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| Company, photo by Matt Polk |
Pittsburgh CLO is back bringing affordable
musical theater to Pittsburgh. Kinky Boots, which is based on a true story, has
a unique plot-Charlie revitalizes his late father’s bankrupt shoe factory
by finding a niche market making sexy boots for men who dress as women. Kinky Boots,
is all about confidently reinventing something or even yourself. This show
is also about acceptance and looking beyond appearances into one's
heart. By doing this you can "change your world."
The music by Cindy Lauper encourages
and inspires with a punch of humor. The songs seemed to be screaming at me: Take What You Got, Sex is in Heel, The History of Wrong Guys and of course, What A Women Wants. My eyes welled with tears during, Not My Father's Son, and Hold Me in Your Heart both impactful heartful ballads
by Darius Harper as Drag Queen, Lola. I had a flashback to my best friend,
Paul, who left this world much too soon. He dared to be himself when it
was so difficult in the 80's. He sure sparkled just like those Kinky
Boots!
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| Lola and Angels, Photo by Matt Polk |
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| Jarod Bakum (Harry) and Brian Sears (Charlie) "Take What you Got" Photo by Matt Polk |
Reflection
We all have experienced a lot of change in the last two years and the words in the song, Take What You Got, inspires:
You can’t go back. You can’t make it
last.
You’ve got to take what you’ve got.
Even when your life is in knots.
You take aim, take your shot.
Sometimes you got to rewrite the plot.
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| Paul and I |
What a lovely thing to rewrite your own
story. With your “do over" there are new friends who support, and
those from your past that have always been there. In Kinky Boots, Lola and
Charlie developed a bond of friendship and acceptance. It made me reflect on
who in my life was my number one fan. Mine was Paul who pursued his dreams in NYC. He
was a designer, an artist, a chef, and my best friend, my support, my
number one fan. With
Paul everything was positive, funny, and adventurous. I
could just hear him screaming the words in the show's finale, Raise You Up/Just Be:
Celebrate you, to elevate you.
When you struggle to stand, (I’ll)
talk your hand.
If you hit the dust, let
me raise you up.
When your bubble bust, let me
raise you up.
And up and up.
Paul sure sparkled like those Kinky
Boots and he made me sparkle when we were together! He was a man
with a pure heart who reinvented himself in NYC. I can just hear him
yelling, “Cindy, go get some heels, get your mojo going, and look
fabulous!”
Kinky Boots will remind you that you can "change your world" and it will sure raise you up from wherever
you are right now. We could all use a helping hand these days. Pittsburgh CLO's Kinky Boots will
have you dancing in your seat and feeling fabulous.
The musical celebration continues with: Godspell (July 12-17), A Chorus Line (July 26-31) and Sister Act (August 9-14).
For tickets go to https://www.pittsburghclo.org/
Spiritual Reflection
Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you
into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God
wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will
really is. (Romans 12:2-3)
https://pittsburghclo.culturaldistrict.org/calendar?genre=Broadway%20&%20Musical%20Theater
https://www.pittsburghclo.org/