Last week, controversy surrounded the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade about the cast of the Broadway play Kinky Boots. The play is about a drag queen who revitalizes a shoe shop and changes its workers, performed in the parade, angering many fans as the play’s star, Billy Porter, was dressed in full on drag. But the cast weren’t left shaking in their boots after the online bashing. Instead, they took the criticism in stride as they all reportedly turned up at Macy’s this weekend as a part of a bold plan to respond to the critics.
Porter and some of his cast mates did some Black Friday shopping at Macy’s last week and turned heads as most of the male actors came into the retail giant in their sky-high stiletto boots while Porter was in full drag.
“You have to start a dialogue,” the musical’s co-creator Harvey Fierstein told Page Six while shopping with the show’s actors. “And you can’t have a dialogue unless someone says something first. It takes actual work to open up [people’s] minds.”
Fierstein also sent a statement to Playbill.com to further show his support for his cast.
“I’m so proud that the cast of Kinky Boots brought their message of tolerance and acceptance to America’s parade,” Fierstein said. “Ten years ago I was humbled to ride a float dressed as Mrs. Claus, and it was the thrill of a lifetime. Congratulations to Macy’s, on leading the world, not only with your salesmanship, but also your humanity.”
In a great showing of solidarity Macy’s sent out their own statement to show support for the cast.
“Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has always spotlighted the best of Broadway since the ’60′s, and this year is no exception,” the rep said. “As 2013′s Tony award-winning best musical, ‘Kinky Boots’ is not only a hit with Broadway fans, but Black Friday shoppers… Please have them call us and we’ll set them up with our personal shoppers.”
We say kudos to the Kinky Boots cast and Macy’s for standing up to all of their critics and taking the play’s message of acceptance and love and putting it into this real-life teachable moment on equality.
Check out photos of the cast doing their Black Friday shopping below. – nicholas robinson
