Broadway the following year. It won six Tony Awards, including Best Score. Congratulations are in order to Johnstone on a job well done. Choreographer Savannah Richeda, music director Jordan Sanders, costume manager Kari King and prop master Joshua Lashomb also definitely contributed to creating some of the show’s most outstanding features. The story is a little slow when it begins in a Northampton shoe factory, where a young Charlie Price has no interest in following in his father’s footsteps. Years later, Charlie has managed to walk away from the pressure to take over the factory. His escape to London with fiancé Nicola is interrupted when he learns of his father’s sudden death. Upon returning for the funeral, he finds that shoe orders have been cancelled. His father’s shoes have gone out of style and the factory is in danger of going out of business. Charlie tries to avoid firing people he has known all his life but doesn’t know what to do to save the factory. He meets with a shoe salesman named Harry at London pub to ask for his help. When Charlie is leaving the pub, he steps in to help a stranger, Lola, who is being attacked on the street. He gets hit hard enough to be knocked out and awakens in Lola’s dressing room in a nightclub. As he comes to the realization that his new friend is a drag queen, he accidentally stumbles onto a solution for the shoe factory’s future. Ramona Deluna (Lola) is a powerhouse and the obvious star of this show. She is exactly the kind of performer who owns the stage and deserves to be a headliner. Glamourous, gorgeous greatness. What a voice. Prepare to be dazzled in the land of Lola and to tip her lovely angels. Alex Carrillo, Edward Funderburke, Clayton Henriksen, Trina Lucio, Seth Marstrand, Joel Palma, Omar Samad, Elizabeth Stone, Deandra Carrasco and Reyan Luera all fuel this high-energy show, and they are fabulous. Nethaniel Perez (Charlie) brings a gentle sincerity to his character and does a nice job portraying a wide range of shifting emotions and priorities throughout the show. He has the voice for this kind of challenge and he and Deluna share some sweet harmonies. Perez is strongest as he navigates a transition that is vital for the audience to see. Daniel Tullis (Don) also holds responsibility for bringing a West Texas community along with him in an experience of change. Charlie and Don have different motivations, but both Perez and Tullis demonstrate humility and courage. Courtney Smith (Lauren) really shows off her excellent voice and stage presence. She is fun to watch in this role and the kind of talent audiences look forward to seeing again. Dylan Avant (Harry) steals the show for a notable moment on the guitar. Karen Duncan Rosales (Trish) makes her stage debut in this show, and she is hilarious. Factory workers, Terroderick Graves, Elyse Kuss and Ashley Washburn perform well with particularly good vocals by Dana Djinigou. Liz Morgan makes a fine Nicola and Trey Kuehl is a convincing Mr. Price. Deja Madrid, Daniel Ballard, Jake Quintanilla, Kass Giberson, Maria Maresca and Christina Proper all seem well-cast. From time to time, the sound is in and out, but that tends to be a common struggle in venues across Lubbock and in shows with a large cast. Although the lighting throughout the show was fine, there was a distracting bit of projection. The set is well-designed and interesting. Abby Wolff Smith also deserves a shout out for the great fight choreography. Hats off to the entire cast and crew for putting heart and soul into such a brave show. The type of risk taken here to tell valuable and relatable stories is to be applauded. Don’t miss your chance to see this show! Get tickets for this evening performances May 31 and June 1 or the finale matinee June 2. For tickets and information, go to www.lubbockcommunitytheatre.org. Photos by Liz Adams Posted 05/26/2024