Peyton Gaida became a musical theater fan at age 2, started performing at 9 and saw the show that changed his life at 13. At 21, he is performing in its national tour. “Kinky Boots” plays Scranton the weekend of Feb. 13-15.
The musical follows Charlie, the overburdened owner of a failing shoe factory, and Lola, the drag queen who tries to help. It is inspired by true events.
Rock star Cyndi Lauper wrote the Tony Award-winning score.
It runs at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple for four shows as part of the Broadway Theatre League season.
Omari Collins, whose drag name is Scarlett D. Von’Du, plays Lola, opposite Noah Silverman as Charlie Price in “Kinky Boots.” (COURTESY OF MATTHEW MURPHY)
Dancers perform in “Kinky Boots.” (COURTESY OF MATTHEW MURPHY)
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Omari Collins, whose drag name is Scarlett D. Von’Du, plays Lola, opposite Noah Silverman as Charlie Price in “Kinky Boots.” (COURTESY OF MATTHEW MURPHY)
The tour was originally advertised as starring a recent winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” But Onya Nurve left the cast shortly before the tour started.
Gaida is in the ensemble and plays a red-headed drag queen, one of Lola’s Angels.
His hometown of Fallentimber is near Altoona and has a population under 2,000.
“Growing up as, you know, a little gay boy in rural Pennsylvania, there’s a lot of feeling ‘othered’ and maybe feeling a little bit alone, even with having a very supportive family,” he said.
He saw a production of “Kinky Boots” in State College when he was 13. It opened both a career path and a sense of belonging.
“And that was a very wonderful experience,” he said. “It kind of made me not feel like I was ‘othered.’ It felt like a place where, you know, I would be kind of just the average person.”
Gaida thinks the show can be relatable for anyone, no matter where they fall on a spectrum between Don, a stereotypically masculine tough guy, and Lola, a charismatic drag queen with a keen business sense.
“I think that everyone coming out of this show will be changed in some way, uplifted,” Gaida said. “Maybe they will realize new things.”
His favorite song in the show is in the first act. The drag queens make a dramatic entrance to “Land of Lola.”
Gaida’s first favorite musical was “Phantom of the Opera,” played over and over on his grandmother’s CDs. He became a big fan of “Wicked” and “Legally Blonde.”
Now he is a senior at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia, where a national tour is definitely an excused absence. He meets with professors on Zoom and will soon take a brief leave to record his senior showcase presentation.
A different cast of “Kinky Boots” was part of the Broadway in Scranton season several years ago.
The show debuted on Broadway in 2013 and ran until 2019. It scooped up Tony Awards, including best musical, best score and best choreography. More recently, there was a now-closed version off-Broadway in New York City.
Prices begin at $56, not including Ticketmaster fees. Show times are Friday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 14, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Feb. 15, at 1 p.m.
Tickets are sold at BroadwayinScranton.com; at the Scranton Cultural Center, 420 N. Washington Ave.; and by phone at 570-342-7784. Box office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Check the cultural center’s bag policy to avoid being turned away at the door. People trudging back to their car to stow a purse are a common sight. Stick to a wristlet or wallet, up to 4 inches by 6 inches by 1 inch; or clear bags of up to 12 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches.
If you go
What: “Kinky Boots,” a national touring production of the Tony Award-winning musical and part of the Broadway Theatre League season.
Where: Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple, 420 N. Washington Ave., Scranton.
When: Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 14, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 p.m.
What to know: Tickets start at $56, plus any fees for Ticketmaster purchases. They are sold at BroadwayinScranton.com, at the box office and by phone, at 570-342-7784. The show is recommended for ages 13 and up. The bag policy is enforced.