Skip to content

Breaking News

Harvey Fierstein’s Entertaining History With High Heels And ‘Kinky Boots’

Author
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:

Harvey Fierstein knows boots.

Especially high heeled, thigh-high, red patent-leather boots.

The actor and playwright also knows wigs, brassieres, and how to, as drag diva RuPaul would say, sashay away.

As the book writer for the Broadway musical “Kinky Boots,” whose tour plays The Bushnell in Hartford Tuesday through Sunday, June 23 to 28, Fierstein could be considered a theatrical expert of matters of alternative gender identity.

After years playing in tiny way-off-Broadway theaters, Fierstein made his Broadway bow in 1982, starring in his own play, “Torch Song Trilogy,” about a drag performer and his search for love and family. He earned a Tony Award for best play and actor.

He then followed with the script to the 1983 musical “La Cage Aux Folles,” which also won Tonys for best musical and script. (Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam is reviving the show for its summer run, beginning Friday, June 26 and playing through Sept. 6.)

Fierstein’s other Broadway gender-bender shows include 2002’s “Hairspray” that featured him playing the zaftig 6-foot-1 (without heels) hausfrau Edna Turnblad, and the play “Casa Valentina,” which he wrote, about heterosexual men whose favorite pastime was going up to a very special Catskills resort and dressing and acting as women. In the film “Mrs. Doubtfire,” he played a make-up artist who gave his brother, Robin Williams, transformative tips.

He said no at first when asked to write the book for another musical that involves drag, “Kinky Boots,” but Fierstein wanted to work with director-choreographer Jerry Mitchell and after taking another look at the film, he finally said yes. He brought Cyndi Lauper on board to write the music and lyrics. She became the first woman to win a Tony Award for writing a score.

But there is more to Fierstein, 61, the Brooklyn-born, Ridgefield resident, than curls and pearls.

Here are 10 things you may not know about Fierstein and his work:

When he left high school he also pursued painting, receiving a bachelor of fine arts degree from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn in 1973.

Fierstein made his acting debut in 1971 at La MaMa in Andy Warhol’s only play, “Pork,” playing an asthmatic lesbian cleaning woman.

Matthew Broderick played his adopted son in the off-Broadway run of “Torch Song Trilogy” on stage and in the film. Estelle Getty (TV’s “Golden Girls”) played his mother on stage and Anne Bancroft in the 1988 film version of the play.

In a 1992 episode of TV’s “Cheers,” he played Rebecca’s high school boyfriend, Mark Newberger, and her first real love. He received an Emmy nomination for that role.

He wrote the children’s book “The Sissy Duckling,” which was also made into a 1999 TV animated movie.

In 1994, Fierstein became the first openly gay actor to play a principal gay character in a television short-lived series, CBS’s “Daddy’s Girls.”

Fierstein appeared in the 1996 summer blockbuster film “Independence Day.” He was wiped out by aliens while on the phone talking to his mother, saying: “Ma, listen, pack your stuff and head for Aunt Esther’s. Don’t argue with me; just go!”

His distinctive gravelly voice played Karl, Homer’s assistant in the episode “Simpson and Delilah” of “The Simpsons.” He also voiced characters in the animated films: “Mulan,” “Food Fight” and the voice of Esmerelda in “Animal Crackers.”

Starred on Broadway and in the national tour of a revival of “Fiddler on the Roof,” playing Tevye.

Fierstein also wrote the book to the Broadway musicals “Newsies” and “The Catered Affair.” He is now adding material to the existing book of “The Wiz,” which is the next NBC musical the network will present live in December. The show will then head to Broadway.

“KINKY BOOTS” runs Tuesday through Sunday, June 23 to 28, at The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford. Performances are Tuesday to Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $23 to $99, not including fees. Information at 860-987-5900 and bushnell.org.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the phone number for The Bushnell.