Category Archives: K

Musicals staring with letter K

Kinky Boots

Kinky Boots is based on the 2005 film of the same name and tells the story of a Midlands shoe factory that decides to develop shoes for drag queens. The musical features music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper and a book by Harvey Fierstein. The original production opened on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in 2013 and went on to win the Tony Award for Best New Musical. The original production starred Stark Sands and Billy Porter in the lead roles, and the pair were both nominated for a Tony Award for their efforts, with Porter eventually taking home the prize. The show is earmarked to make a West End transfer, opening late 2014 or early 2015. 

 

 

Kinky Boots Playbill

Cyndi Lauper

Cyndi Lauper

Harvey Fierstein

Miramax motion picture "Kinky Boots"

Geoff Deane and Tim Firth

Nederlander

Jerry Mitchell

Jerry Mitchell

Productions
Kinky Boots 100x150

Kinky Boots - Original Broadway Production

Al Hirschfeld Theatre - Opened 16 Dec 2013, closed 16 Dec 2013

Cast: Billy Porter (Lola), Stark Sands (Charlie Price), Annaleigh Ashford (Lauren), Celina Carvajal (Nicola), Marcus Neville (George), Daniel Stewart Sherman (Don), Adinah Alexander Milan, Eugene Barry-Hill, Stephen Berger. 

Kinky Boots 100x150

Kinky Boots Original London production

Adelphi Theatre - Opened 21 Aug 2015, closed 1 Jan 1970

Cast: Killian Donnelly, Matt Henry, Amy Lennox, Jamie Baughan, Amy Ross and Michael Hobbs



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Synopsis

The show opens as Charlie Price is being handed his father’s show factory in the Midlands of the UK. As his father has worked hard to build ‘Price and Sons’ into a family business, Charlie has little to no interest in the family trade. He decides to move to London in order to stay with his high maintenance girlfriend Nicola. As Charlie’s father dies unexpectedly, he returns home to see the family business on the edge of bankruptcy. He realises that whilst the factory makes high quality goods, they are not fashionable or appealing to a modern day buyer. Whilst out in London Charlie witnesses a street fight and comes across drag queen ‘Lola’. She explains that high heeled shoes do not successfully support the weight of a man, and that drag queens are always in need of sturdier shoes. 

Charlie returns to the factory and pitches his idea to Lauren, a factory worker with a long standing crush on him. They decide that the factory could survive if they play into the niche market. Lola and her ‘angels’ arrive at the factory to talk about the drag shoe, and stay in the Midlands to help produce them. They prepare to unleash their new brand of ‘Kinky Boots’, but Nicola is upset with Charlie for abandoning their dream and not getting married in London. 

The second act begins as factory workers become discontent about the changes in their produce. Don is the rudest of them all and doesn’t agree with Lola’s way of life. He challenges Lola to a boxing match to prove how manly he can be. If he loses he will have to be more accepting. Lola ends up being a good boxer, but to save Don the embarrassment he lets him win. Don begins to question his own prejudice. 

The workers continue to hate their new product and Lola and Charlie argue over creative decisions. Nicola dumps Charlie and walks out on their life together. Lauren is there to try and comfort Charlie and Don helps win the factory workers over by accepting him. Charlie prepares to go to Milan as Lola discovers that her judgmental father is in a nursing home and has never accepted her way of life. Lola turns up to show her support to Charlie and the new range of ‘Kinky Boots’ and the show ends as Lauren and Charlie kiss. 

Songs

Act I
Price & Son Theme – Company
The Most Beautiful Thing – Whole Company
Take What You Got – Harry, Charlie & Club Patrons
The Land of Lola – Lola & Angels
The Land of Lola (reprise) – Lola & Angels
Step One – Charlie
Sex is in the Heel – Lola, Pat, George, Angels, Lauren, Charlie & Factory Workers
The History of Wrong Guys – Lauren
I’m Not My Father’s Son – Lola & Charlie
Everybody Say Yeah – Charlie, Lola, Angels & Factory Workers

Act II
Price & Son Theme (reprise) – Company
What a Woman Wants – Lola, Pat, Don, George & the Ladies of the Factory
Charlie’s Soliloquy (reprise) – Charlie
In This Corner – Lola, Don, Pat, Trish, Angels & Factory Workers‡
The Soul of a Man – Charlie
The History of Wrong Guys (reprise) – Lauren‡
Hold Me in Your Heart – Lola
Raise You Up/Just Be – Company

Awards

Tony Award: Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Orchestrations, Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical, Best Sound Design of a Musical, Best Choreography

Kismet

Kismet is a musical that features musical adaptation along with an original score. The show uses themes of Alexander Borodin, with word setting and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest. The most famous themes come from Borodin’s ‘Prince Igor’, such as the Polovtsian Dances, adapted into ‘Stranger in Paradise’. The plot concerns a wily poet whose beautiful daughter meets and falls in love with a young Prince, and is set in a fictional town in Baghdad around the same time of ‘Arabian Nights’. The original production was well received on both Broadway and in London, and has enjoyed numerous revivals by Opera companies, due to it’s heavily classical score. A film version was also very popular and was released in 1955 under the MGM label.

Kismet - Original Poster

Robert Wright and George Forrest, Based on the music of Alexander Borodin

Robert Wright

Charles Lederer and Luther Davis

The themes of Borodin

Charles Lederer & Edwin Lester

Albert Marre

Jack Cole

Productions
Kismet - Original Broadway

Original Broadway Production

Ziegfeld Theatre - Opened 3 Dec 1953, closed 1 Jan 1970

Cast: Alfred Drake, Richard Kiley, Joan Dienner, Doretta Morrow & Henry Calvin

Kismet - Original London

Original London Production

The Stoll Theatre (Now the Peacock Theatre) - Opened 1 Apr 1955, closed 14 Dec 2012

Kismet - Broadway Revival

Kismet Broadway Revival

New York City Opera - Opened 22 Jun 1965, closed 1 Jan 1970

Kismet - London Revival ENO

London Revival

ENO London Coliseum - Opened 1 Jun 2007, closed 1 Jan 1970

Cast: Michael Ball and Alfie Boe



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Synopsis

In Baghdad, a poet sits outside a Mosque attempting to sell his verses. His daughter Marsinah attempts to help him but goes off the Bazaar to steal her breakfast. As the poet begins to beg, he curses those who do not give him money. Jawan kidnaps him thinking he is Hajj and demands he lift a curse placed on him 15 years ago, resulting in the loss of his son. The poet sees an opportunity and pretends to do so in return for 100 golden pieces.

The evil Wazir enters along with his seductive wife-of-wives Lalume and they discuss a loan that he needs. In return for the money that has been lent from the King of Ababu, the Caliph has to marry one or all three of the Princesses of Ababu. The Princesses tell Lalume they wish to return home.

Marsinah is chased by a market seller who knows she has stolen from them. Her father bails her out and gives his daughter half of the money. Whilst she considers how to spend it, the Caliph, who has disguised himself is taken with her beauty. The poet is arrested for setaling as Marsinah has found a house for her and her father to live. The Caliph disguises himself as a gardener and enters the house and the two instantly fall in love. They promise to meet later by moonlight.

Hajj is on trial for stealing and the Wazir sentences him to lashes and his right hand cut off. He begs that as a poet this will ruin his career. Lalume is attracted to the poet and begs the Wazir to spare him just as Jawan is brought in and it is revealed that the Wazir is his son. Jawan praises the poet and his ability to lift curses, but the Wazir sentences his own father to death. The Wazir is worried that the poet has cursed him and is about to kill him when the Caliph enters and says he has found a bride that he will marry that evening. The Wazir realises that if the Caliph doesn’t marry one of his daughters then his life will be ruined. He begs Hajj to right this wrong with his magic powers, promising him a reprieve and an important title. Hajj agrees and causes a diversion, escaping and leaving the Wazir with his cloak.

The Caliph sets off to be married but Marsinah thinks only of the gardener. Hajj returns and says they must flee but she refuses to go. They fight and run off, meaning that the Caliph enters the garden and finds his love not ther.

The Wazir finds out that the bride has gone and thinks that Hajj’s magic has worked. He tells his wife to make Hajj happy and gives him the title of Emir. The Caliph tells the Wazir that they must find his love just as Marsinah enters with the Harem and asks her father to help find her love. The Caliph sees Marsinah in the Harem and is upset that she is apart of the Wazir’s troop. The Wazir claims her as one of his wives. He is heartbroken and finally agrees to choose his wive-of-wives that evening. The Wazir marries Marsinah against her will.

The candidates for the Caliph’s hand dance for him but he is unmoved. Hajj realises what has happened and takes a blank plaque from his turban and throws it into the pool. He says that when it is retrieved, it will say the name of his intended bride. As The Wazir enters the pool, Hajj holds him underwater until he drowns. The Caliph realises what has happened and is reunited with Marsinah. Hajj is reunited with Lalume and is banished to an Oasis with her.

Songs

Act I

  1. Sands of Time
  2. Rhymes Have I
  3. Fate
  4. Bazaar Of The Caravans
  5. Not Since Nineveh
  6. Baubles, Bangles And Beads
  7. Stranger In Paradise
  8. He’s in love
  9. Gesticulate
Act II 
  1. Night of My Nights
  2. Was I Wazir?
  3. Rahadlakum
  4. And This Is My Beloved
  5. The Olive Tree
  6. Zubbediya
  7. Bored
  8. The Hand of Fate
  9. Stolen Oranges
  10. Paradise Garden
  11. The Poets Meet
Awards

1954 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (Drake), Best Conductor and Musical Director.

Licensing

UK: Josef Weinberger

USA: Musical Theatre International

 

 

Kiss Me, Kate

Kiss Me, Kate was Cole Porter’s response to the musical Oklahoma! by Rodgers and Hammerstein, which changed the nature of the musical theatre genre. For the first time songs were linked directly with the book, and this became Porter’s first and most popular musicals. The show was the first musical to win the Tony Award for Best Musical, and has gone on to enjoy countless revivals all over the world. The story is an updated version of Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ and tells of a company of travelling actors putting on the show, where backstage drama begins to creep in on the action.

Kiss Me Kate

Cole Porter

Cole Porter

Sam and Bella Spewack

Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew

Saint Subber & Lemuel Ayers

John C. Wilson

Hanya Holm

Productions
Kiss Me Kate Original Broadway

Original Broadway Production

New Century Theatre, The Schubert Theatre - Opened 30 Dec 1948, closed 1 Jan 1970

Cast: Alfred Drake,Patricia Morison, Lisa Kirk, Harold Lang, Charles Wood and Harry Clark.

Kiss Me Kate Original London

Original London Production

London Coliseum - Opened 8 Mar 1951, closed 1 Jan 1970

Kiss Me Kate Broadway Revival

Broadway Revival

Martin Beck Theatre - Opened 18 Nov 1999, closed 30 Dec 2001

Cast: Marin Mazzie, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Amy Spanger, Michael Berresse, Ron Holgate, Lee Wilkof, and Michael Mulheren.

Kiss Me Kate London Revival

London Revival

Victoria Palace Theatre - Opened 30 Oct 2001, closed 8 Nov 2002

Kiss Me Kate Old Vic 2012

2012 London Revival

Old Vic - Opened 20 Nov 2012, closed 2 Mar 2013

Cast: Hannah Waddingham 



What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

Art imitates life as this group of travelling players explore the Taming of the Shrew and a quarrelling couple realise they are so in love.

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A company of actors are rehearsing for a new musical production of Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ and sing about the drama of life as a performer. Fred Graham is the show’s producer, director and leading man, playing opposite his ex-wife Lilli Vanessi the movie star. The pair are forever arguing and Lilli is jealous of Fred who is pursuing the younger actress Lois Lane. Lois’s boyfriend Bill is a gambler and frequently misses rehearsals. He has racked up multiple debts and has signed an IOU in Fred’s name for $10,000.

Backstage, Lilli shows off her engagement ring to the rest of the company and reminds Fred it is the anniversary of their divorce. Gangster show up to demand the money out of Fred who doesn’t understand what they are talking about and the agree to come back after the show. Flowers are mistakenly delivered to Lilli’s dressing room from Fred tries to stop her reading  the card which reveals they were actually intended for Lois. Lilli says she will read the card later onstage.

As the performance begins we see the beginning of the musical as Petrucio (Fred) wants to marry Kate (Lilli) but she has no intention of getting married. Despite his efforts to woo her, she refuses. She reads the card and realises that the flowers were not intended for her, and marches on-stage to hit Fred mid performances. She threatens to leave the show, but Fred convinces her to stay so he can pay off the $10,000 gambling debt Bill has left him with. As the show continues on-stage we see Petrucio and Kate’s wedding, with the gangsters now in place to make sure that Lilli doesn’t leave the stage. Petrucio tells Kate to kiss him, but Lilli refuses and he carries her off as she beats him.

The second act opens during the intermission from the performance outside of the theatre. The cast and crew lament the heat and break out into a wild dance routine. As the play then continues, Petruchio attempts to tame Kate on-stage  whilst backstage Lilli’s fiancé has turned up and Lois recognises him as a past lover. Bill is upset, but Lilli tells him that she will always be faithful in her own special way. Bill tells Lilli how dull her life will be with her new fiancé.

Meanwhile, the gangsters realise that their boss has been killed so the IOU is no longer valid. They are caught on-stage in costume and deliver a rousing tribute to Shakespeare in their own special way. The conclusion of the play then takes place at the wedding of Bianca and Lucentio. Lilli arrives on-stage to deliver Kate’s final speech and reconciles with Fred as the curtain falls.

Songs

Act I

  • Another Op’nin’, Another Show – Hattie and Company
  • Why Can’t You Behave? – Lois, Bill
  • Wunderbar – Fred, Lilli
  • So In Love – Lilli
  • We Open In Venice – Fred, Lilli, Lois, Bill
  • Tom, Dick or Harry – Bianca, Lucentio, Gremio, Hortensio
  • I’ve Come to Wive It Wealthily in Padua – Fred and The Men
  • I Hate Men – Lilli
  • Were Thine That Special Face – Fred
  • We Sing of Love – Lois,Bill,Ensemble
  • Kiss Me, Kate – Fred, Lili, Ensemble
Act II 
 
  • Too Darn Hot – Paul and dancers
  • Where Is the Life That Late I Led? – Fred
  • Always True To You In My Fashion – Lois
  • Bianca – Bill and Company
  • So In Love (Reprise) – Fred
  • Brush Up Your Shakespeare – First Gangster, Second Gangster
  • I Am Ashamed That Women Are So Simple – Lilli
  • Kiss Me, Kate (Finale) – Company
 
Awards

1949 Tony Awards: Best Musical (First winner in this category), Best Producers of a Musical, Best Authors, Best Composer and Lyricist, Best Costumes.

2000 Tony Awards: Best Revival, Best Leading Actor (Brian Stokes-Mitchell), Best Direction, Best Orchestrations, Best Costume Design.

Licensing

UK: Music Scope UK

USA: Tams-Witmark