KINKY BOOTS, a quirky show about a shoe factory and drag queens, is one of the most popular choices for regional theatres these days. (I think the only other show more popular this summer might be “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”). KINKY BOOTS is a logical choice; the music is great, has a feel-good message, and features well-defined characters.
But it’s not an easy show to produce, especially to produce well. Luckily, Tyler Duncan Gabbard at The Carnegie recruited Director Lindsey Augusta Mercer to tackle the project - and in doing so, has created a professional quality production. As a director, Mercer has proven to be savvy in staging and casting, sometimes offering delightful surprises.
Montez O. Jenkins Copeland is an obvious choice for “Lola,” given their charismatic presence and copious amounts of stage time over their career. They command the stage, garnering applause just for entering.
Less obvious of a choice is Tomi Newman, who plays “Charlie” - and does so darn near perfectly. Tomi, a rising Junior at CCM, has the voice for the role, singing sweetly when necessary and belting out like a rock star, too. The biggest compliment I can offer Newman is that I never once doubted that they were Charlie throughout the performance.
Monique Churchill is charming as “Lauren,” with her likable energy and gorgeous singing voice. Jathan “JB” Brisco is a fantastic discovery as “Don” and is one of the story-telling lynchpins. I hope to see more from him. The rest of the ensemble includes the hilarious Caroline Bowers, the multi-talented Eliza Levy, and the believable Andres Martinez and Dylan Van Camp. Also, there’s the always-reliable Kyle Taylor, the solid presence of Regan Utrup, and Sujaya Sunkara, who has the unenviable task of being the closest thing to a female villain. Each gets a turn to shine, vocally or physically, dancing the inventive and modern choreography from Julia Schick. And, of course, there are “The Angels,” played by Kyle Angel, Anthony J. Contreras, Anderson Rothwell, and Zach Van Camp, who glam up the stage and practically steal the show with their costumes, hair, and makeup.
Steve Goers, one of the busiest men in town, has musically directed some precise harmonies and vocally brings out the best of the cast. The set, designed by Gabbard, is functional and will serve the summer season well, with two more shows yet to open. The Lighting design by Alaina Pizzoferrato is quite good, spotlighting the right moments and adding to the excitement of the big numbers. Kayne O’Brien’s wig and makeup design is one of the features of this production - and it is beyond what I expected. Along with Erin Donnelly’s costumes, this is a visually stunning theatrical event. Sound design, one of the most difficult things to get right in a musical, suffered from muffled microphones and the notoriously poor acoustics in the theatre at the Carnegie - but the mix of vocals and music was fine.
Perhaps what I enjoyed the most about this production was the energy it brought to the space. People from all walks of life, all backgrounds, ages, and demographics were laughing, clapping, and celebrating humanity in all its diverse glory. Director Mercer knows how to stage a show; they also know how to bring people together and tell a great story.
KINKY BOOTS runs through August 19th at The Carnegie in Covington, KY. Tickets and more information can be found here.