KINKY BOOTS High On Lola’s Heels
by joel martens KYLE TAYLOR PARKER is an original Broadway
company member for Kinky Boots. Starting off as an angel and as understudy to Billy Porter (the origina- tor of the title role of Lola). Now, he is himself taking over the coveted role of Lola, as the award-winning show hits the road on its first national tour. Kyle’s perspective is unique, not only because
Kinky Boots was his Broadway debut, but also due to the fact that he was there through to the Tony Awards and the show’s remarkable wins there. He was on board when Cyndi [Lauper], Harvey [Fierstein], and Jerry [Mitchell] were in the re-
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hearsal room hammering out all the re-writes and changes. He was there for all the early rehearsals, as they fine-tuned, honed and re-tooled each new lyric, song, scene and dance routine. Watching and learning, as the team fought to make sure that each “boot” was polished perfectly and every sequin was in its place. Kyle said it best, “Because I was a part of the original cast and knowing everything that went into it, the story and the history of each step and song that we do, remembering the exact day that we created it, you carry the DNA of the show with you.”
THE RAGE MONTHLY SAT DOWN WITH KYLE AND ASKED ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES AND HIS EXPEC- TATIONS REGARDING THE NEW TOUR.
What was your first musical inspiration? I have been singing, acting and dancing since I was
5-years-old. I saw Annie on Broadway when I was a kid and that was the moment I knew that this is what I needed to do with my life. It seems so silly to say that, but I remember looking at my mom and saying, “That’s what I want to do.” I wonder how many Broadway performers would admit that
KYLE TAYLOR PARKER
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