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PEOPLE & ARTSFriday 11 September 2015

Billy Porter says goodbye to role that ‘taught me to dream’

MARK KENNEDY the Tony Award-winning a 3,000-seat theater,” he
AP Drama Writer musical about a British said. “Twenty years ago, I
NEW YORK (AP) — There shoe factory that retrofits was fag-bashed down the
comes a time in every itself into a maker of drag street going into a gay bar.
man’s life when he must queen footwear. There’s a difference.”
hang up his flaming red, The show recently reached The show has been a life-
knee-high stiletto boots. its 1,000th performance, changer in other ways,
That time is fast approach- and Porter estimates he’s too. Porter won a best
ing for Billy Porter. played Miss Lola 900 times. leading-man Tony Award
The Tony Award-winning Wayne Brady will take over and put out a CD. He got
actor will leave Broad- the role. a play he wrote produced
way’s “Kinky Boots” in No- Jerry Mitchell, who direct- off-Broadway and direct-
vember, but saying good- ed and choreographed ed two works by others. He
bye has left him “anxiety- “Kinky Boots,” has been a booked concerts.
ridden.” It’s been no ordi- friend of Porter’s for years More personally, he has a
nary job. and invited him to audi- boyfriend now and a per-
“This show and this charac- tion for Miss Lola. He was sonal assistant — “It’s so
ter has represented some- instantly swayed: “It was crazy that I have an assis-
thing that’s so far beyond just that moment when tant and I need one,” he
anything that I could have you know the artist and said, laughing. He’s also in
ever imagined,” he said. the material are a perfect the shape of his life, thanks
“This show has taught me match,” Mitchell said. “I to eight shows a week in
to dream beyond anything said, ‘This is the guy.’” which he dances in 6-inch
that I could imagine.” In the two years on Broad- heels and changes in and
Porter has seen the world way since the show began out of wigs and dresses all
change while playing the spreading its message of night.
cross-dressing Lola — he unconditional love and “I look the best I’ve ever
calls her Miss Lola — in acceptance, huge steps looked in my entire life,” he
said. “When your workout
Dennis Greene, In this June 9, 2013, file photo, Billy Porter poses with his award is your job, it’s way easier
founding member of to stay in shape.”
Sha Na Na, dies at 66 for best actor in a musical for “Kinky Boots” at the 67th Annual Porter has a gig waiting
when he leaves “Kinky
Tony Awards in New York. Associated Press Boots”: He will join an all-
star lineup for a rework-
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — have been made for mar- — to embrace the bigots, ing of the 1920s musical
A founding member of riage equality and trans- to embrace the negative, “Shuffle Along” with Audra
the retro-rock/doo-wop gender rights. and turn that around.” McDonald, Brian Stokes
group Sha Na Na who “It’s an astonishing thing A few weeks ago, Porter Mitchell, Brandon Victor
later became a movie to know that in the history joined the national tour of Dixon and Joshua Henry.
studio executive and law books I will be a part of “Kinky Boots” in his home- “I’m trading my high heels
professor, has died. Dennis that, we will be a part of town of Pittsburgh and for tap shoes. I haven’t
Greene was 66. that and Miss Lola will be could feel the change. He tapped in 23 years,” he
Greene’s nephew, Ed- a part of that,” said Porter. reconnected with relatives said, laughing. “At least I’ll
ward Robinson, says his “She was a character who and had “real true healing stay in shape. I have that
uncle died Saturday in was able to be transcen- moments.” to look forward to.”q
Columbus after a brief ill- dent enough and human “We sold out the Benedum
ness. enough — in her own skin Center in two days — that’s
Greene performed with
Sha Na Na at Wood- Britney Spears
stock in 1969 and with the signs on for 2 more
group in the 1978 movie years in Las Vegas
“Grease.”
Robinson said Thursday LAS VEGAS (AP) — Pop star more years.
the New York City na- Her “Piece of Me” show
tive left the group in 1984 Britney Spears is staying in debuted December 2013.
to study law and later Tickets cost $59 to $229,
worked as a Columbia Las Vegas for at least an- not including fees.
Pictures vice president. He For those who have seen
said Greene appreciated other two years. the choreographed show
opportunities from his mu- of Spears’ hits before,
sic career, but law was his Caesars Entertain- Caesars says it will soon be
passion. re-imagined with new ele-
Greene began teaching ment Corp. announced ments.
law at the University of Another pop music leg-
Dayton in 2001. Thursday that Spears has end, Jennifer Lopez, is set
Funeral services set for to begin her own Las Ve-
Sept. 19 at Church of the extended her residency at gas residency at Planet
Immaculate Conception Hollywood beginning in
in New York City will be the Planet Hollywood casi- January.q
public.q
no-hotel on the Las Vegas

In this May 6, 1998, file photo, Strip through December
Dennis Greene, former
lead singer for 50s revival 2017.
group Sha Na Na, poses at
the University of Oregon in The company says Spears Britney Spears arrives at the
Eugene, Ore., where he was MTV Video Music Awards
a law professor. divulged during her at the Microsoft Theater on
Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015, in Los
Associated Press Wednesday night show Angeles. Associated Press

that she would be sticking

around Sin City a couple