Kinky Boots Performance at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Shocks Viewers?

KinkyBootsonTVThe performance of a number from the Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade had America all a-Twitter. It had the bigots out in force, at least judging from headlines such as this one, with all its old-fashioned loaded language: WNDheadlineonKinkyBoots Here is a video of the performance of the song “Raise You Up/Just Be”:

Among the reactions:

At least one comic got into the act:

Most common reaction on Twitter seemed to be typified by this Tweet:

But what’s interesting is to see the conversation on Twitter AFTER the publicity about the “bigots” reacting to Kinky Boots:

This controversy is ironic for me, given my review of Kinky Boots when the show opened in April, which begins: “Is it a shock to say that “Kinky Boots” just isn’t kinky enough?….“Kinky Boots” is professionally put together, it’s entertaining…and it’s both safe and familiar.”

I’m baffled that parents feel they need to “explain” to their three-year-olds performers wearing red boots, but not, say, a 100-foot Pillsbury Doughboy.

Update: Non-exclusive statement from Harvey Fierstein, who with songwriter Cyndi Lauper adapted the movie of Kinky Boots for the stage: “I’m so proud that the cast of KINKY BOOTS brought their message of tolerance and acceptance to America’s parade. Ten years ago I was humbled to ride a float dressed as Mrs. Claus and it was the thrill of a lifetime. Congratulations to Macy’s, on leading the world, not only with your salesmanship, but also your humanity.” (He must not have shopped there recently.)

So now people are reportedly shopping at Macy’s to show their support of human rights. Who says miracles no longer exist?

Second update: Floating around online is this terrific sermon about Kinky Boots by Virginia-Highland Church Senior Pastor Michael Piazza of Atlanta. He preached this about six weeks before the to-do at the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

 
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Author: New York Theater

Jonathan Mandell is a 3rd generation NYC journalist, who sees shows, reads plays, writes reviews and sometimes talks with people.

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