Once you learn how Kinky Boots creator Phil LaDuca’s life mirrored the storyline of the Broadway blockbuster, you’ll watch it in a whole new way!
Premieres Friday, November 29th at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings), pbs.org/gperf and the PBS Video app. Streaming until Friday, December 27th.
All in the Details explores the finer details behind a Great Performances production so you can learn all about the behind-the-scenes magic and more!
♪ The sex is in the heel ♪ ♪ Even if you break it ♪ ♪ Shoes, glorious shoes ♪ ♪ Honey, you can't fake it ♪ ♪ Jack it up, 'cause I'm not a flat tire ♪ ♪ Mack it up, six inches higher ♪ ♪ Oh, the sex is in the heel ♪ - Welcome.
To our lovely day in New York City at LaDuca Shoes.
I had no intention of being a shoe designer, knew nothing about designing shoes.
I came up with the concept and the idea because of my dance background.
I recognized this before I even got into designing shoes that most of the footwear that we wore as Broadway dancers did not enhance, did not help our dancing, they actually worked against us.
That, I would have to say, is what makes the LaDuca shoe different.
To show that even in a three and a half inch heel, that you're able to point your foot, and still have support and stability.
(upbeat pop music) - Do you know what the most beautiful thing in the world is, Charlie?
- A shoe.
- A shoe.
- Jerry said, I want these boots to be a character in the show.
- Raise your hands if you look to see what I wear to work each day.
- They embodied-- (audience applauding) what Lola meant.
The strength, the audacity, the in your face, I'm here.
♪ Stand back ♪ ♪ Let me tell you something ♪ That's what they meant, and that's what we wanted to achieve with them.
- Heel made for a woman cannot possibly support a man's weight.
You need something special.
- And I deserve something special.
- How do you make a gentleman feel comfortable in a six inch stiletto platform, and yet be able to do full on dancing that you would normally expect a dancer in a sneaker to be able to do?
Kicks, jumps, splits.
Turns, leaps.
You have to balance and weigh how much is too flexible, how much is too supportive and restrictive.
And those are the areas that you always, like a mad scientist you have to experiment with.
♪ We could mold the steel ♪ ♪ One piece from ball to heel ♪ ♪ We'd underpin and remake it ♪ ♪ So not even Don could break it ♪ Iconic red, patent leather kinky boots are a personality on their own.
They literally, you put them standing on their own, they draw a crowd.
When those shoes came in on the trolley, and he took them and raised them like a victory cup, I felt like a proud papa.
I wanted to say, that's my girl, that's my baby down there.
♪ Everybody ♪ ♪ Everybody say yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ (pencil writing)
