For Andrew Malone, the role he plays in the award-winning Kinky Boots is more than just a part.
The American actor is the first understudy for the lead role of Lola, a cabaret performer and drag queen tapped to produce a line of high-heeled boots for a flagging shoe factory. He also plays Simon Sr., Lola91裸聊视频檚 homophobic father.
91裸聊视频淭o me, this role is such a big deal for people,91裸聊视频� said Malone, who has been approached by several audience members seeking help with issues touched on in the performance.
91裸聊视频淚n Michigan, I had a couple come up to me telling me they had a son in the army who didn91裸聊视频檛 know how to come out and they asked me how to encourage him. They asked me how to show him they weren91裸聊视频檛 ashamed. I told them I am not ashamed and encourage them to say it with love, if they can say it to me they can say it to their child. The son actually hit me up on Instagram and told me 91裸聊视频榯hank you91裸聊视频� and that he feels free.91裸聊视频�
As the understudy of Lola, Malone gets rare insight into his main character, Simon Sr. by seeing both sides of his actions and personality.
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When he isn91裸聊视频檛 embodying Simon Sr., who has different views on life than he does, he is part of the ensemble.
91裸聊视频淚 just feel that as an actor it is my responsibility to tell a story. No one is born evil, it91裸聊视频檚 all about what we have learned.91裸聊视频� said Malone. 91裸聊视频淏eing part of Kinky Boots is so much bigger than myself, it91裸聊视频檚 a humbling experience.91裸聊视频�
To take on the role of Lola, Malone had to buy his own pair of high heels to practice, since Simon Sr. is the only one in the show that doesn91裸聊视频檛 wear a heel.
91裸聊视频淚 bought my own heels and carried them around with me for my ankles to get used to it because they hurt (in a heel),91裸聊视频� said Malone. 91裸聊视频淟earning how to walk in heels, let alone the boots, was an experience. I was full of fear but I made it fun and got my inner Beyonc茅 out and let her sing and strut.91裸聊视频�
For this Kinky Boots tour, TROIKA Entertainment paired with True North Touring to bring the four time Tony award winning musical by Harvey Fierstein and Grammy Award winning rock icon Cyndi Lauper to smaller venues and will land in Kelowna March 21, 2019.
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Malone says that performing in front of smaller audiences reminds him that he isn91裸聊视频檛 just there to show the crowd a good time, but to also tell a story.
91裸聊视频淚 love being in front of a big town audience because of the electricity when the fourth wall is broken, they (the audience) is up and dancing with us. Then the more intimate audiences, I see them nodding their heads and listening to the story.91裸聊视频�
To maintain continuity and the musical91裸聊视频檚 wow-factor, Ralph Schmidtke general manager of Quatro Entertainment, which has partnered with True North Touring, makes sure the logistics are maintained.
91裸聊视频淭he only real challenge is the production itself, it91裸聊视频檚 the driving distances, moving the cast and company this large on a night to night basis,91裸聊视频� said Schmidtke.
The set pieces prove to be the most challenging to move according to Schmidtke because the crew will have approximately 12 hours to set up the stage only to pack it up again that night or the next morning.
Bringing the show to smaller towns to attract more Broadway fans is a particularly exciting moment for Schmidtke who has traveled to New York City to see Kinky Boots,
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 about getting those people that don91裸聊视频檛 make a regular trip to New York or to London to see Broadway shows. We have made a conscious effort to bring these shows to markets that wouldn91裸聊视频檛 necessarily get to see them,91裸聊视频� said Schmidtke.
Tickets will be made available through the musical91裸聊视频檚 website
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