Andy Kelso & Callum Francis step into Kinky Boots on Broadway

Kelso and Francis are the new stars of the Broadway production as Charlie Price and Lola, respectively.

Andy Kelso returns to the Broadway production of the Tony Award-winning "Best Musical" Kinky Boots at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, reprising the role of Charlie Price, whilst UK and Australia Kinky Boots alum Callum Francis makes his Broadway debut, reprising the role of Lola. Mr. Francis plays a limited engagement through to March 17, 2019, whilst Mr. Kelso is scheduled to remain with the production through to its final perfromance on April 7, 2019.

This marks Andy Kelso's third run as Charlie Price on Broadway. He has also appeared as Sky in Mamma Mia! on the Great White Way and as Fiyero in the National Tour of Wicked.

Callum Francis recently appeared in the UK National Tour of Kinky Boots as Lola and has also starred as Lola in the Australian Tour of Kinky Boots, winning the 2017 Helpmann Award for "Best Male Actor in a Musical". His West End credits include Miss Saigon, The Lion King, and Ghost.

Former cast member J. Harrison Ghee departed the production on January 10, but is set to return to the role of Lola on March 19. UK popstar and YouTube sensation Conor Maynard ended his limited Broadway debut engagement as Charlie Price, as scheduled, on January 10.

The current principal cast of Kinky Boots includes Andy Kelso (as Charlie Price), Callum Francis (as Lola), Carrie St. Louis (as Lauren), Caroline Bowman (as Nicola), Daniel Stewart Sherman (as Don), and Marcus Neville (as George).

As previously announced, NFL Legend Tiki Barber, who played running back for the New York Giants for ten seasons, will "touchdown" on the Great White Way and make his Broadway debut as Don for a limited engagement from January 21 through to March 3, 2019.

Based on the 2005 British comedy movie of the same name by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth, the musical features a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein, with music and lyrics by Grammy & Tony Award-winning artist Cyndi Lauper and is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell.

Synopsis: "Charlie Price is forced to step in and save his family's shoe factory in Northern England following the sudden death of his father. Help comes from the unlikeliest angel, a fabulous drag performer named Lola. Together, this improbable duo revitalizes the failing business, while stepping out from their fathers' shadows and transforming an entire community through the power of acceptance."

The creative team behind Kinky Boots features scenic design by David Rockwell, costume design by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Kenneth Posner and sound design by John Shivers.

The production was nominated for a total of 13 Tony Awards in 2013, taking home six: "Best Musical," "Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical" (for Billy Porter), "Best Original Score" (for Cyndi Lauper), "Best Choreography" (for Jerry Mitchell), "Best Orchestrations" (for Stephen Oremus), and "Best Sound Design" (for John Shivers).

Kinky Boots is produced on Broadway by Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig.

Kinky Boots Tickets are available now for performances through to April 7, 2019.

^{(Photos by Matthew Murphy / Darren Bell)}