Broadway Original 'Kinky Boots' to Tour China with a Story of Becoming Yourself

The Broadway musical "Kinky Boots" will perform at the West Bund Grand Theater in Shanghai during their China tour from November 3 to 15.

After an eight-year hiatus, the production, which first arrived in China in 2018, is back with a new cast.

Omari Collins will play Lola, with Noah Silverman as Charlie, providing Shanghai audiences with a visual and auditory feast of courage, love, and dreams.

The Broadway hit has won six Tony Awards, three Laurence Olivier Awards, and a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album.

Pop singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper wrote more than a dozen songs for it, blending pop, rock, electronic, and blues into the musical.

The plot follows Charlie, the heir to a traditional shoe factory who wants to leave his tiny town but is obliged to take over the family firm, which is on the verge of bankruptcy.

With nowhere else to turn, he encounters Lola, a skilled performer.

The two hit it off and collaborate to create stunning red boots, which make their way from a small-town factory to the international runway.

There are conflicts and misunderstandings along the way, but in the end, Charlie discovers his life's purpose. Prejudices are broken, lives are altered, and the story sends a positive message that courage and effort will eventually be rewarded.

"Every day I am inspired by the show's story of 'becoming yourself,'" said Collins. "It is not just a lively spectacle. It is a story that heals you while making you laugh."

Following the Shanghai trip, "Kinky Boots" will travel to Beijing.

If you go

Dates: November 3-15, 2pm/7:30pm

Venue: West Bund Grand Theater 西岸大剧院

Address: 2290 Longteng Avenue 龙腾大道2290号

Tickets: 180-980 yuan (US$26.82-146.28)