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MUSIC & LYRICS BY CYNDI LAUPER BOOK BY H ARVEY FIERSTEIN STUDY G U I D E TABLE OF C O N T E N T S

FAST FACTS 1 THE CHARACTERS 2 THE PLOT 5 BASED ON A TRUE STORY 6 INTERVIEW WITH THE DIRECTOR 7 HISTORY OF THE HIGH HEEL 9 BREAKING THE BINARY ACTIVITY 11

FAST FACTS!

D ON PENE OTS O D KY BO 13 AN KIN IN 20 . WAY EARS ROAD SIX Y B OVER N FOR KI RA NKY BOO TS WON AWAR 6 TONY DS IN 20 I 13, NCLUDIN G BEST M USICAL! OW WAS THE MUSIC FOR THE SH PER, A POP WRITTEN BY CYNDI LAU 80S HITS ICON KNOWN FOR HER TO HAVE LIKE "GIRLS JUST WANT TIME." FUN" AND "TIME AFTER CE LEBRITIES WHO S PENT TIME IN THE KINKY BOOTS B ROADWAY CAST I BRE NCLUDE NDAN URIE (PANI C! AT THE DISCO), WAYNE BRADY , TODRICK HALL, K MA IRSTIN LDONADO (PENT ATONIX), AND TIKI BARBER.

KY ADWAY, KIN ING ON BRO SINCE BE D ALL OVER PERFORME TS HAS BEEN AN, BOO THE UK, JAP , INCLUDING THE WORLD & KOREA. AUSTRALIA,

1 THE C H A R A C T E R S C H A R L I E

A BIT CONFUSED, A BIT UNFOCUSED, A HERO HIDING UNDER A VICTIM'S MANTLE GRAHAM SCOTT FLEMING L O L A / S I M O N

A PRIZE FIGHTER'S PHYSIQUE DRAPED IN SATIN. A TALENTED DRAG QUEEN WITH A KILLER VOICE & WINNING WAYS. JOSEPH ANTHONY BYRD

N I C O L A

CHARLIE'S LONG-TERM GIRLFRIEND. DRIVEN, UNCOMPROMISING.

GRACE 2 STOCKDALE Character descriptions via www.mtishows.com/kinky-boots THE C H A R A C T E R S

L A U R E N

BEAUTIFUL & STRONG WORKING CLASS GIRL.

SYDNI BEAUDOIN

D O N LOLA'S NEMESIS. BURLY, HYPERMASCULINE BEAR OF A FACTORY WORKER.

JOE COOTS G E O R G E

FACTORY MANAGER KEEPING UP TRADITIONS. RESERVED.

JOHN SCHERER 3 Character descriptions via www.mtishows.com/kinky-boots THE C H A R A C T E R S T H E A N G E L S THE DRAG PERFORMERS WHO POPULATE THE BLUE ANGEL NIGHTCLUB

DAVID ROBERT IAN GALLAGHER MERINO PENDILLA FITZGERALD

ETHAN E. TOMMY JOSE BAKER MARTINEZ RONDON, JR. YOUNG YOUNG C H A R L I E L O L A/S I M O N CHARLIE AS A LOLA AS A TEN YEAR SEVEN YEAR OLD BOY WHO OLD BOY. LOST, ALREADY KNOWS LAWSON QUIET, HE'S DESTINED TO MICHAEL WALKER REFLECTIVE. WEAR HIGH HEELS. LASSITER

4 Character descriptions via www.mtishows.com/kinky-boots THE P L O T

INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY, AND BROUGHT TO THE WORLD BY A FILM IN 2005, THE STORY FOLLOWS CHARLIE PRICE, AN ASPIRING YOUNG BUSINESSMAN WHO HAS TO GIVE UP HIS DREAMS OF LIVING A BIG CITY LIFE.

FOLLOWING HIS FATHER'S DEATH, CHARLIE HAS TO TRY TO SAVE THE FAMILY BUSINESS, A BANKRUPT SHOE FACTORY. THE FACTOR WORKERS, WHO HAVE KNOWN CHARLIE HIS WHOLE LIFE, WANT HIM TO STAY AND SAVE THEIR JOBS, BUT HIS LIFE AND FIANCE, NICOLA, ARE HARD TO GIVE UP. A CHANCE ENCOUNTER INTRODUCES HIM TO LOLA, A DRAG PERFORMER IN NEED OF SOME STURDY STILETTOS. THEY WORK TO TURN THE FACTORY AROUND TO THIS NICHE BUSINESS.

NICOLA ARRIVES WITH A PLAN TO CLOSE DOWN THE FACTORY THAT HAD BEEN APPROVED BY CHARLIE'S FATHER BEFORE HE DIED, AND CHARLIE SURPRISES HIMSELF WHEN HE DECIDES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BUSINESS AND, IN THE PROCESS, WORK TO EARN BACK THE JOBS FOR THE PEOPLE HE HAS TO LAY OFF. ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE, LAUREN, FINDS HERSELF HAVING COMPLICATED FEELINGS FOR CHARLIE. MEANWHILE, A SHOE SHOW IN MILAN IS LOOMING, AND THE STRESS BEGINS TO TAKE ITS TOLL. WHEN LOLA ANNOUNCES THAT HER DRAG TEAM, THE ANGELS, WILL WEAR THE SHOES INSTEAD OF PROFESSIONAL MODELS, CHARLIE TURNS ON LOLA. LOLA TAKES THIS TIME TO SORT THROUGH HER TROUBLED RELATIONSHIP WITH HER FATHER AS CHARLIE & LAUREN HEAD TO MILAN. JUST AS CHARLIE, FORCED TO MODEL THE SHOES HIMSELF, BEGINS TO FLOUNDER, LOLA & HER ANGELS ARRIVE.

5 BASED ON A T R U E S T O R Y

IN 1979, STEVE PATEMAN STARTED WORKING FOR HIS DAD’S SHOE FIRM, W.J. BROOKS SHOE COMPANY, IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE (A COUNTY IN THE EAST MIDLANDS OF ENGLAND). UNLIKE THE MAIN CHARACTER IN KINKY BOOTS, CHARLIE PRICE, PATEMAN WAS MARRIED WITH ONE CHILD WHEN HE BEGAN MANAGING HIS FATHER’S BUSINESS IN 1993. PRESERVING HIS FATHER’S BUSINESS IN 1993. PRESERVING HIS FATHER’S SHOE COMPANY WOULD PROVE TO BE NO SMALL FEAT AS PATEMAN, S IMILAR TO CHARLIE PRICE, STRUGGLED TO KEEP DOMESTIC S ALES DUE TO THE INCREASE IN CHEAP IMPORTED MEN’S L EATHER SHOES.

RANDOMLY, PATEMAN RECEIVED A CALL FROM A WOMAN AT A FETISH SHOE SHOP REQUESTING A CUSTOM ORDER OF WOMEN’S SHOES IN MEN’S SIZES. AS A MAN WHO LOVED TO SHOCK PEOPLE WITH BOLD MOVES AND A DETERMINATION TO CONTINUE HIS FATHER’S BUSINESS, PATEMAN SHIFTED W.J. BROOKS’ PRODUCT TOWARDS A MORE NICHE MARKET. THE SHOES WERE SOLD UNDER THE NAME DIVINE FOOTWEAR AND QUICKLY BECAME KNOWN AS "KINKY BOOTS".

BBC’S “TROUBLE AT THE TOP” SERIES FEATURING THE W.J. BROOKS SHOE COMPANY QUICKLY CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF FILM MAKERS, THUS RESULTING IN THE 2005 BRITISH COMEDY- DRAMA. FROM THERE THE MOMENTUM BUILT, INCLUDING A MUSICAL VERSION OF THE STORY AND PATEMAN’S BOOK CALLED "THE BOSS IN BOOTS".

6 nctheatre.com/blog/history-kinky-boots INTERVIEW WITH THE D I R E C T O R NATHAN PECK NATHAN HAS PERFORMED ON BROADWAY (WHERE HE EVEN APPEARED AS AN ORIGINAL CAST MEMBER OF KINKY BOOTS) AND REGIONALLY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AS WELL AS INTERNATIONALLY IN SLOVENIA, ITALY, AND MALAYSIA. IN ADDITION TO PERFORMING, NATHAN HAS CHOREOGRAPHED AND CONSULTED FOR A VARIETY OF PROJECTS OF BROADWAY AND OFF SHOWCASING AN ECLECTIC STYLE AND INTEREST IN STORYTELLING THROUGH MOVEMENT AND DANCE. WHY DO YOU THINK IT’S NECESSARY TO TELL THIS STORY RIGHT NOW AND TO A NORTH CAROLINA AUDIENCE?

IN THIS TIME, IT’S IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT EACH INDIVIDUAL HAS TO OFFER IN THIS WORLD WHILE RESPECTING THAT SAME QUALITY IN OTHERS. WHAT I HOPE PEOPLE IN NORTH CAROLINA WILL SEE IN OUR PRODUCTION OF KINKY BOOTS IS THAT WHEN WE TREAT EACH OTHER WITH LOVE AND DIGNITY WE CAN ALL EXCEL IN WAYS THAT WE MAY HAVE NEVER KNOWN. WHY DO YOU THINK THIS TRUE STORY SHOULD BE A MUSICAL?

I THINK CREATING A MUSICAL OUT OF THIS PARTICULAR TRUE STORY IS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE WAY TO HARNESS THE SPECIFIC ENERGY, HEART, AND FUN THAT IS AT ITS CORE. WHAT IS SO WONDERFUL ABOUT MUSICAL THEATER IS THAT ALL THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, IDEAS CAN BE HEIGHTENED THROUGH SONG AND DANCE! IF IT ALTERS THE STORY AT ALL, IT’S DOING SO IN ORDER TO GET TO THE CORE OF THE CHARACTERS AND THEIR JOURNEY. IF YOU COULD NAME ONE THING, WHAT DO YOU MOST WANT THE AUDIENCE TO WALK AWAY WITH?

I WANT THEM TO COME AWAY FEELING UPLIFTED. MORE THAN ANYTHING, IF SOMEONE WALKS AWAY FROM SEEING KINKY BOOTS AND FEELS GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES, ABOUT LIFE AND ITS POSSIBILITIES, ABOUT THE PEOPLE THEY ARE WITH…WE HAVE DONE OUR JOB WELL. 7 INTERVIEW WITH THE D I R E C T O R NATHAN PECK

WHAT DO YOU UNIQUELY BRING TO THIS SHOW? HOW DOES WHO YOU ARE CHANGE HOW YOU DIRECT THE SHOW VERSUS SOMEONE ELSE?

AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN A PART OF THIS SHOW SINCE THE WORKSHOP PHASE, I HAVE BEEN IN THE ROOM WHEN THE CREATORS OF KINKY BOOTS JERRY MITCHELL, HARVEY FIERSTEIN, AND CYNDI LAUPER DISCUSSED THE REASONING BEHIND EVERY LINE, LYRIC, AND MOVEMENT THAT WENT IN TO THE SHOW. I UNDERSTAND THEIR INTENTIONS AND HOPEFULLY AM ABLE TO RECREATE THEM FAITHFULLY. ALSO HAVING BEEN IN THE SHOW AS THE DANCE CAPTAIN AND AS AN ACTOR, I KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO ACTUALLY PERFORM THE SHOW 8 TIMES A WEEK WHICH GIVES ME A PARTICULAR INSIGHT. I’VE TAUGHT THE SHOW, I’VE WATCHED THE SHOW, AND I’VE PERFORMED THE SHOW. AND, SIMILAR TO THE SHOW ITSELF, I TRY TO LIVE LIFE PASSIONATELY WITHOUT HESITATION BUT WITH HONESTY. KINKY BOOTS HAS HELPED TEACH ME THAT, AND I HOPE I CAN GIVE THAT RIGHT BACK.

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO SOMEONE WHO MIGHT THINK THIS SHOW “ISN’T FOR THEM” OR THINKS THE SHOW MIGHT BE TRYING TO CHALLENGE DIFFERENT BELIEF SYSTEMS OR IDEALS?

I WOULD SAY THAT THIS SHOW IS FOR EVERYONE! HAVING WORKED ON THE SHOW FOR ALMOST 8 YEARS, I HAVE SEEN EVERY DIFFERENT KIND OF PERSON WALK INTO THE THEATER TO SEE KINKY BOOTS, AND INEVITABLY THEY ALL COME OUT WITH A SMILE ON THEIR FACE AND A BEAT IN THEIR STEP. WHETHER IT’S THE STORY OF LGBTQIA ACCEPTANCE, THE STORY OF A SON GRAPPLING WITH HIS FATHER’S EXPECTATIONS, OR THE STORY OF SOMEONE FIGURING OUT WHAT AND WHO TRULY MAKES THEM HAPPY, THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE STORY THAT ANY AUDIENCE MEMBER CAN LATCH ON TO.

8 Bio via https://www.broadwayworld.com/raleigh/article/BWW-Interview-Nathan-Peck-of-North-Carolina-Theatres- KINKY-BOOTS-20200127 HISTORY OF THE H I G H H E E L FROM LONDON TO MILAN STILETTOS ARE AN ISM IN RED AND NEON LIFE GIMME JIMMY CHOO, CHOO, CHOO, CHOO, CHOO, CHOO, SHOES NEW YORK, PARIS, HONG KONG LIVE IT LIKE AN ISM SEDUCTION AMPLIFIED THE HEEL IS THE TRANSMISSION -LOLA, ACT I HIGH HEELED SHOES WERE ORIGINALLY CREATED FOR MEN ADD THAT TO THE LIST OF WHY GENDER-SPECIFIC DRESSING IS BS. BY ARIANA MARSH JULY 12, 2017 WHAT IF WE TOLD YOU THAT HIGH HEELS WERE ORIGINALLY MADE EXCLUSIVELY FOR MEN? IN A TIME WHEN STILETTOS AND PLATFORMS ARE OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH FEMALE STYLE AND FEMALE SEXUALITY, THAT FACT MIGHT COME AS A SURPRISE — BUT IT SHOULDN’T. IN FACT, FOR DECADES HIGH HEELS FOUND THEIR PLACE ON THE FEET OF MALE SOLDIERS, ARISTOCRATS AND EVEN ROYALS IN DIFFERING PARTS OF THE GLOBE FOR VERY SPECIFIC REASONS. AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE SURPRISING HISTORY OF HEELED SHOES, THAT’S JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. THE ORIGIN OF HIGH-HEELS CAN BE TRACED BACK TO 15TH CENTURY PERSIA WHEN SOLDIERS WORE THEM TO HELP SECURE THEIR FEET IN STIRRUPS. PERSIAN MIGRANTS BROUGHT THE SHOE TREND TO EUROPE, WHERE MALE ARISTOCRATS WORE THEM TO APPEAR TALLER AND MORE FORMIDABLE. 9

Excerpt from https://www.teenvogue.com/story/heels-history-men HISTORY OF THE H I G H H E E L

THE PEDESTAL-LIKE CHOPINE OF THE LATE 15TH TO THE EARLY 17TH CENTURIES TRANSFORMED THE UPPER-CLASS EUROPEAN WOMAN INTO A TOWERING FIGURE. ESPECIALLY POPULAR IN VENICE, THE SHOES WERE SO EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH — SOMETIMES UP TO 54 CM — THAT MAIDS WERE USED AS CRUTCHES. CHOPINES WERE COMPLETELY HIDDEN UNDER SKIRTS. THE HIGHER THE A 17th FOOTWEAR, THE MORE CLOTH century P 20 ersian rid 17, Bata S ing boot WAS REQUIRED FOR THE DRESS, C hoe Mus . Image © anada. B eum, Toro ATA SHOE nto, ANOTHER INDICATION OF MUSEUM STATUS.

IN 1673, KING LOUIS XIV INTRODUCED SHOES WITH RED HEELS AND RED SOLES TO THE FRENCH COURT. HE RESTRICTED THE WEARING OF SUCH SHOES TO HIS CIRCLE OF NOBLES. THE PRACTICE WAS LATER TAKEN UP BY ROYALTY ACROSS EUROPE AND BECAME HIGHLY FASHIONABLE. THE COLOR CODING — IDENTIFYING SUPERIORITY AND PRIVILEGE — WAS QUICKLY COPIED BY of . rtesy Wolf s. Cou Lara ASPIRANTS. shoe grad soled SCAD Red- n by tratio , illus SCAD

Excerpt from https://www.teenvogue.com/story/heels-history-men BREAKING THE B I N A R Y ACTIVITY GENDER IS AN IDEA CREATED BY SOCIETY THAT ASSIGNS CERTAIN QUALITIES OR TRAITS TO SEXES, BASED ON CULTURAL, BEHAVIORAL, OR EMOTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS. FOR EXAMPLE, “GIRLS LIKE PINK” IS A TRAIT THAT MAKES UP OUR IDEA OF THE FEMALE GENDER.

MANY PEOPLE VIEW GENDER AS BINARY -- A SYSTEM WITH TWO OPPOSITES, AND NO IN BETWEEN. A COMMON MISCONCEPTION ABOUT GENDER IS THAT IT IS A BINARY SYSTEM (MALE AND FEMALE), WHEN REALLY IT IS A SPECTRUM. BRAINSTORM

IN YOUR OWN LIFE, THINK ABOUT THE TRAITS OR QUALITIES THAT ARE STEREOTYPICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE GENDER BINARY - “BOY” THINGS VERSUS “GIRL” THINGS. MAKE A LIST OF THESE DIFFERENT BINARY TRAITS. DO YOU THINK DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS ARE ACCURATE OR FAIR? WHY OR WHY NOT? SHARE

FIND A PARTNER & SHARE YOUR LISTS OF BINARY GENDER TRAITS WITH EACH OTHER. NOTE ANY SIMILARITIES OR DIFFERENCES. DO THESE LISTS ACCURATELY REPRESENT THE WAY YOU SEE YOURSELF, OR THE THINGS YOU ENJOY? DISCUSS. CREATE

PICK A TRAIT FROM YOUR COMBINED “BOY” AND “GIRL” LISTS. CREATE A TABLEAU FOR IT. THEN, CREATE TWO NEW TABLEAUS THAT CHALLENGES THE ACTIVITIES OR IDEAS REPRESENTED IN YOUR FIRST TABLEAU. (A TABLEAU IS A THEATRICAL TECHNIQUE IN WHICH ACTORS FREEZE IN POSES TO CREATE A STILL PICTURE REPRESENTING A SCENE OR A MOMENT IN A PARTICULAR STORY.) FOR EXAMPLE, IF ONE OF YOUR FIRST TABLEAUS REPRESENTS THE STEREOTYPE THAT BOYS OR MEN ARE AGGRESSIVE, CREATE A TABLEAU THAT SUBVERTS OR DISPROVES THIS IDEA. REPEAT WITH 2 OTHER TRAITS, THEN SHARE WITH THE GROUP.