advertisement

Chicago actor a self-professed 'Blangel' in 'Kinky Boots' tour

Chicago actor Joseph Anthony Byrd credits the drag he wore as flighty houseboy Jacob in “La Cage aux Folles” at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire as great preparation for his current acting gig.

Byrd stars in the drag queen ensemble of “Angels” in “Kinky Boots,” the hit Broadway musical returning on tour to Chicago for an eight-performance run at the Oriental Theatre.

“We call me the 'Blangel,'” Byrd said with a laugh. “Because I'm the black Angel.”

Byrd also understudies the leading role of Lola, played full time in the tour by J. Harrison Ghee. Lola is the drag queen whose talent and vivacity inspire Charlie Price (Adam Kaplan) to reverse the fortunes of his family's failing shoe factory by switching to the manufacture of fetish footwear.

“It's an amazing opportunity when I get to go on,” said Byrd of the challenging role of Lola, which won its original star Billy Porter a Tony Award for best actor in a musical.

Songwriter Cyndi Lauper and playwright Harvey Fierstein's acclaimed 2013 stage adaptation was inspired by the 2005 film “Kinky Boots,” which starred future “12 Years a Slave” Academy Award nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor as Lola. The film was actually inspired by a true story of a shoe factory in Sheffield, England.

“I'm so honored and so excited to be a part of telling this story and spreading the message that you can change the world if you change your mind,” Byrd said. “The story is of self-acceptance and accepting others, and it's done in such a fun way.”

Byrd's first audition for “Kinky Boots” came when he was in rehearsals for playing the crab Sebastian in Chicago Shakespeare Theatre's 2015 summer production of “The Little Mermaid.” Byrd had to keep on auditioning for “Kinky Boots” for almost a year, largely because there wasn't an opening available.

“In hindsight, I never lost out on a role or an opportunity whenever I auditioned and I didn't get a call saying here's a job,” Byrd said. “They were just auditioning to see if I could keep up and keep learning and keep growing.”

Chicago transplant Joseph Anthony Byrd (in red, front row far left) appears as one of the drag "Angels" in the national touring ensemble of the hit Broadway musical "Kinky Boots" at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago. Byrd also understudies the leading role of Lola (J. Harrison Ghee, center left holding a boot). Courtesy of Matthew Murphy

Byrd is eager to show fellow “Kinky Boots” cast members around Chicago, especially those who have never been here before. That's because Chicago has been what he calls a “magical city” in terms of his theater career.

A native of New Jersey, Byrd's first professional credit came when he was cast in the title role of “The Ballad of Emmett Till” at Chicago's Goodman Theatre in 2007. Not long after, he was in the ensemble of the cautionary white supremacy musical “White Noise” at Chicago's Royal George Theatre.

Joseph Anthony Byrd made his professional acting debut in the title role of "The Ballad of Emmett Till" at the Goodman Theatre in 2007. He now stars in the touring company of "Kinky Boots." Courtesy of Liz Lauren/Goodman Theatre

“When I was in Chicago, I really liked the sense of community that the theater had, and that people see each other's work and see the growth in their fellow actors,” Byrd said. “The artistry was amazing from the storefronts to the commercial theaters, and it's all kind of so close. New York is fantastic, but Chicago was a different energy and feel, and I like that actors can work.”

Byrd was living in New York when he did his first few Chicago shows and later when he appeared in the Las Vegas company of “Mamma Mia!” and toured with “The Lion King.” He relocated to the Windy City about three years ago.

“Chicago audiences are amazing,” Byrd said. “You know 'Kinky Boots' did its pre-Broadway tryout in Chicago, and I think that really helped to shape what the show is. It's really almost like the show is coming home.”

“Kinky Boots”

Location: Oriental Theatre, 28 W. Randolph St., Chicago, (800) 775-2000 or

broadwayinchicago.com

Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, Aug. 30 to Sept. 2; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3; 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31, and Sunday, Sept. 4

Tickets: $22-$95

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.