Globe and Mail photographer, Fred Lum, goes behind the scenes for an exclusive look at the high-kicking broadway musical, Kinky Boots - a story about a drag queen, a failing shoe factory and some game-changing high-heeled footwear - during a recent matinee at The Royal Alexandra Theatre.
Theatregoers see the magic of the hit Broadway musical, but not the machine behind it. The Tony Award-winning Kinky Boots began its run at the Royal Alex in June.
‘We’re trying to give the audience a particular emotional experience,” says John Gray, production stage manager at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. “To give them that, the actors have to do their work unimpeded.
John Gray, production manager, is the show’s maestro, conducting the technical workings from a command centre tucked into a corner just off stage left. Gray wears a headset to communicate with crew supervisors.
Eleven-year-old Kaden Stephen, one of two actors playing Lola as a child, is seconds from making his entrance. Vanessa Sears (Nicola) adjusts his tie.
Andre Anthony’s spotlight moment happens when the stage manager cues the lighting team via an intercom system. “This is live theatre, so you never know,” the character Lola says. But, in reality, nothing at all is left to chance.
Cast members walk off into the wings stage left during a scene change with clockwork precision.
Actor Graham Scott Fleming, in the lead role of Charlie, is quickly heading from a change room to the stage, where his thigh-high, ruby-red kicks will be on full display.
Andre Anthony, left, is covering for Mingo Jr., who’s off sick. The footwear for the understudy is custom-made in New York, boots made just for him.
Eleven-year-old Kaden Stephen dances in the wing just off stage left. Dozens of people are backstage including a chaperone.
The final curtain drops after a Wednesday matinee performance. A stopwatch is used to monitor the running time of every show. “Time is everything,” says John Gray, production stage manager.