Kinky Boots’ Kyle Taylor Parker living out his Broadway dreams

After seeing the musical Annie at the age of five, Kyle Taylor Parker knew he wanted to be an actor. It was the first show that the Milwaukee native saw and he absolutely fell in love with it. His teachers noticed the budding entertainer’s gift at a young age and encouraged his mother to nurture his talent.

Author: Broadway in BostonKyle Taylor Parker

Now in his 20s, Parker is living out his dream as an actor, singer and dancer. He currently stars as Lola, the British drag queen, in the national touring production of the 2013 Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots. Thanks to Broadway in Boston, the popular musical comes to Boston next Tuesday, August 11 and runs through August 30 at the Boston Opera House.

A graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York, Parker made his Broadway debut in Kinky Boots, playing an angel while understudying the role of Lola.

Directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell, with a score by Cyndi Lauper, Kinky Boots is based on the 2005 film, which was inspired by true events. Kinky Boots tells the story of Charlie Price, who has to leave London for northern England when he inherits the family business, a shoe factory named Price & Sons that’s on the verge of bankruptcy. Faced with having to put his dreams on hold, Charlie is given the responsibility of turning Price & Sons around and finds inspiration in the unlikeliest of places when drag queen and performer Lola shows up in need of stilettos.

Parker spoke with the Banner about stepping into the role of Lola on Broadway, living out his dreams and walking in those fire-engine red stiletto boots.

You made your Broadway debut playing an angel in Kinky Boots and then you stepped into the role of Lola while Billy Porter was on hiatus. It must have been an incredible feeling. Do you recall what you felt when you received the news?

Kyle Taylor Parker: I was excited. It felt like the next step. I’ve been playing the part on Broadway and that’s when I had already opened the first national tour of the show as Lola. I had been doing the role for five months. I was honored. I’ve always been honored and grateful. But it felt like a great opportunity to be at home with my family, and that family being my Kinky Boots family on Broadway.

Was there anything that you learned from Porter that you’ve been able to apply in your role as Lola on the tour?

KTP: I love Billy to death. And one thing that I’ve learned from him, that I’ve put in everything that I do, is to just be yourself and make the most of it. That’s what he does and that’s what I do — in life, not just as Lola.

What was it about the character Lola that attracted you to the role?

KTP: Lola is everything. Like the song I’m Every Woman, Lola is everything: the opportunity to dance, to act, really act, not just kind of play a stick character. You get to be vulnerable, you get to be funny. You more importantly have to be honest. And to sing those sings — the score is incredible. Cyndi [Lauper] has done a great job, building a score that’s honest, that has tons of heart and really is something incredible.

In playing this character, have you learned anything about yourself that you may not have been aware of before taking on this role?

KTP: I have learned that I’m stronger than I know and braver than I think.

Do you feel a sense of responsibility in leading the tour?

KTP: Absolutely. I felt a responsibility to the story and to the creative team that has become a major part of my life.

I think it is a beautiful story, it’s a necessary story about acceptance and what happens when you take a chance on a person, and you change your mind about them. A story like that demands your best every night, because you never know who you’re touching, who’s in the audience, and who really needs to hear that lesson. In doing the story I’ve met so many people who really are Lola in life, and who have felt like they don’t fit in or felt like they just want permission to be themselves. This show gives them that and that’s why I always take it very seriously.

How does it feel to see your dream really come true?

KTP: It’s exhilarating. It’s an honor. It’s overwhelming. When we got to Chicago this go–round, I remembered when we were working on the out-of-town tryout in Chicago, during the opening. Back then, I was in the ensemble. Now I’ve come full circle, where I can see how different I am, with the confidence I have and the new skillset that I have. It’s a beautiful thing, when your dream comes true.

I can barely walk in 3-inch heels at times. You’re performing in 6-inch heels. What’s the secret?

KTP: Balance, balance, balance! From the rear, it’s a work-in-progress. Every day it gets better. I’ve found toe spacers in between shows that really help because they let your feet stretch and then I could put the shoes back on. I can always tell it’s Saturday because my feet are swollen.

What’s the best thing about performing in Kinky Boots?

KTP: The best thing about performing in Kinky Boots is being Lola, knowing that your part of Broadway history, and that what you do is making a difference.