Home

Displaying items by tag: JP Qualters

Thursday, 01 September 2016 13:08

Kinky Boots is Just (Not So) Plain Fun

Kinky Boots has now come through Chicago a few times and I am glad I finally had a chance to see this musical, being so hyped everything. With lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, I was curious to see how her music would translate to live theater.

 

Based on a true story, the play starts at Price & Son’s gentlemen shoe factory in Northampton, England. It centers on Charlie Price (Adam Kaplan) trying to turn around his father’s failing business. With the help from Lola (J. Harrison Ghee), who happens to be a drag queen, they collaborate to build a new direction for Price & Son and take it all the way to Milan.

 

What stands out more than anything else in this play is Ghee’s performance as Lola. Ghee is an amazing singer who exudes the energy you’d expect from a Broadway performer. Additionally, many of the other characters that are part of Lola’s Angels do a fantastic job (Joseph Anthony Byrd, Sam Dowling, Ian Gallagher Fitzgerald, JP Qualters, Xavier Reyes, and Sam Rohloff). They are toned, vibrant, and of course beautiful!

 

Another stand out performance is Tiffany Engen as Lauren. Lauren is a longtime employee of Price & Son and has a crush on Charlie. Engen is quirky and effortlessly breaks the ice when she is on stage. I would have liked to see more of her character in the play than the script allowed along with her fun dance moves.

 

I felt like there was some disconnect with the casting for Adam Kaplan. I had a really hard time connecting to his portrayal of Charlie. So much so that in the end, I just wished that Lola took over the entire operations at Price & Son.

 

Kinky Boots is fun and full of many ups and downs. If anything, you should go for the solo Ghee performs close to the end of the show. I felt remnants of Whitney Houston in the air and a lot of soul.

 

More importantly, the play touches on many of the injustices that are faced around the LGBTQ community. This is something that is still a challenge and many people still are not familiar or understanding of the community. I would implore people to watch this play and actually have a real conversation about gender identity. Although the play has a humorous tone, there is an underlying message that should be discussed.

 

You can catch Kinky Boots at the Oriental Theatre (24 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601) during their short engagement ending on September 4th. Ticket prices range from $25-$98. 

 

Published in Theatre in Review

The critically acclaimed hit production of Obliteration returns

10 March 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Obliteration, LLC & The Revival Theater announce a limited engagement of Obliteration, written by Andrew Hinderaker, directed by Jonathan Berry, featuring Michael Patrick Thornton and Cyd Blakewell. Obliteration runs April 10-May 4,…

Red Clay Dance Company’s 16 centers perseverance and legacy in Vershawn Sanders-Ward Revival and Bebe Miller Premiere

10 March 2025 in Upcoming Dance

The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago announces 16 by Red Clay Dance Company for three performances only, April 17-19, 2025, featuring Founding Artistic Director and CEO Vershawn…

Stand Up Together Comedy stars unite during Chicago fundraiser to support California wildfire victims Thursday, March 27 at Laugh Factory Chicago

10 March 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Stand Up Together, a comedy benefit in support of artists impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires, hosted by Second City and SNL…

Luck Be a Lady Tonight: A Rollicking Review of Music Theatre Works’ 'Guys and Dolls'

09 March 2025 in Theatre in Review

Following a string of successful shows, Music Theater Works has once again hit the jackpot with their 2025 season opener,…

Auditorium Theatre’s Presentation of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Company Soars and Astounds

08 March 2025 in Dance in Review

Two dancers stand center stage. The traditional, spiritual music begins to play as they start to move. Very much in…

"HENRY JOHNSON," DAVID MAMET'S NEWEST PLAY, TO MAKE ITS CHICAGO PREMIERE AT VICTORY GARDENS THEATER APRIL 8 – MAY 4

07 March 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Victory Gardens Theater, in association with Relentless Theatre Group, will present the Midwest premiere of a new work by Pulitzer Prize-winner,…

Citadel’s I and You Delivers a Dynamite Story that Closes with a Knockout

01 March 2025 in Theatre in Review

Prolific, and routinely recognized as being one of the most produced playwrights in the country, Lauren Gunderson’s range is as…

Review: Titus Andronicus at Redtwist Theatre

26 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

Do not bring the kids to TITUS ANDRONICUS; it has 14 killings, 9 of them on stage, 6 severed members,…

See Chicago Dances Launches New Website March 10

26 February 2025 in Upcoming Dance

See Chicago Dance (SCD), celebrating 20 years as the most comprehensive resource for dance information in Chicago and one of the…

HELL'S KITCHEN is Coming to Chicago

26 February 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Get ready, Chicago! AKW Productions and Broadway In Chicago are thrilled to announce that the 13-time Tony Award® nominated Broadway sensation, HELL’S KITCHEN, is set to…

Court Theatre announces casting for the world premiere of Berlin

25 February 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Under the continuing leadership of Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, with interim artistic leadership from Senior Artistic Producer Gabrielle Randle-Bent and Senior Managing Producer Heidi…

Ryan Opera Center celebrates 50th anniversary in concert, Apr 25

24 February 2025 in Upcoming Dance

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, Lyric Opera of Chicago's renowned artist-development program, will present its annual…

The Joffrey Ballet Announces 2025-26 Season at Lyric Opera House

24 February 2025 in Upcoming Dance

Ashley Wheater MBE, The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet, today announces the Joffrey's 2025-2026 season at…

Review: ‘Hedda Gabler’ at The Artistic Home at The Den Theatre

22 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

‘Hedda Gabler’ has mystified audiences for generations, as this was certainly Ibsen’s intention when creating this endlessly fascinating character. The…

Get It While It’s Hot: Waitress now serving at Paramount Theatre

22 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

Sugar, butter, flour…beneath the flaky layers and buttery crusts of pies lay these three simple ingredients. They’re mixed and blended…

RIVERDANCE 30 - THE NEW GENERATION On Sale February 21st

20 February 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Broadway In Chicago is excited to announce individual tickets for RIVERDANCE 30 – THE NEW GENERATION will go on sale on Friday,…

'Clue' The Hilarious Whodunit Brings Mystery Mayhem to CIBC Theatre

20 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

I’m not a fan of board games. I’ve never finished a full game of Monopoly. Risk? No, thanks. But Clue?…

Rivendell Theatre launches 30th Season with world premiere of No Such Thing

19 February 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble (RTE), Chicago's only women-centered Equity storefront theatre, ushers in its 30th Anniversary Season with the world premiere of No Such Thing by…

Full Casting Announced for Steppenwolf Theatre's THE BOOK OF GRACE - Chicago Premiere!

19 February 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

 Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to announce full casting for the Chicago premiere of The…

Celebrating 15th Anniversary of Joffrey Ballet's Winning Works at the MCA from March 14-23

18 February 2025 in Upcoming Dance

The Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet celebrates the 15th Anniversary of its choreographic competition, Winning Works, with five world premieres over…

Avalanche Theatre makes its Chicago debut with world premiere of Time is a Color and the Color is Blue by Melanie Coffey May 1–24, 2025

18 February 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Avalanche Theatre announces its Chicago debut with the world premiere of Time is a Color and the Color is Blue by Chicago playwright…

Reaching New Heights: Radvanovsky is Radiant at the Lyric Opera

17 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

Do not believe the hype. AI will not replace the arts. By its very definition it is artificial, the antithesis…

A new "cult" classic: Missy Mazzoli's The Listeners comes to Lyric Opera, Mar 30

17 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

Do you hear it? The haunting hum of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek's The Listeners will transfix audiences at Lyric Opera of…

Creepy-Crawly Circus Magic: OVO Dazzles at NOW Arena!

16 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

I’ve never seen Cirque and have always longed to. It was SO worth the wait! Here’s what I saw: Color.…

Northlight announces cast for Prayer for the French Republic in a co-pro with Theater Wit

16 February 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 2024–2025 season with Joshua Harmon's celebrated play Prayer for…

Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces the cast of its NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE Production Sunny Afternoon

15 February 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces today the cast and creative team of its highly anticipated North American Premiere musical event Sunny Afternoon. Based…

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical - How a nice Jewish girl from Brooklyn gave us the songs that defined a generation

15 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is a captivating tribute to the extraordinary journey of Carole King, tracing her path from…

Delightful ‘Circus Quixote’ Marks Lookingglass Triumphant Return to Water Tower

12 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

“Don Quixote of La Mancha” is considered the oldest European novel, but it gets a fresh and exciting new treatment…

Review: 'Fool for Love' at Steppenwolf Theatre

10 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

Love is often jokingly referred to as a socially acceptable form of insanity, but in Sam Shepard’s ‘Fool for Love’…

Court Theatre’s "A Raisin in the Sun": Bold Choices, Timeless Struggles

10 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

Like the dream deferred in Langston Hughes' poem that inspired its title, Court Theatre's latest production of "A Raisin in…

 

 

         17 Years and counting!

Register

     

Latest Articles

Guests Online

We have 1064 guests and no members online

Buzz Chicago on Facebook Buzz Chicago on Twitter 

Does your theatre company want to connect with Buzz Center Stage or would you like to reach out and say "hello"? Message us through facebook or shoot us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

*This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to Buzz Center Stage. Buzz Center Stage is a non-profit, volunteer-based platform that enables, and encourages, staff members to post their own honest thoughts on a particular production.