Show guide
Kinky Boots
"Kinky Boots" follows a struggling shoe factory owner who finds an unlikely business partner and path to survival in a drag performer named Lola.
- Premiered
- 2013
- Composer
- Cyndi Lauper
- Genre
- Rock/Pop
- Setting
- 2000s
The story of Kinky Boots
Set in the 2000s, the musical centers on Charlie Price, who reluctantly inherits his family's failing traditional shoe factory in England. Searching for a way to save the business, he crosses paths with Lola, a drag performer in need of sturdy, well-made boots, and the two form an unexpected partnership to design a new line of footwear for a niche the factory had never served.
As the factory retools around this new product, the story follows the friction and eventual friendship between Charlie and Lola, along with the broader workforce learning to accept a very different kind of business plan than the one they grew up with.
The music and the makers
Cyndi Lauper wrote the music and lyrics, her Broadway debut as a composer, bringing a pop and rock sensibility shaped by her own recording career. The score favors big, danceable anthems and heartfelt ballads, matching the show's message of acceptance and self-expression with an accessible, radio-friendly sound.
The songs are built to showcase both Lola's flamboyant stage numbers and Charlie's more grounded, everyman perspective, giving the score range between glittery spectacle and quieter emotional moments.
Kinky Boots on Broadway
The show opened in 2013 and quickly became a favorite for its high-energy production numbers, big-hearted message, and crowd-pleasing pop score. Its themes of tolerance and finding common ground between very different people struck a chord with audiences.
Its combination of glamorous spectacle, genuine emotion, and an underdog business story made it one of the more purely joyful hits of its Broadway season, and it has continued to be popular with touring and international productions.
Frequently asked
When did Kinky Boots open on Broadway?
Kinky Boots opened on Broadway in 2013.
Who wrote the music for Kinky Boots?
Cyndi Lauper composed the music and lyrics.
What is Kinky Boots about?
It follows a struggling shoe factory owner who partners with a drag performer named Lola to save the family business by designing boots for a new market.
Can you name today's mystery Broadway show?
Play the Show Guesser