Andy Kelso, Jeanna de Waal Replace Tony Nominees in ‘Kinky Boots’

Andy Kelso and Jeanna de Waal are set to join the cast of the Tony Award winning Broadway production Kinky Boots. The two will succeed Tony nominees Stark Sands and Annaleigh Ashford, respectively. This announcement came from the show’s producers December 23.

Sands will play his final performance January 26, 2014, while Ashford will play his final performance March 2, 2014. Kelso will take on the role of Charlie Price beginning January 28 opposite Tony Award winner Billy Porter who stars as Lola. Currently Kelso plays the role of Harry in the production which will be taken on by Jake Odmark. De Waal will take on the role of Lauren beginning March 4.

Kinky Boots is based on the 2005 film of the same name. It tells the story of “Charlie Price who has suddenly inherited his father’s shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father’s legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola. A fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos, Lola turns out to be the one person who can help Charlie become the man he’s meant to be. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible… and discovers that when you change your mind about someone, you can change your whole world.”

Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell directs and choreographs the hit musical. The musical features a score by Grammy and Tony Award winning singer and songwriter Cyndi Lauper and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein. Musical supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations for Kinky Boots are by Tony Award winner Stephen Oremus.