Step aside: There’s a new Charlie on the block. Starting Sept. 11, Dancing With the Stars alum Mark Ballas is set to take over the lead role of shoemaker Charlie Price in the current Broadway run of Kinky Boots.
Ballas succeeds David Cook, who reprised the role last month following his original, month-long stint earlier in April. The Emmy-nominated dancer will play the part through Nov. 4.
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The Tony-winning musical’s leading man has been filled by a murderer’s row of belt-heavy rockers with a flair for theatrics, including Panic! at the Disco’s Brendon Urie, Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears and Neon Trees’ Tyler Glenn.
Ballas’ Broadways chops have been honed as part of last year’s production of Jersey Boys, in which he closed out the role of Frankie Valli. He’s also released music as part of of husband-wife pop duo Alexander Jean and as a solo acoustic crooner.
“I am so ready to come back to Broadway and can’t wait to step into those iconic boots and be part of the Kinky Boots legacy,” Ballas said in a statement. “Kinky Boots is a heartfelt, positive, and joyous show with an even more beautiful message that we all need right now more than ever. It will be an honor to perform alongside this amazing company and get to tell this story eight times a week!”
See Ballas’ Twitter announcement — and guitar prowess — below:
FINALLY I can share this with you all.
I’m going back to Broadway this time as Charlie Price in @KinkyBootsBway
My run is Sept 11th – Nov 4th… & to quote the Beatles “Ooooh i need your Love babe 8 SHOWS a week”. —Get your tickets NOW!
See ya at stage door —-#kinkyboots pic.twitter.com/1j3eLbj4dj— Mark Ballas (@MarkBallas) August 9, 2018