With a warm and witty book by four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein, and a richly diverse musical score from Grammy Award-winning Cyndi Lauper, Kinky Boots follows Charlie Price, who is forced to step in and save his family's shoe factory in Northern England following the sudden death of his father. Together with an exuberant drag performer named Lola, this improbable duo not only revitalises the nearly bankrupt business but also transforms an entire community through the power of acceptance.

But did you know?

1. Kinky Boots Is Inspired by a true story

The musical is based on the real-life story of Steve Pateman, who saved his family's shoe factory by producing fetish footwear for men and as seen in the 2005 film Kinky Boots. Who would have thought that one idea would spark such a fabulous revolution!

2. Cyndi Lauper made Broadway history

Showing her true ingenius colours, Cyndi Lauper was the first woman to win the Tony Award for Best Original Score for her work on Kinky Boots in 2013.

3. Drag queens were consulted on heel height

During costume design, actual drag performers were brought in to help the team understand how high heels could be fabulous and functional.

4. Boot camp was real

X Factor bootcamp, who? The cast originally went through a literal intensive "boot camp" to train in dancing in six-inch heels. It involved ankle-strengthening exercises and a lot of blister care.

5. "Sex Is in the Heel" made Billboard history

It was the first Broadway song to chart on a Billboard dance chart in almost 25 years.

6. The real Lola was a welder

While the musical's Lola is a drag queen and performer, the real-life inspiration worked as a welder and modeled in heels on the side.

7. It ran longer in London than on Broadway

The West End production lasted over three years, closing in 2019, while the Broadway run wrapped up in 2019 after six years and over 2,500 performances.

8. RuPaul is a fan

While Ru never starred in the show, Kinky Boots has been referenced multiple times in RuPaul's Drag Race, and contestants have even performed its numbers in challenges.

9. High heels had nicknames

Backstage, the different pairs of boots worn by the Angels had nicknames like "Cherry Bombs," "Stiletto Killers," and "The Ankle Breakers."

10. The boots cost a fortune

Each custom-designed thigh-high boot cost around $2,000 to make, and over 200 pairs were made throughout the Broadway run due to wear and tear.