A R T S A N D C U LT U R E
Scissor Sisters front man Jake Shears is playing Charlie Price in the production of “Kinky Boots” at the Hollywood Bowl.
Living the
Dream
Jake Shears is ‘alarmed’ and excited about ‘Kinky Boots’ ackstage at a London Pet Shop Boys show this spring, Scissor Sisters front man Jake Shears is — admittedly — grousing about something. Then, his friend from the PSB, Chris Lowe, set him straight. “He said to me, ‘You need to stop and look at all the stuff you’re doing,’” Shears recalls. “‘This is stuff that anybody would dream of.’ I try to remember that a lot.” This month, he’ll continue his Broadway dream by playing Charlie Price in the production of “Kinky Boots” at the Hollywood Bowl from Friday, July 8, to Sunday, July 10. “I’m still a little bit alarmed — but excited,” the effervescent Shears says with a laugh via Zoom from his London home. “I heard they were doing it, and I was just praying that they would call and ask me to do it. I wanted to do it again.” Couple that with Shears’ desire to perform at the Hollywood Bowl, and it’s his perfect storm. “I’ve never performed at the Hollywood Bowl before,” Shears says. “It’s always been a massive dream of mine. I love playing big
places. I love playing big festivals. I love playing big stages. I love playing big rooms. I feel like the Hollywood Bowl is one of the classic big, big stages.” Inspired by a true story, “Kinky Boots” will be the 21st annual LA Phil and Hollywood Bowl-produced, fully staged Broadway musical to be presented at the historic venue. It tells the story of an unlikely friendship. Factory owner Charlie is struggling to save his business, and the fabulous Lola has a wildly exciting idea that just might do the trick. Shears will be joined in the musical by the likes of Wayne Brady (Lola), Kelly Marie Tran (Lauren), Mark Ballas (Harry), Marissa Jared Winokur (Pat), Jim J. Bullock (George) and Jennifer Perry (Trish). “Believe it or not, they’re going to be the first stilettos I’ll ever have worn. My feet are so big, I’ve never seen a pair that would actually fit me,” he said in 2018. “Kinky Boots” won six 2013 Tony Awards including best musical, with its Tony-winning music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, uplifting book by four-time Tony winner Harvey Fierstein, and direction and Tony-winning choreography by original director-choreographer Jerry Mitchell.
Kinky Boots/Submitted
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By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
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