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., Lola害羞草研究所檚 homophobic father.
害羞草研究所淭o me, this role is such a big deal for people,害羞草研究所� said Malone, who has been approached by several audience members seeking help with issues touched on in the performance.
害羞草研究所淚n Michigan, I had a couple come up to me telling me they had a son in the army who didn害羞草研究所檛 know how to come out and they asked me how to encourage him. They asked me how to show him they weren害羞草研究所檛 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 害羞草研究所榯hank you害羞草研究所� and that he feels free.害羞草研究所�
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 isn害羞草研究所檛 embodying Simon Sr., who has different views on life than he does, he is part of the ensemble.
害羞草研究所淚 just feel that as an actor it is my responsibility to tell a story. No one is born evil, it害羞草研究所檚 all about what we have learned.害羞草研究所� said Malone. 害羞草研究所淏eing part of Kinky Boots is so much bigger than myself, it害羞草研究所檚 a humbling experience.害羞草研究所�
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 doesn害羞草研究所檛 wear a heel.
害羞草研究所淚 bought my own heels and carried them around with me for my ankles to get used to it because they hurt (in a heel),害羞草研究所� said Malone. 害羞草研究所淟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.害羞草研究所�
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 isn害羞草研究所檛 just there to show the crowd a good time, but to also tell a story.
害羞草研究所淚 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.害羞草研究所�
To maintain continuity and the musical害羞草研究所檚 wow-factor, Ralph Schmidtke general manager of Quatro Entertainment, which has partnered with True North Touring, makes sure the logistics are maintained.
害羞草研究所淭he only real challenge is the production itself, it害羞草研究所檚 the driving distances, moving the cast and company this large on a night to night basis,害羞草研究所� 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,
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 about getting those people that don害羞草研究所檛 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 wouldn害羞草研究所檛 necessarily get to see them,害羞草研究所� said Schmidtke.
Tickets will be made available through the musical害羞草研究所檚 website
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