Boots worn in Broadway production of Kinky Boots

Boots worn by Eric LaJuan Summers as Lola in the Broadway production of the musical Kinky Boots at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in 2016 and 2017. Summers was the understudy for Todrick Hall, who performed the role of Lola in 2016 and 2017; Billy Porter originated the role on Broadway in 2013. The full leg-length boots are made of red leather, with a darker crocodile patterned back section, metallic red side section, and a patent leather front section, which is punctured with metal grommetsand red laces. The boots terminate at the foot in a red patent leather cap and have a thin high heel. The interior lining is beige leather.

Kinky Boots is one of the most popular and acclaimed musicals of the 21st century, having won a season-high six Tony Awards of 13 nominations in 2013 including Best Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Choreography. The musical Kinky Boots was an adaptation of from the 2005 British film of the same name, itself an adaptation of a 1999 episode of the BBC2 documentary series Trouble at the Top exploring the story of an English shoe company executive who faced the prospect of having to close his family’s factory due to rising costs and declining profits. He saved the company by transitioning to producing fetish footwear for men despite workers’ initial discomfort. Broadway producer Daryl Roth recruited acclaimed writer, performer, and LGBTQ advocate Harvey Fierstein to write the book and pop musician Cyndi Lauper to write the music for the show, which opened on Broadway April 4, 2013. The musical version of Kinky Boots tells the same story of the Price & Son shoe factory In Northampton, England, but in its dialogue and music stresses the themes of inclusion, tolerance, and self-acceptance.

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