Harvey Fierstein Talks Kinky Boots, and Transvestites
Harvey Fierstein, Cyndi Lauper and Jerry Mitchell are all in Chicago this month, tweaking their KINKY BOOTS play, which is headed to Broadway in the Spring.
Award® winner HARVEY FIERSTEIN comes the exhilarating new musical KINKY
BOOTS, directed and choreographed by Tony Award® winner JERRY
MITCHELL.
The Plot: Charlie Price has suddenly inherited his father’s shoe factory, which
has been in his family for generations but is now on the verge of
bankruptcy. In trying to save the business, Charlie finds inspiration in
the form of Lola, a fabulous entertainer (who may or may not be gay) in need of some sturdy
stilettos.
tough and has it all going on, someone that you could throw against a
brick wall and it won’t make a dent, but that is all on the outside. She
so hurt and scared on the inside….)
discovers that they have more in common than they ever dreamed
possible.
Featuring a sensational new score by Cyndi Lauper, knockout dancing, and
a spectacularly uplifting story, KINKY BOOTS proves that sometimes, the
best way to fit in is to stand out!
In the meantime, Harvey is working on another book for Broadway. Based in the Catskills in 1962, where straight men were free to indulge their radical urges to play Scrabble in a dress, trade makeup tips or walk in heels in the light of day. ” My story, a historically accurate play, revolves around this community, a colony up by Hunter Mountain, where every weekend heterosexual men who dress in women’s clothes, on the weekends. Heterosexual transvestites. These were married men, and would sometimes come with their families. These were judges, lawyers, well-to-do men, who were heterosexual transvestites.
And in this particular summer of 1962, they made the decision to ban homosexuals. Which I found fascinating, and is why I wrote the play. They felt that they would never be accepted, if they accepted the disgusting homosexuals. They even said, that 50 years from now, when homosexuals are still the back alley vermin they are now, OUR people, those transvestites living out in the open, will salute us as the visionaries, who said get rid of them, and we will be accepted.” he continues, “and now, we have gay rights, we have transgender rights, and still people think transvestites are all gay people. They are totally misunderstood as to who they are. “
The play is called Casa Valentina. There is a role I wrote for myself in the story where I want the audience to think he is gay. He quotes Oscar Wilde a lot!”
Harvey is always looking forward. He has done so much! From Torch Song Trilogy, Fiddler on the Roof, Hairspray, La Cage, Newsies, and now Kinky – and more to come. “Tomorrow. I love tomorrow. I don’t like yesterday. I understand yesterday. I know that I am product of my yesterdays. But it so disinterests me.” he explains. “I don’t have time for yesterday, I have things I want to do yet! My list is endless!”
Watch more of Harvey Fierstein with Chris Jones in Chicago
