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‘Kinky Boots’ musical scored by Cyndi Lauper gets Chicago tryout

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‘Kinky Boots,’ a new musical based on the 2005 British movie and featuring a score by ‘80s rock icon Cyndi Lauper, is expected to open on Broadway next year. But before it does, producers are taking it to Chicago for an out-of-town tryout.

Producers have announced that the musical is set to open in October at Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre. No cast has been announced yet but a recent workshop production in New York featured actors Billy Porter and Stark Sands who played, respectively, a drag queen and the inheritor of a shoe factory that has fallen on hard times.

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The 2005 comedy featured Chiwetel Ejiofor in the role of Lola, the drag queen, and Joel Edgerton as Charlie, the shoe-factory owner. In the movie, Lola helps keep the factory stay afloat by transforming it into a maker of footwear for transvestites.

‘Kinky Boots’ would be Lauper’s first attempt as a Broadway songwriter. The musician is the latest pop star to attempt to write songs for a musical. Other crossover talents include Duncan Sheik (‘Spring Awakening’) and U2’s Bono and the Edge (‘Spider-Man’).

The musical is being assembled by some of the same talent from the Tony-winning ‘Hairspray.’ Harvey Fierstein has penned the book, based on the screenplay by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth. Jerry Mitchell, who directed ‘Hairspray,’ will both direct and choreograph the new show.

The Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday that the musical will be among the first to take advantage of the new Illinois tax incentives designed to attract pre-Broadway tryouts and long-running shows.

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