Stark Sands and Billy Porter-Led KINKY BOOTS Musical to Play Chicago Before Broadway?

BroadwayWorld previously reported that the musical version of KINKY BOOTS, which had a New York reading back in October, is aiming to open on Broadway next season. Producer Daryl Roth revealed in a newsletter that the production would include the talents of Broadway veterans Stark Sands and Billy Porter. The musical features music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper and a book by Harvey Fierstein. Tony-winner Jerry Mtchell will both direct and choreograph the production. 

According to the Chicago Tribune, the production might make a stop in Chicago before landing on Broadway. A spokesperson for Broadway in Chicago revealed that the show is looking into playing the Windy City for its out-of-town tryout, before opening on Broadway in the 2012-13 season.

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In 2008, it was announced that "Kinky Boots" was being developed as a Broadway-aimed musical by producers Daryl Rothand Hal Luftig. Producer Roth told the Hollywood Reporter that "the story is really about relationships, and I want to find the heart at the center of it."

Lauper achieved success in the mid-1980's with the release of her album She's So Unusual, and became the first female signer to have four top-five singles released from one album. She has released 11 albums and over 40 singles, and as of 2008 has sold more than 25 million records worldwide. She appeared on Broadway in the 2005 revival of The Threepenny Opera as Jenny, and recently appeared as a competitor on The Celebrity Apprentice.

"Kinky Boots" is a 2005 Golden Globe Award-nominated British-American comedy film written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth, about a traditional Northampton shoemaker, based in Earls Barton, who turns to producing fetishism footwear in order to save the failing family business and the jobs of his workers. The film is based on the story of Divine, which was featured in an episode of the BBC documentary series Trouble at the Top.

The plot centers on Charlie Price, who is trying to save the family business and travels to London to get ideas. In a chance encounter he meets sassy drag queen performer Lola, the alter ego of Simon, and sees the possible market of shoes for male transvestites. With the styling eye of Lola, Charlie leads the traditional shoe factory to design and produce numerous shoes for the catwalk in Milan, Italy.

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