‘Kinky Boots’ Books Broadway’s Al Hirschfeld Theatre in March

Just before beginning a tryout in Chicago, producers announced that “Kinky Boots” will make its Broadway debut at the Al Hirschfield Theatre on March 5, 2013. The official opening date for the production is April 4 of next year.

The Chicago tryout run is scheduled to open October 4 and run through November 2 at the city’s Bank of America Theatre. The musical, which is based on the 2005 British film of the same name, features a score by 1980s pop star Cyndi Lauper.

The book for the musical is written by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein, known for his work on “Newsies,” “La Cage aux Folles” and “Torch Song Trilogy.” Jerry Mitchell, who also worked on “La Cage aux Folles” will direct. Tony winners Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig are producers.

Charlie Price will be played by Stark Stands, while Billy Porter will star as Lola. The following is how producers describe the musical:

In “Kinky Boots,” Charlie Price is forced to stop in and save his family’s shoe factory in Northern England following the sudden death of his father. Help comes from the unlikeliest angel, a fabulous drag performer named Lola. Together, this improbably duo revitalizes the failing business, while stepping out from their father’s shadows and transforming an entire community through the power of acceptance.

Harvey Fierstein recently spoke to the Associated Press about the production.

“Here are two people who couldn’t’ be more different who realize that, in their minds, they’re complete failures to their fathers,” he told the news organization. “They find each other and heal each other.”

Fierstein also spoke about working with Lauper, who will be making her Broadway debut.

“She has one of those big-fat-all-over-the-place-you-can’t-hide-it-hearts. There are just some people that you can’t hide it with at all, and she’s one of those people,” he said. “There was a lot of chasing her around because that woman works. Her musical vocabulary is wonderful. Each character has their own sound.”