Land of Lola (from Kinky Boots): Piano/Vocal/Chords

Lauper's melodies are immediately singable without sacrificing harmonic sophistication, and Stephen Oremus's arrangements strike a perfect balance between capturing the Broadway sound and remaining playable in smaller venues. The collection spans a genuine range of theatrical styles: comic character songs sit alongside tender ballads, group numbers share space with introspective solos, giving singers real material to sink their teeth into beyond pop standards. For programs seeking contemporary musical theatre that addresses meaningful themes without relying on cynicism, Kinky Boots offers songs that audiences genuinely want to hear again.

The score pulses with warmth, humor, and surprising tenderness. Lauper's melodies have the quality of pop hooks without sacrificing theatrical storytelling; they stick in your head while still serving the characters who sing them. Moving between bright comic moments and genuine emotional vulnerability, the collection feels like overhearing someone's real journey rather than watching a calculated spectacle.

This book serves singers preparing auditions or recital material from contemporary musical theatre, as well as pianists and guitarists working in musical theatre pit orchestras, community theatres, or rehearsal studios. It's equally valuable for voice teachers building students' interpretive skills with material that demands both vocal control and emotional authenticity.

• Study the original cast recording carefully before settling into your interpretations; Lauper's score invites flexibility, but the recorded performances establish a clear emotional vocabulary for each song that grounds the accompanist's work.
• Pay special attention to rhythmic precision in the upbeat numbers like "Everybody Say Yeah" and "Sex Is in the Heel," where the groove drives the comedy and energy of the moment.
• Approach the character-driven solos such as "Charlie's Soliloquy" and "Soul of a Man" as intimate scenes rather than concert performances; allow the accompaniment to support vulnerability rather than overshadow it.
• Balance the rich harmonic language in the romantic and climactic moments; resist the urge to oversimplify chords even if a singer's vocal line suggests simplicity.

Feature an individual song from Kinky Boots as part of a contemporary musical theatre showcase or recital, pairing it with selections from other recent Broadway scores to demonstrate the range of modern theatrical songwriting. The variety within the score itself also makes it useful for voice students building a diverse audition book that includes both comedic character work and dramatic ballads.

• Interpreting character through melody and lyric
• Navigating contemporary harmonic language and jazz-inflected chords
• Sustaining both comedic timing and emotional truthfulness within arranged music
• Collaborating with accompanists on stylistic choices and dynamic balance
• Reading and performing from professional Broadway arrangements