5 Questions with Graham Scott Fleming, who Portrays "Charlie Price" in North Carolina Theatre's Upcoming Production of "Kinky Boots"

Love Cyndi Lauper? Into big boots and drag queens? Or, maybe you just want a story with a lot of heart and a whole lot of fun in store.
No matter what, North Carolina Theatre’s upcoming production of Kinky Boots has you covered. 

NCT is proud to be one of the first regional theatres in the country to produce Kinky Boots. And, if you’re not familiar with the story, know that it’s a winner of 6 Tony Awards, a GRAMMY Award, and features 16 original songs by pop icon Cyndi Lauper. What more could you want?

Based on true events, Kinky Boots tells the story of two people with nothing in common – or so they think. With understanding and compassion, a struggling factory owner and a wildly fabulous entertainer join forces to create a great business and an even stronger friendship.

And, lucky for us, we got to talk with the man who portrays that “struggling factory owner.” We asked Graham Scott Fleming, who is part of a talented cast made up of both Broadway stars and Triangle-area talent, five key questions about this exciting show set to grace the stage next month.

What do you admire most about your character, Charlie Price?

Describing charming Charlie to a tee, Fleming tells us that, “I admire Charlie’s passion. No matter what task is on his mind, he is fully invested in trying to make it work. He is kind and loving and really tries hard to do the right thing.” 

That certainly sounds like a winning character to us! 

In the spirit of the show, what’s your favorite Cyndi Lauper song?

To be fair, we knew this one would be a tough question. After all, it’s Cyndi Lauper.

Fleming shared our sentiments, saying, “How could you ever pick just one song?

He went on to say that, “Lauper is a true legend, and her career and song writing speak for themselves.”

When pressed, though, he said that “My go-to song to belt out is ‘Time After Time,’ and every time I hear ‘True Colors,’ I melt.”

He even told us that he’s a song-writer himself (we’d love to hear some lyrics!) and that Cyndi Lauper is a “true inspiration” to him.

What’s your favorite scene in this production, either to perform or just in general?

In a musical as lovely and touching as this one, we imagined this question would be just as difficult to answer as the last. However, Fleming answered it with ease, perhaps a testament to the three other times he has played this role.

He says that the scene that “always gets me is ‘Not My Father’s Son.’” Going further, Fleming says that “My favorite scene to play is ‘The Argument’ in Act II.” 

Fleming says he loves the first because “the connection that begins between Lola and Charlie is truly beautiful and heart-wrenching,” and the second because “it is emotionally driven and leads to Charlie’s big Act II number ‘Soul of a Man.'"

So, be honest, what’s it like wearing those heels?

Hearkening back to his past productions, Fleming tells us that, “I have been wearing [those heels] since 2014! In fact, I was gifted my boots! At first, it was very difficult, as I had never worn heels before, but they are measured and custom-fit to my feet and legs… they fit like a glove. To be honest, I love it! Now, I can’t speak for the ladies and the men who are wearing them the whole show, but for me, I enjoy it!”

What would you say is the message of this show?

Fleming had plenty to say about this question, which is fitting for a show with such depth and humor.
He tells us “pursue the truth, learn something new, accept yourself and you’ll accept others too, let love shine, let pride be your guide, you change the world when you change your mind,” and, most importantly of all, “Just be who you want to be, never let ‘em tell you who you ought to be.”

And, with that said, we can’t think of a more fitting message or a more fitting show to truly start off 2020.

Kinky Boots opens Tuesday, February 11 and runs through Sunday, February 16 in Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. Visit nctheatre.com to purchase tickets or call (919) 831-6941. For groups of 10 or more, call (919) 831-6941 x6949.