If you are looking for a special Holiday Gift this Season, don’t settle for a pair of fuzzy slippers, think about buying your friends and loved ones a couple of “Kinky Boots” (tickets, that is).
Toby’s Dinner Theatre will be presenting “Kinky Boots,” a multiple-Tony Award winner, including Best Musical, with Book by the celebrated Harvey Fierstein and Music and Lyrics by the iconic Cyndi Lauper who became the first woman to win Best Score on her own. The plot is based on a British Film, “Kinky Boots” written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth and is inspired by real events.
In the story, Charlie Price inherits his family’s shoe factory which is now almost bankrupt. By fate, he meets Lola a drag queen. Charlie discovers that this type of entertainer is in need of hot kinky high-heeled boots that are made for a man’s foot and stature. So, Charlie gets the idea to fill this niche and save his factory. Charlie has to deal with some disgruntled and bigoted workers. Lola deals with family issues. Of course, there is also some romance between Charlie and Lauren, an employee in his factory.
Mark Minnick is the Director of this Toby’s production. Minnick and David Singleton are the choreographers. Ross Scott Rawlings is Music Director.
Helen Hayes Award winner, DeCarlo Raspberry, will be playing Lola. I had a chance to interview this talented performer.
Bio: “DeCarlo Jarrell Raspberry is a versatile and passionate vocalist who hails from Washington, D.C. DeCarlo launched his performing career at a very young age – to let his mother tell it, he could sing before he could speak. DeCarlo’s musical roots are grounded in Jazz, Gospel and the traditional music of the church. DeCarlo was launched into the world of arts after being discovered by his first-grade teacher, Peggy Greenman. Studying, absorbing and performing with Cecelia Calloway, daughter of the late Jazz legend Cab Calloway, he learned the rudiments of Jazz, vocal line, and improvisation. From then on, DeCarlo has been blessed with amazing opportunities to share his gifts; always being steered in the right direction by Mrs. Greenman.
He began singing for assemblies and gatherings in and out of school. He even had the opportunity to sing for the “5K Penguin Race” benefitting a senior citizen center. DeCarlo’s increased exposure to the arts flowed into his personal life as well as church plays and musicals.
Once in high school, DeCarlo trained with vocal teachers and coaches and journeyed into the classical music arena. He discovered tones and areas of his voice that he never knew existed. The opportunity to sing in numerous competitions, concerts and high-profile venues and events such as the Presidential, Kennedy Center, Christmas in Washington. DeCarlo has sung behind Beyonce, Garth Brooks, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger, and Kristin Chenoweth to name a few.
While attaining his Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance and Opera from The Boston Conservatory, DeCarlo debuted on the Conservatory’s stage in the supporting lead role of Pish-Tush in Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Mikado” as well as in the leading role of Jack/Jesus in Studney and Muphy’s Musical “Reefer Madness”. Mr. Raspberry is an ardent performer in the Washington, D.C. and New York City areas. His career spans roles in the phenomenal shows “Rocky Horror Movie Picture Show”, Sondheim’s “You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow”, L’amore de trei re’snew musical “TRUTH”, newly acclaimed opera “Stinney”, Booker’s “Ragtime”, “Sister Act”, “Showboat”, “Beauty and the Beast”, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, “Dreamgirls”, “The Little Mermaid”, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, “Grease”, “The Bodyguard”, and Lola in the upcoming DC/MD regional premier of Broadway’s “Kinky Boots”. as well as numerous concerts at the Kennedy Center and Strathmore to name a few. Mr. Raspberry’s breadth of artistic endeavors is recognized and evidenced by his two-time Helen Hayes Award nominations and One Helen Hayes Award win. When not performing, DeCarlo can be seen working with children of varied ableness to further their arts education providing first class teaching and coaching.”
For more information about DeCarlo Raspberry go to his website.
- Would you rather be in a musical or perform as only a singer?
Wow. I have never been asked that question before, and quite frankly, that’s a very hard question to answer, because both have some great pros to it. But what I love about Musicals is the creative storytelling that allows the actor to just sing or as I like to say “vocalize”. But one should never just sing, one should tell the story. So, I am still on the fence.
- Do you have a favorite music genre?
I do not. Due to my exposure as a child to so many artists, cultures, and genres it is something about music that will catch your ear and body. Now I do have favorite Artists, but genres no. Music now has evolved so much that what we knew to be genres are mixed, and now we have new sounds and genres.
- Is there a performer or singer you looked up to as you were starting your career?
There were many performers I have looked up to; Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Patti Labelle, The Clark Sisters, Vickie Winans, Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin, Jessye Norman, Anita Baker, Bobby Caldwell, Bill Withers, The Carpenters, Earth Wind & Fire, KEM, Donny Hathaway, Whitney Houston, The Winans…. Just to name a few, but there are plenty more!
- Can you tell us a bit about your role in “Kinky Boots”?
So, in “Kinky Boots,” I am playing the role of Lola/Simon. A role that the fabulous Billy Porter made very iconic on Broadway after Chiwetel Ejiofor’s iconic performance in the film. This role explores the life of a man whose profession is the art of illusion, known mainstream as Drag Queens. He finds that he is more than just a Drag Queen but a designer as well, thanks to the help of a man named Charlie. Lola has a hand in saving Charlie’s shoe factory. I can’t give it all away though you have to come see it! Great Music, Costumes, and storytelling!!!!
- What has been your favorite role besides your role in “Kinky Boots” and why?
Mmmmmm, now Lola is a work in progress, so I will know if she is a favorite soon enough. But out of the many roles, I have played my favorite to date would be the Streetsinger in the Musical “Brooklyn”. Something about that character that was so much like my heart and soul.
“Kinky Boots” will be playing from January 11, 2020, until March 22, 2020, at Toby’s Dinner Theatre, 5900 Symphony Woods Road, Columbia, MD 21044. For information on “Kinky Boots” go to Toby’s website. For tickets online. For information about the present production and future, shows go to the main website.
Be sure to add “Kinky Boots” to your Holiday Shopping List. These boots fit into any envelope or stocking.
Reminder: Toby’s tickets include a delicious buffet.
