How Nyoy Volante prepares for his role as Lola in 'Kinky Boots'

After 2017's thrilling run — with Nyoy Volante in drag wowing most everybody — a rerun of Atlantis Theatrical’s "Kinky Boots" became inevitable. 

And so here we are with a rerun and Nyoy getting a second chance at playing Lola, the Queen of Kinky Boots.

The theater actor says there’s less pressure this time around, since he’s done the role already. “You can actually focus on putting more nuances,” Nyoy says saying he’s focusing more on Lola's mannerisms and gestures to add more depth to the character. “They’re small things, but they make a difference. You probably won’t notice it, but it’s going to have an impact.”

Nyoy’s wife, Mikkie Bradshaw, says that he was quite comfortable being flamboyant. “He’s like that even at home,” She laughs. Mikkie had a personal hand in Nyoy’s glitz and glamour during the 2017 shows as his makeup artist.

Nyoy is especially excited for this upcoming run, as Mikkie will be joining the cast. Last seen in "Fun Home", Mikkie will be taking over the role of Lauren from Yanah Laurel, who had to decline the role due to a simultaneous rerun of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang".

Mikkie says she’s looking forward to performing Lauren’s comical solo, “The History of Wrong Guys.”

“It’s one of the numbers you can really play around with! Even I don’t know what I’m going to be doing yet.” However, the one thing she’s excited about the most? “Hanging out backstage with the Angels!”

The Angels, Lola’s entourage of sparkling, high heeled dancers will also be returning to the stage. The cast of male dancers from G Force were so popular that they actually gained their own following after the original run.

Nyoy’s transformation into Lola was very intensive, ranging from acting research to actual rehearsals walking in heels. Rehearsing every day in heels helped him, of course, walk the walk and talk the talk. “When you get to do something every day, your body gets used to it.”

Nyoy says he immersed himself in lots of films about drag queens, lots of RuPaul, and even talking and meeting with a few queens in person. “I was scared to do it wrong,” Nyoy shares, referring to his first show as Lola. “In doing it, you represent that side of society. I wanted to represent them in the nicest way possible.”

Mikkie says Nyoy’s preparation for the role paid off and praised her husband’s portrayal of Lola. “It’s so easy to turn it into a parody of a drag queen but he was able to play Lola without taking it there. There’s a very fine line between fun and making fun of.”

“[Nyoy] humanized her. She wasn’t just a character that you were making funny for the sake of being funny. You managed to make Lola very real.”

With only two weeks to go, the cast are cramming in hours of rehearsals but loving every moment at the same time. Each member of the cast was handpicked as a capable triple threat with the ability to pick up quickly and rehearse efficiently. “You take pleasure in the pressure,” Mikkie says.

Nyoy and Mikkie invite everyone to watch "Kinky Boots", from adults to kids. Their own daughter watched the show and loved it, taking away the message that “you can just be yourself.”

“You have people on their feet, dancing and singing, but crying.” Mikkie says of the audience experience. “It’s such a celebration of life and of love. It’s a party!” — LA, GMA News

The party begins on March 2! Kinky Boots returns to the RCBC stage from March 2 – 18.