'Kinky Boots' at Irwin's Lamp Theatre spreads message of acceptance

It wasn’t in the plan for Split Stage Productions to do the musical “Kinky Boots” this season. But when the opportunity arose, it was too good to pass up.

“We were actually very, very fortunate to get the rights, and it was almost accidental how it happened,” said Split Stage co-founder Rob Jessup.

With music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper and book by Harvey Fierstein, “Kinky Boots” had a six-year run on Broadway, a limited off-Broadway run in 2022, a North American tour and numerous international productions.

Split Stage brings it to The Lamp Theatre in Irwin for performances at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Feb. 9-11.

“We were doing ‘Rock of Ages’ (last) summer and trying to figure out what the rest of the year looked like,” Jessup said. “We had applied for the rights to a different show in this time slot and we got them. We had talked to the director, and we were kind of locked and loaded.

“The next day we got an email from the licensing company saying, ‘Limited availability for “Kinky Boots.” Apply today.’ So that was kind of a shot you have to take,” he said.

Jessup said he and Split Stage co-founder Nate Newell didn’t hold out much hope for attaining the rights, because professional theater companies tend to win out over the amateurs in getting the big shows.

“About two weeks later, it was like, ‘Congratulations, here’s your contract.’ Nate and I were like, ‘Oh, now what do we do? This is a big undertaking.’ And I was like, ‘We just do it,’” he said.

“Kinky Boots” tells the story of Charlie Price, who inherits a shoe factory from his father. In hopes of saving the struggling business, Charlie forms an unlikely partnership with a drag queen named Lola to produce a line of high-heeled boots for the niche market of drag performers.

In the process, the two overcome their differences and discover some common ground.

“The show itself is big, it’s fun,” Jessup said. “At the heart of it is the incredible message of appreciating people for who they are. It’s a message of acceptance that the world needs right now.”

Dream role

Playing Lola is Jason Shavers, familiar to area audiences from work with companies including Pittsburgh CLO and Pittsburgh Musical Theatre.

“It’s been a dream role for him ever since he saw the show, and we’ve always wanted to work together, but Split Stage never deals with Actors’ Equity contracts,” Jessup said. “He’s appearing through a guest contract issued by Actors’ Equity.

”We need someone like him at the front of the show, and he was ready to go.”

Gabe DeRose, who played the lead in “Rock of Ages” and also is a veteran of many Pittsburgh stages, plays Charlie. The cast of 21 includes several actors who are new to Split Stage.

“Nate and I always look to make sure we’re bringing new people in,” Jessup said.

The all-female artistic team includes director Laura Wurzell, choreographer Ashley Harmon and music director Joy Hess, who will lead a six-piece orchestra.

“This really is more of a rock show than traditional musical theater, and the audience is definitely going to feel the music in The Lamp,” Jessup said. “They’ve just upgraded their sound system, and we’re the first ones to really get to take it for a spin at its full capacity.”

Jessup said he and Newell had some concerns about how the show, with its “drag queens and sequins,” would be received by a Westmoreland County audience. Their questions were answered by brisk ticket sales.

Limited seats remain for opening weekend, while there is still better availability for the second weekend, he said.

“There’s a quote in the show that says, ‘You change your world when you change your minds,’ and that’s what the core message of this show is,” Jessup said. “If we could all change our thinking a little bit and be kinder and more open to other thoughts and ideas, imagine what we could become.

“We’re thrilled to be able to share that message with a few hundred people each night and hope it resonates.”

Tickets for “Kinky Boots” are $25, available at 724-367-4000 or lamptheatre.org.