By Faye Brennan, Lifestyle Contributor at inRidgefield
Talking to Daniel C. Levine, the Artistic Director at ACT of CT in Ridgefield, will make you buzz with excitement for the theater’s production of Kinky Boots… just like the rest of town! The hotly anticipated musical opens tonight, and as the last show of ACT’s 2023-2024 season, it’s expected to be a smash hit.
“My favorite part is the last five minutes of the show, which is such a great payoff,” Levine beams. “It’s such a poignant and joyous final number that you just can’t help but tear up, stand up, and smile. Plus, our theater is so intimate that the experience feels immersive as opposed to observational. I think that’s what really moves people—they’re seeing things that maybe they wouldn’t have been able to see at a Broadway theater due to the fact that the front row is literally 24 inches away from the edge of the stage!”
Yes, ticket holders are definitely in for an exclusive, up-close-and-personal treat with Kinky Boots. All 15 shows—running May 23rd through June 16th—are officially sold out. If you missed your chance to snag some tickets, Levine says call the box office to join the waitlist, which does open up thanks to last-minute cancellations. (“Things really do change within 48 hours of each performance,” he says. “We were able to accommodate about 80% of our waitlist for our last production, Million Dollar Quartet.”)
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Kinky Boots, based on the book by Harvey Fierstein, tells the story of an unexpected partnership between Charlie, a shoe factory owner, and Lola, a fabulous cabaret performer, who join forces to help save Charlie’s family-run company. All of the music and lyrics are written by the one-and-only Cindi Lauper—and this cast and crew are making sure to pay homage to the musical’s award-winning roots.
“We’re really staying true to the original concept, choreography, and staging just because it works so well,” says Levine. “In fact, we have many of the original Broadway costumes, which has been one of the most exciting investments for us. The costume design is just crazy-cool.”
While Levine typically directs and choreographs the theater’s musicals (if you saw Secret Garden, Evita, or Sunset Boulevard, you’ve experienced his work), this time, he brought in his friend, Nathan Peck, who was actually a company member of the original Kinky Boots on Broadway. “I don’t think there’s anybody that knows the ins and outs, characters, and through lines more than Nathan,” Levine says. “He lived this show for so much of his career and has not only performed in it, but gone on to direct it in many other venues across the country.”
Standing alongside Nathan as Music Director is Matthew Stephens, who ACT’s resident Music Supervisor, Bryan Perri, chose with intention. “Nathan and Matthew work really well together, which is important, and I think they make a really great team,” Levine says.
Tonight, as anxious guests start to fill the lobby and the talented cast finishes their final sound checks, the entire crew at ACT of CT hopes people remember one thing: This local musical magic wouldn’t be possible without Ridgefield’s love for the arts.
“We consider ourselves lucky to live and work in a community where the arts are considered vital to a thriving society,” says Levine. “We’re a not-for-profit theater and only 30 to 35% of our annual operating budget—which runs the theater and pays the actors, musicians, and set designers—is funded by ticket sales. The rest comes from sponsorships, donations, grants, and the generosity of the people who support us. I’m always hopeful that the community truly understands just how grateful we are. I don’t know that this season would have sold out in any other community than Fairfield County.”
Oh, and the fun doesn’t stop here. On June 7th, ACT will announce the lineup for the 2024-2025 season at their Annual Gala. In July, the theater will host its educational summer programs for kids and teens, and by August, some light renovations (like expanding the women’s restrooms) will segue into fall rehearsals. Turns out, the curtain never truly closes when there’s this much excitement to be had.
For more info on Kinky Boots and ACT of CT, visit actofct.org.
Faye Brennan, Lifestyle Contributor at inRidgefield, is a Connecticut-based content creator, editor, writer, entrepreneur, podcast host, and media personality. She lives on the Ridgefield/Danbury border with her husband and their apricot maltipoo, Gwen. Follow her on Instagram and read more about her work on FayeBrennanWrites.com.
Photo credit: Andrea Carson.
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