Musical

While I typically feature productions originating from-or National Tours visiting-the area near JHPEntertainment’s home base of Nashville, Tennessee, for the latest installment of my recurring interview feature, Rapid Fire 20Q, I’m thrilled to venture a little further out to feature the Salisbury, North Carolina-based theatre company, Piedmont Players Theatre as they prepare for their April 21 Opening Night of the regional theatrical premier of Kinky Boots at the Meroney Theatre (213 S. Main St, Salisbury, NC). There’s a couple reasons I wanted to feature this particular company and this show. One, I absolutely love Kinky Boots, and Two, it’s being directed by PPT’s Executive Director, Bradley Moore, who just so happens to be one of my favorite humans! What follows are my conversations with Bradley, as well as Kinky Boots’ cast members Nick Culp, Michael Fargas and Taylor Kroop, who play Charlie, Lola and Lauren, respectively.

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RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH DIRECTOR AND CAST OF PIEDMONT PLAYERS THEATRE’s KINKY BOOTS

RAPID FIRE WITH KINKY BOOTS DIRECTOR BRADLEY MOORE

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As I’m sure you know, Kinky Boots is based on a true story. In fact, years before it was a Broadway sensation, it was a non-musical film. I myself saw the movie back in 2006. When were you first aware of the Kinky Boots story? AND…What was it about the show that piqued your interest as a director?

BRADLEY MOORE: Man, you were on top of it! I actually never saw the film when it was first released, but was very aware of the musical from its inception. I mean, Harvey Fierstein, Cyndi Lauper, and Jerry Mitchell?!? That combination is going to make any Broadway baby’s ears perk up. I was also very aware of Stark Sands (Charlie in the Broadway debut) because of his previous involvement with the Broadway production of American Idiot. I was living in Nashville when the first Broadway tour came through in 2015, which is when I saw Kinky Boots for the very first time. It was an instant love affair. Between the killer music, the positive messaging, and the choreography – it was all just incredible. It immediately went on my “MUST DIRECT ONE DAY” list. I am very happy that we have reached that day. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In the time since the show was chosen to be included in your current season, the subject of drag has become quite controversial, especially in your former home state of Tennessee. I’d imagine that’s been on your mind from time to time as you’ve rehearsed your cast?

BRADLEY MOORE: Absolutely. At one of our first rehearsals, we all sat around and dissected the show – discussing characters and connections and themes. The collective “us” already believed that this show was more important than ever, but even more so because of the current political and hate-fueled climate. In fact, that rehearsal was just days after Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed the bill that would restrict drag performances all over the state. I even remember saying – “I am not sure this show could be performed in Nashville right now.” Of course now, a month or so later, we know a little differently and thankfully Judge Thomas Parker has put a delay on the bill going into effect. However, artistic expression is under fire, in many ways. Kinky Boots IS more important than ever. It’s a show that boasts the message – JUST BE; that can be hard to do when some people feel they need to get in the way of the First Amendment. Artists need to unite now, more than ever, to secure their freedoms. And we are much stronger together.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Since the 2013 Broadway debut of the musical adaptation, Lola’s boots have becoming an instantly recognizable bit of musical theatre iconography. Who’s your costumer and what can you tell me about Lola’s looks and the infamous thigh-high footwear that’ll be seen in production?

BRADLEY MOORE: Our costumer Colleen Smiley is just fantastic. She and I have worked in conjunction to secure all the boots for the show from a large variety of sources. From purchasing a few to utilizing our theatre friends whose theatres have performed the show recently, we have used our resources very wisely. A big shout-out to Heather Levinson and Theatre Alliance in Winston-Salem, who have allowed us to borrow an array of footwear from their production from last summer. Several cast members have also contributed by purchasing their own boots. I never thought I would say “it takes a village” about boots, but it did take a whole big village to make it happen. And honestly, they are all pretty fabulous. It is definitely Bootapalooza.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What’s been the most challenging aspect of bringing Kinky Boots to life on stage with Piedmont Players?

BRADLEY MOORE: I think there is always a level of pressure when you get to do something first. As far as the Charlotte area goes, this is the first fully-staged production of Kinky Boots that the local community will have the opportunity to see. I actually don’t mind that pressure. I love being the first to do things. It is also a show filled with a million logistics, which has been interesting to navigate. Thankfully, I have an incredible crew around me that are helping to make all the magic happen. To me, as with any show, we have to make sure that we are all honest storytellers who embrace the heart of the story. As long as we are doing that, I believe audiences will really love what we are putting on that stage. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I’m about to chat with members of your cast. What’s been the biggest/best surprise about working with this particular cast and crew?

BRADLEY MOORE: This cast has not only wildly embraced the material, but also each other. With so many elements of drag and acceptance within the show, it has been wonderful to see how much love and support is present at every rehearsal. We are an honest-to-goodness Kinky family. It is a smaller cast than would usually be needed to bring Kinky Boots alive. We have 16 cast members, whereas the show usually requires anywhere from 22 to 28. Therefore, everyone has had to work a little harder to bring it all together, and they are WERKING.

Nick Culp, who plays Charlie, is a freak of nature. One of the most talented humans I have ever worked with. This is our 6th show together and I hope we have many more in our future. Michael Fargas, who plays Lola, is making his Piedmont Players debut. When he walked through the door at auditions, I knew he had many special gifts that only in a role such as Lola could be fully appreciated. Taylor Kroop and Caroline Forrester, as Lauren and Nicola, respectively, are powerhouse vocalists with an attack and energy that is unmatched by most. The rest of the cast – Kristina Blake, Dakotah Chelgren, Austin Dantzler, Jonathan Lodgek, Keilen McNeil, Aidan Melton, Johnathon Stribling, Kristin Swilley, Dale Waters, and Wendy Weant have all settled into their roles beautifully. There are truly 16 superb performances in this production And if you come for nothing else, Thierry Agnant, as Young Lola, and Asher Pethel, as Young Charlie, are pure theatrical excellence. And I would be nothing without the brilliance of our choreographer, David T. Loudermilk, and our Music Director, John Stafford. They have been my rocks throughout this entire journey. I am just beyond grateful for all the humans involved with this production, including Colleen Welday and Tara Melton who make some surprise appearances throughout the show. 

RAPID FIRE WITH KINKY BOOTS’ CHARLIE, NICK CULP

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Area theater patrons will no doubt recognize you from multiple shows with PPT. What can you tell me about Kinky Boots’ Charlie and what drew you to this role?

NICK CULP: The script’s character breakdown describes Charlie better than I ever could: he’s “a bit confused, a bit unfocused, a hero hiding under a victim’s mantle.” When we first meet Charlie, he’s pretty aimless and doesn’t know what he wants out of life – the only thing he knows for certain is that he doesn’t want to run a shoe factory the rest of his life, like his father. But after some plot twists and turns, Charlie finally finds his purpose in the last place he ever thought he’d find it – that factory, his home, the very place from which he’d been trying to escape. Not only that, he finds his passion thanks to the help of a very unlikely source: a drag queen in need of some heels that won’t break! It’s that classic Odd Couple relationship that just works so well in any comedy. 

I was drawn to the role because I see a lot of myself in Charlie. His father dies in the first ten minutes of the play; my dad passed away unexpectedly about 4 months ago. So art is quite literally imitating life at the moment. I used to think that the show’s central themes were love and acceptance. And while that’s still true, I’ve found that what resonates with me the most after losing my dad are the themes of grief and finding joy, healing and purpose through loss. Both of the central characters have lost their fathers in different ways, yet they both deal with this balancing act of honoring the life their fathers built for them while forging their own path. That common ground is really the foundation of their friendship, as well as the catalyst for Charlie’s journey to a more purposeful life. To put a finer point on it, I was drawn to the role because when Charlie heals, I get to heal a little bit too. This experience has been very cathartic.      

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Earlier, I spoke with the show’s Director, Bradley Moore. I’ve known Bradley for years, from his time in Nashville. How is Bradley as a director and in particular, what’s been the best aspect of having Bradley direct you in Kinky Boots?

NICK CULP: Bradley has been with PPT for a little over a year now and in that time, I think I’ve been involved in all but two productions that he has directed. So I like to think I’ve got a pretty good understanding of how he works and vice versa. As an actor himself, he knows how to give his actors the space and freedom to make their own choices without micromanaging, which I’ve always appreciated. He also cares about how you’re doing in regards to the show. I can recall moments in every production we’ve worked on together where he pulls me aside to ask how I’m feeling about everything and to check if there’s anything I need. He wants everyone to succeed and do their best. The best aspect of having him direct me in Kinky Boots, aside from everything I’ve already mentioned, is that this show feels personal for him. He’s put a lot of heart into this particular production and treated it with the care it deserves. This story is more important now than ever and so I think that’s a responsibility he takes seriously.    

JHPENTERTAINMENT: With words and music by legendary 80s Pop Goddess, Cyndi Lauper, Kinky Boots’ soundtrack is filled with such great music. Among my favorites…and not just because I’m talking to you…is Charlie’s Step One. Are there certain musical moments in the show, whether yours or someone else’s that just ‘get you’ every time?

NICK CULP: There really is some fantastic music in this show and I agree – Step One is definitely a bop! So two songs come to mind that “get me” every time. The first is singing Soul of a Man. It’s the lowest point for Charlie: that overwhelming feeling of not being enough; the culmination of all of this frustration, stress and unexpressed grief. I’ve been there. Like, recently. So it feels good to release those feelings every night when I sing it. If I look emotionally drained afterward, it’s because I am! The second song that comes to mind is Not My Father’s Son. It’s impossible to listen to Michael Fargas (our Lola) sing that song and not feel something. So the fact that I get to have a front row seat to it every night has been very special and my tears are real every night. I’m so proud of what he’s done with that song and getting to join him for a little duet at the end of it is the cherry on the top. Bring tissues.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: For those unfamiliar with the show, it takes place in Northampton in the East Midlands region of England. To that end, the majority, if not all the characters speak with an English accent. Did the cast have a dialect coach working with you all to fine-tune your accents?

NICK CULP: Yes, Bradley had a contact that he made available to us for dialect coaching and I believe some cast members worked with them. I have actually been using an English accent off and on for the better part of a year with other shows I’ve worked on so it wasn’t much different than what I’ve already been doing. But this dialect is definitely less proper than the received pronunciation I’ve been using. More Beatles and less Royal Family. I think the most challenging part for me was finding my own voice within the accent, finding the cadence and inflection that worked for my Charlie. What helped me the most was memorizing my lines as soon as possible, so I spent the first couple of weeks doing that, speaking the lines slowly out-loud and figuring out the placement of my mouth to shape those words. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Another vital aspect of this show is the choreography. I understand David Loudermilk is choreographing Kinky Boots. For those unfamiliar with the behind-the-scenes of theatre, what’s an average rehearsal like, compared to choreo rehearsal?

NICK CULP: Well, at an average rehearsal, I don’t sweat. At a David Loudermilk choreo rehearsal, I do sweat. In all seriousness, a choreo rehearsal is focused on learning the dance for any given song. In an average rehearsal, we learn the blocking of a scene – where we stand onstage, where we cross and when, etc. We also learn the music – the correct notes, rhythms, etc. So when we get to choreography rehearsals, we are using the things we’ve learned from blocking/music and adding dance into the mix. We learn it in pieces and/or there are some songs that feature smaller groups of the cast, so we each learn our own part and then combine it all together to get the final look of the dance. In a nutshell, choreography rehearsal is really a matter of becoming a moving puzzle piece. We have numbers that run along the edge of the stage so we can glance down and know where we’re standing. It’s important to be standing on the correct number so you aren’t out of place with the overall formation that David has created. David’s choreography is high energy and all about telling a story. 

RAPID FIRE WITH KINKY BOOTS’ SIMON/LOLA, MICHAEL FARGAS

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I understand Kinky Boots marks your PPT debut. I guess if you’re gonna make an entrance into the Salisbury Theatre community, THIS is THE role to do it, right?

MICHAEL FARGAS: Absolutely! I feel like this role, it’s such a powerhouse role and it’s the best way to make an entrance back into the world of theater. Especially given our current climate and the issues that have arisen. It’s a statement being made for sure.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: While this marks your PPT debut, you’re definitely no stranger to performing arts having done community theatre, worked at theme parks and as a performer with Carnival Cruises. What’s your favorite part of doing community theatre?

MICHAEL FARGAS: Yes, I’m no stranger in the performing arts world, but community theater brings a new element that is sometimes forgotten and that is EDUCATION. My favorite part has been the educational standpoint;. Being able to meet other people that are new to the arts, and come together and deliver a message of acceptance, authenticity and love has been amazing. That’s including providing some sort of education to the audience and the actors themselves. Compared to a lot of traditional other source of entertainment, community theater allows you to push the boundaries of perception and ideas in a local level.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I admit it, I did a little social media stalk in preparation of chatting with you. To that end, what can you tell me about Summer Camp with the Peanuts Gang during your time at Valleyfair Amusement Park? (I can’t help it, I’m a Snoopy nerd from way back)

MICHAEL FARGAS: It always tickles me because I get asked about this frequently. There is definitely a childlike excitement when it comes to being able to stand on stage with Some of your friends that you have watched since you were a kid. From watching Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving as a kid, to spending the summer with the Peanuts and bringing the same happiness to other children is an irreplaceable feeling. Memories that I will carry forever.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Your promo photo as Lola is just flawless. So much so, I suspected this might not be your first time in drag. Further Insta stalking/research proved my suspicions correct. Who is Sassi and how much of her can we see in Lola?

MICHAEL FARGAS: You’ve done some really great research. This is not my first time in drag but it is my first time combining something that I love such as theater and drag in one setting, which was hard to do based on being a queer Afro Latino male in the world of performing arts. Sassi is an Afro Latina Theatre queen who loves attention but also authentically lives her life unapologetically and she encourages others to do so. Lola and Sassi have so much in common. They both find happiness in bringing joy to other people laugh and bravery. Lola is as much Sassi as I am to Simon (Lola’s male presenting persona). Many of the experiences that Lola/Simon face, I relate to in my own life. Obviously not the same exact storyline but similar lessons, such as parent expectation and living authentically and in peace.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: RuPaul famously says, “We’re all born naked and the rest is drag”. Do you agree? AND what’s a quote you, yourself reflect on from time to time?

MICHAEL FARGAS: I agree and disagree. In this world we are raised to fit into the societal norms. Though some people conform, others venture outside that realm. Drag is an art form that allows you to express certain areas of yourself that you normally wouldn’t get to in an everyday routine, and can teach you so much about who you are. It allows you to step in someone else’s shoes and understand and admire what it is to be a queen or king in our world. But the goal is to apply what you learn in drag and implement it outside of your drag persona to live authentically. Sassi will always be part of me and I’m grateful for her, but she allowed me to learn to love who Michael is, no matter his past. And I don’t want to be anyone else but me, without “the glitter, the feathers and the hot glue gun…” (a line from the show). I think my favorite quote that I go back to is what my mom said to me one time and that was, “Be the best you that you can be and do it to your full capacity”.

RAPID FIRE WITH KINNKY BOOTS’ LAUREN, TAYLOR KROOP

JHPENTERTAINMENT: This is your second show with PPT, having been a member of the ensemble of their production of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder in the fall. In that production you played a myriad of supporting characters throughout the show, now you’re playing Lauren, a factory worker who develops a close relationship with Nick Culp’s Charlie. How is Nick as a scene partner? 

TAYLOR KROOP: Nick is an awesome scene partner. We actually go way back to when we performed Little Women together back in 2018. He was Laurie and I was Jo so we already had some established chemistry. It’s so fun to be back on the stage with him and getting to just play!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Who walks better in heels, you or Michael?

TAYLOR KROOP: As much as I would love to say me, it’s probably Michael! Haha 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Much of the action of Kinky Boots takes place at the factory. I understand your director, Bradley and Jennifer O’Kelly designed the set for PPT’s production. What’s your favorite aspect of it?

TAYLOR KROOP: Yes, Bradley Moore and Jennifer O’Kelly designed the set! My favorite aspect of the set is all the visible staircases and the exposed brick at the back of the stage. I think it really adds to the factory aesthetic. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As Lauren, your big musical number is The History of Wrong Guys. So spill it…Do you have a history of wrong dates, too?

TAYLOR KROOP: To be honest, my history of wrong guys is a pretty short story because I’m getting married in 2 months…to my college sweetheart! 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I often like to end my chats with the same basic question, and since you’re the last of your costars I’m chatting with, this time, it falls to you…What do you hope audiences come away remembering after having seen Kinky Boots?

TAYLOR KROOP: I hope the audience walks away seeing that people who do drag or people who are involved in the arts are just people trying to make it like the rest of us. It’s a form expression that gives them joy. I hope everyone can see the humanity in what we do and through our acting, especially in todays political climate. To quote our finale song, “Just be who you wanna be

Never let ’em tell you who you ought to be. Just be with dignity. Celebrate yourself triumphantly. You’ll see…Just be.” 

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Piedmont Players Theatre’s Kinky Boots opens Friday, April 21 and runs through Sunday, May 7 at the Meroney Theatre with a 7:30p.m. showtime Fridays and Saturdays and Sunday Matinees at 2:30p.m. CLICK HERE for tickets or more information. Check out Piedmont Players Theatre online and follow them on Facebook and Instagram. 

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