In a show called Kinky Boots, “you’ve gotta get the boots right,” says Gregg Barnes—and if anyone would know, it’s the Tony® Award–winning costume and footwear designer behind the show’s iconic, sky-high stilettos. The hit musical based on a real story and independent film, about a failing English shoe factory which turned its fortunes around by niche-marketing sturdy boots for drag artists, has become a global phenomenon. With a book by Harvey Fierstein and a Tony®-winning score from pop icon Cyndi Lauper, it’s no wonder Lincoln Center audiences have been asking for this dazzling production to make its Fort Collins debut for years.
Kinky Boots is a one-of-a-kind musical that relies heavily on its visual designs, and, of course, those boots by Barnes. The designer says it was quite a challenge to create those thigh-high boots, with six-inch stiletto heels. “What’s really funny about our experience with Kinky Boots is that my team, and the cobblers who made the boots, we had the exact same story as in the musical,” explains Barnes. “Everything they talk about in terms of reinforcing the heel and all of that stuff, we had the same learning curve!”
Those boots need to be durable, to support the six-foot tall dancers doing elaborate and joyous dance routines. “We’re asking them to do slam splits and quick changes, being carted up and down stairs in baskets. And we have to make them look as if they’re brand new every night but survive eight shows a week.” Barnes adds that, after months of experimentation and broken heels, they ultimately came up with designs that are so reliable, they’ve barely had to replace any boots.
And Barnes says he never tires of experiencing the enthusiasm audiences have shown for both his kinky boots and the show itself. “You know, it’s amazing,” says Barnes. “You can feel it walking into a theater. I think the audience comes so primed to have this joyous experience and [Kinky Boots] always rewards that.”
Kinky Boots struts onto The Lincoln Center stage on January 9–11, 2025. Tickets start at $35 and are available at LCtix.com.