The six-time Tony award-winning Broadway musical, Kinky Boots, is currently lighting up the stage at Atlantic City’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino! Performed in the venue’s ultra-modern Sound Waves theater, the show runs from now until May 5, 2019.
Kinky Boots is a production which features music and lyrics by singer/songwriter Cyndi Lauper and a book by actor/playwright Harvey Fierstein. Based on the 2005 British film, Kinky Boots — a movie which was inspired by true events — the musical tells the story of Northampton, England’s Charlie Price.
Having inherited a failing men’s shoe factory from his father, Charlie accepts advice from one of his assembly-line workers, Lauren, to create a “niche-market” product to save the company. As a result, he forms an unlikely partnership with Lola — a cabaret performer and drag queen — to help him produce a line of thigh-high stilettos which are designed to be worn by men. In the process of creating their self-described “kinky boots,” introverted Charlie and exhibitionist Lola discover that, inside, they’re not so different from one another.
Highlights of the Hard Rock’s production of Kinky Boots include Kenneth Mosley’s stellar performance as Lola, notably on “Sex is in the Heel.” On this thrilling number, Lola explains to Charlie that the most important factor related to creating appealing kinky boots involves “getting the heel right” as she shockingly croons, “Asserting actual scientific reason/Heels tense the leg and the hindquarter region/Lifting the rear and making it appear/Pert and ready for mating season.”
Karis Gallant as Lauren delights the audience with her charismatic and unrestrained performance of “The History of Wrong Guys,” a number on which she accepts Charlie’s offer of a promotion from factory worker to manager but, at the same time, realizes she’s falling in love with him.
Connor Allston as Charlie — along with Lola and the rest of the ensemble — celebrate the manufacturing of the company’s first pair of kinky boots with “Everybody Say Yeah,” a knock-your-socks off blockbuster in the style of The Isley Brothers’ “Shout.” During this exciting number, the use of the shoe factory’s multiple conveyor belts provides audience members with a visual display they’ve likely never seen in a musical theater production.
Lastly, the entire company shines on the exhilarating grand finale, “Raise You Up/Just Be,” where staging, lights, costumes, and talent converge and send audience members home feeling truly uplifted as a result of experiencing Kinky Boots, the musical which teaches us that “You change the world when you change your mind.”
Following Kinky Boots’ April 30, 2019 opening night performance, we chat with a handful of audience members inside the Hard Rock’s Sound Waves theater who share their reactions with us regarding Atlantic City’s newest theatrical production.
Remarks Cathy from Galloway Twp., “This is an enjoyable, uplifting, and fun show — I would definitely recommend it.”
Lynn from Staten Island recalls, “We saw it on Broadway, and we wanted to catch it again. This production is not only worth seeing, but it’s very uplifting” before adding, “The actor who plays Lola is wonderful and the performers who portray Lauren and Charlie are standouts, too.”
Continuing, “I especially enjoyed experiencing it here in the Sound Waves theater,” Lynn further discloses, “We actually gave up tickets we had for a comedy show at the Borgata tonight because we wanted to see Kinky Boots — and we’re so glad we did!”
Lynn’s husband, Harold, concurs explaining, “It’s an extremely professional production — they’re all high-quality performers — and the sound system here is especially good; I could understand every word.”
Marina from Margate states, “Kinky Boots was brilliant and the crowd was so engaged, they didn’t make a sound during the performance — the entire audience absolutely appreciated it.”
Marina’s friend, Tonya from Ocean City, calls Kinky Boots “Absolutely fabulous,” before exclaiming, “I’m in such a good mood now!”
Mags from Ventnor recalls, “I never made it to New York to see the show, so I’m glad it came here to Atlantic City. It’s so well done, you can be sure we’ll be coming back to the Hard Rock when Jersey Boys arrives here in June!”
Her colleague, Noreen from Northfield, concurs adding, “We love it when Broadway shows come to Atlantic City, and we especially loved this one — it’s so well done,” before declaring, “We are absolutely coming here to see Jersey Boys!”
Debbie from Asbury Park exclaims, “I loved Kinky Boots! The costumes were beautiful, the performers were gorgeous, and the singing was fabulous!”
Her friend, Lori from Freehold, agrees adding, “This show was amazing! The music and lyrics are so touching,” before disclosing, “I actually started tearing up during the show — I was in awe.”
Their colleague, Fran from Lakewood, asserts, “The venue and the sound here are incredible. The sets were great, too,” noting, “I especially loved the scene where they danced on the conveyor belts,” before acknowledging, “And all those boots — the boots were great!”
Lastly, we chat with Steve from Ventnor who sums up his impression of the Hard Rock’s presentation of Kinky Boots by exclaiming with a smile, “This show makes me want to dance in heels!”
Kinky Boots has performances on Thurs. May 2 at 8pm; Fri. May 3 at 8pm; Sat. May 4 at 3pm and 8pm; and Sun. May 5 at 3pm and 8pm at Sound Waves in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino located at 1000 Boardwalk in Atlantic City, NJ. Tickets are $35, $55, and $75 and can be ordered by clicking on hardrockhotels.com.
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